Need advice on an old 30" 870 barrel

[cpirtle]

I've been on the lookout for a project 870 to set up for my wife for home defense. I found one for $170 in nice shape and plan to put a Knoxx adjustable on it along with some other minor tweaks (+2 tube, tritium bead, new forend; practical non-bling stuff).

The specimen is an old non-ribbed Wingmaster with a 30" barrel. The top of the barrel has wavy milled pattern to it that I have not seen before. (can't say I've looked a ton either)

A friend mentioned that this barrel may be collectible to someone and I may be better off selling it rather than cutting it down.

I don't really want a matte finish 18" barrel on a blued Wingmaster and am inclined to just cut the sucker.

What do you all think?

 

[Pete409]

That milled (crosschecked) finish on the top of the barrel was intended to reduce glare in bright sunlight. As far as I know, there is nothing collectible about it. It's just another barrel. Cut if off if you like.

 

[cpirtle]

I know what it's for, it's just much finer than others I have seen and wavy as opposed to straight.

 

[Fred Fuller]

It would be a crime to whack it before patterning it with a variety of shot loads. You may have a card shooting terror there, that someone who does the turkey shoot rounds would give a pretty penny for. Or it might be a waterfowl slayer of the first magnitude, for someone who haunts the duck blinds or goose pits. It might be bottled death on clay targets for a skeet shooter, you never know. The older fixed choke factory barrels sometimes have a touch of magic about them- don't ever unthinkingly waste one without exploring the possibilities.

The world fairly bristles with short 870 barrels, no need to hacksaw another one just yet. Call Remington at their 800 number and get the born-on date of that shotgun, while you're at it. It might be older than you are...

lpl/nc

 

[cpirtle]

Thanks Lee, I think this one is pretty old based on some rudimentary research last night.

Serial number is in the 87000V range which, nearest I can figure is pre-1968.