Vietnam replica shotguns

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I have not seen a heat shield on a full length barreled shotgun. Nor have I seen a full length barrel on a fighting military shotgun. Your set up with all due respects looks odd and is out of place if you are trying to replicate the military gun.
 
Ah well, it wouldn't be the 1st time something I did was considered odd and out of place. Other than install the heat shield, I didn't modify the shotguns. Both barrels were cut by the previous owner. I did do a cursory search on the internet for similar pictures and they look correct, but I don't really have a horse in the race to create period correct replicas.
 
I just looked at pictures on the web of model 1200 trench guns. There were definitely different barrel lengths, some looked about as long as Jimfern’s.
 
Are those 20-22" barrels? I use a 20" on my 870 HD gun with rifle sights and a 3-shell extension.

The brown wood-stocked shotgun looks great with the bayonet lug/heat shield attached :thumbup:.

Stay safe.
 
Normal Trench and riot guns I have seen run a 20 inch barrel. Both of the OP's guns look to be in the 26 inch area or possible 28 inch. The only military shotguns I have seen of the longer lengths were used as lead training guns for aviation purposes. cdb1 , I would like a link so I could also see what you refer to. I am always willing to learn.
 
I googled Winchester Model 1200 Trench Shotgun and started looking at the pictures.
Thanks for the reply. I did not find the longer barrel trench guns you mention but perhaps I missed something as there were a number of web sites on the subject. The one site I found interesting is that the Winchester 1200 Trench gun seems very rare. It listed one that went for over $7,000 if I read correctly. Its estimate was listed between $1,500 and $1,900 but it far exceeded that estimate. The barrel length was listed at 20.5 inches FYI.
 
Both shotgun barrels were cut to about 21.5" by the guy who sold them to me. I was surprised how much the heat shield cost, if my googling was correct. Both are definitely replicas and not original, per the previous owner. The 67E is so old it doesn't have a serial #. I got them for a song about 5 years ago and they were just sitting in my gun safe.
 
The 67E is so old it doesn't have a serial #. I got them for a song about 5 years ago and they were just sitting in my gun safe.
Pre-1968, the law didn't require serial numbers on guns though many had them anyway.

I prefer shorter, quicker-handling shotguns. Here are two that I set up for myself. 18.25" barrel on the Auto 5 and 19.5" on the Model 37.

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Those barrels sure look a LOT longer than 21.5". My 20" barreled HD shotguns barrel only extends 7.5" beyond the end of the magazine. Those appear to be a good 10-12" longer. And the rear of the heat shield should extend all the way back to where the barrel fits into the receiver.

MOST fighting shotguns had barrels in the 18"-20" range. But a lot of sporting guns were pressed into service and it wasn't terribly unusual to find one with barrels as long as 30".
 
I managed to find this article which features both shotguns. The Stevens looks very close to the real deal. The Winchester is not quite spot on, but pretty close. I was surprised to learn they were in use for so long. I'm certainly no journeyman carpenter, but I do know how to use a tape measure. The barrels are approximately 21.5" from breach face to the end of the barrel. o_O
https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2016/4/22/combat-shotguns-of-the-vietnam-war/
 
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Here's a Winchester Model 1300 with both a 22" vent rib barrel and an 18" plain barrel. Just from looking at them I would say both barrels appear to be longer, by like 2" to 4", but they're definitely as advertised.
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Wow. I've never seen a cut down Auto 5 but that looks like a shootin' machine. Very very cool......
 
On the topic of shorter/HD type shotguns, I've noticed that they are selling like crazy during these times when people are realizing that they may not be able to count on the police showing up at the snap of a finger. For example, this gun here would have maybe brought $350 in January.
https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/875022654

And this one maybe $250.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/874445134
I ain’t a gonna do it, but those prices make me want to sell a couple of firearms I rarely if ever use.
 
Wow, the GunBroker add for the Ithaca 37's. I traded a Winchester 16ga pump and a Remington 32special pump 30 years ago for a model 37 and a HiPower 9mm Belgian Browning. I thought the HiPower was more of the deal, didn't think the 37 would go for that kind of money.
 
Pre-1968 many .22 rifles and various gauges of shotguns were not considered high-value arms and were not serial numbered.
Most handguns (being subject to more restrictive state laws intended to reduce crime) have been serial numbered since the 1800s.
In my observation, most centerfire rifles made before 1968 have been serial numbered.
 
@Jimfern digging those shotguns! What model is the top one? I think that looks superb!

Below is a pic of my fake Stevens 520a WWII era "trench" gun, a Westernfield receiver with 520 barrel cut down to correct Stevens 520a length and heat shield properly installed. The heat shield does not go all the way back to the receiver, and I have never seen a genuine 520 where the heat shield does, nor on a genuine Win 1897 trench gun.

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Rock Island Auction original Stevens 520

https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/75/3608/wwii-us-stevens-model-52030-trench-gun

C&Rsenal video of 1897

 
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An original Winchester 97 Trench gun posted by a collector at Wikipedia (commons PD).
The heat shield goes back even with the back of the pump handle.
The commercial heat shield I mounted on my S&W 916 went all the way back to the receiver.
But. We are talking "vietnam replica shotguns" here people. Military trench and riot guns.
I would suggest as a reference Bruce N. Canfield, " A Collector's Guide to United States Combat Shotguns", Andrew Mowbray Publishers, 1992.
Canfield does a lot of the historical research and and articles for the NRA American Rifleman magazine.

Added: the Stevens 520 replica posted above matches the 520 trench gun posted by Canfield on page 105. Good job, DocRock.
 
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