Mossberg 500A- frame marking question

[bczrx]

I have a pre GCA '68 single-arm Mossberg 500A.

It came with a crappy cut-down barrel, which I changed out to a new barrel, but didn't take any pics of the markings.

I do remember the barrel on it said, among other things, Mossberg, some city of make, 28" barrel, Modified Choke.

What I am curious about is the frame markings.

On the bottom of the frame, right above the opening to the magazine tube, is where I see the frames marked with "Mossberg, North Haven, CT, Model 500A 12G" on current guns.

I was given some info about how the frame marking was changed from New Haven to North Haven about 1963.

However, on mine it only states "500A, 12g".

It doesn't list the word 'Mossberg' anywhere on the receiver, nor the city of make: and, because it is pre Nov 1968 it doesn't have a serial number.

Anyone know how common it is for the Mossberg to NOT have the word Mossberg stamped there?

Or what years that might associate with?

Thank you

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

A plausible explanation could include the idea that the receiver originally belonged to a store-brand gun, like a Coast to Coast, or Western Auto, Ward’s, or Sears offering or similar. That happened frequently and manufacturers would leave their own branding off the gun because someone else paid for their own markings (or could be no markings, I guess).

Unfortunately, the best you’re gonna get on a date will be “prior to ‘68”.

I’m talking about the receiver only, mind. The barrel in this case not an indicator with any real weight behind it, because those 500 barrels have never really changed design and can be swapped in and out pretty much universally.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

A plausible explanation could include the idea that the receiver originally belonged to a store-brand gun, like a Coast to Coast, or Western Auto, Ward’s, or Sears offering or similar. That happened frequently and manufacturers would leave their own branding off the gun because someone else paid for their own markings (or could be no markings, I guess).

Unfortunately, the best you’re gonna get on a date will be “prior to ‘68”.

I’m talking about the receiver only, mind. The barrel in this case not an indicator with any real weight behind it, because those 500 barrels have never really changed design and can be swapped in and out pretty much universally.

I like that guess. Then, the *store brand* name would be on the barrel.

Todd.

 

[bczrx]

I see the logic of your thought on the store brand, and having it left off.

However, most store brands had a different model number.

Mossberg 500A =

• New Haven 600AT
• Western Auto 310A
• WesternField 550A [and 502, 505, 509, 524 = Mossberg 500]

This is it from the store brand cross-over list.

As you can see, having "500A" stamped into mine means it doesn't line up with the numbers used in the NRA's store brand cross reference list.

If it were marked with one of the other numbers above, I'd completely agree.


I am leaning toward the idea that it was made during that window of time between the two factories.

My theory:

• There were two frame stamps involved.
• One had Maker and City.
• Second had model and caliber.
• IF this is true, then there was a time when they moved from one city to another, and maybe they didn't have the frame stamp set up yet for North Haven.

Since there were no requirements for serial numbers yet, they could simply not stamp the receiver with name and go with model/caliber only.



I have seen images of pre-68 Model 500As that had the stamps with Mossberg, New Haven and others with the stamps for Mossberg, North Haven.

But, mine is the only one I've heard of without Mossberg stamped there at all, and with no damage to show removal of maker name.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Could also have been diverted to store branding to fill an order on emergency basis. I have a Stevens 520 that contains crossed-out serial number stamps for Stevens another set of stamps for the Ward’s order it shipped in-the gun was pulled from Stevens production and used to complete the customer order. Manufacturers often do things like this to make numbers at the end of the month.

I made the store branding connection bc it’s the most plausible way for a relatively unmarked receiver to get into the marketplace. Who knows? Maybe you have an uber-rare pre-logo prototype receiver!

I bet maybe Mossberg could tell you.

 

[bczrx]

Storebranding does make a lot of sense, but here is a pic of the bottom- which doesn't seem like it gave room for more/different stamps.


Mossberg generally refers me to Havlin Sales for old stuff.

we'll see what they say.

thanks!


btw, after the 30 day consignment hold is over, I will be picking up a JC Higgins 102.25 [a store brand Stevens 520A], in 20g. Looking forward to that one too!

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Yup, agreed. That's not even enough room to have possibly left the Mossberg and Connecticut items off of it.

Todd.