Stevens model 620 trench gun

Shot Gun info

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It would appear you have a Vietnam era trench gun, manufacture date of 1961. That's the good news. The bad news is, I think your friend is correct, it appears to be an after-the-war refit, which destroys a lot of it's collectors value. Did you friend value it? I know of a collector that may be able to help on determining a value. Do you have any accessories for it? I will check with him and get back to you. Remember, value is determined by "the eye of the beholder."
 
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Most early records on Stevens Shotguns like that were lost in a fire during an investigation (Dog ate the homework story) So there are not going to be proof what it is.. Just things that look right and things that do not..

I am not an expert on those combat shot guns because they have never called me.. But have looked at a few. Two things that really bug me is the lack of a name on the side of the barrel and then a small thing the serial number is outside the range of US combat shotguns. Which may all be perfectly acceptable.

There is alot of nuance and some fakery that goes on with these.

Also I really never looked at Vietnam era trench guns before.. So what I would do is take that to a couple of large high tone gun shows.. and just get some hands on discourse about it.

In short order you will get alot of opinions. Some Good, Some bad.. And you will get alot of information. Some good, some bad. But that will give you alot of opinions from hopfully people who have handled those, handled the fakes and have years of experience. Then you can take it home and research those questions.

And I will go to the Old geezers out there.. they have seen a few things and some of them actually know a few things.. not all.. but a few..
 
I have to say it's fishy. The 1943 date on the bayonet lug is odd and incongruous, suggesting that it may have been a refit to the more common riot gun (not originally fitted with heat shield). Also, the fitment is off. The back of the bayonet lug should be up against the magazine tube lug where it offered additional rearward support. My guess, and I do not posses sufficient knowledge to offer anything beyond an educated guess, is that a riot gun was subsequently fitted with a 520a heat shield. As to value, I couldn't say. The fact that it could well have been an arsenal refit should mean it's more valuable than a "tribute gun".

This is my fake/tribute that I built on a Western Field 520a 535:

index.php
 
"RA" should not appear on the stock at all. Vietnam era stocks were not marked. My collector friend said your piece is worth about 1/2 what an unaltered gun would go for. The 2020 Bluebook of Gun Values at 90% puts the your gun at $3100. So your gun value should be in the neighborhood of $1550.
 
Thomasss said:
"RA" should not appear on the stock at all. Vietnam era stocks were not marked. My collector friend said your piece is worth about 1/2 what an unaltered gun would go for. The 2020 Bluebook of Gun Values at 90% puts the your gun at $3100. So your gun value should be in the neighborhood of $1550.
Click to expand...
 
TRENCH GUN ART said:
Thanks for the help. I am still curious about the stamp on the stock.
Click to expand...

If it were a WWII or post war era riot or long gun trainer that was subsequently fitted with heat shield (which would explain the slightly longer barrel and why the heat shield isn't set in contact with the mag tube lug), it would have the pre-Vietnam era markings such as the RA on the stock.
 
This is the thing that has always sobered me and chased me away from those trench guns..

There is never a 100% "yep this is the real McCoy" moment. Little things that your spidy senses tune into with those, you would have blown off if it was a normal rifle like an Izzy k98.

I have been to shows where learned people will disagree about if one is real or not. And it does not help things that the gun was not manufacturer made, the military refitting those guns as needed over a 50 year stretch, records destroyed, Stevens not even putting serial numbers on the early guns.. ETC ETC

Geez, it makes me long to identify a Spruce Winchester. At least Winchester kept decent records.

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTr1vrc-TnG0XcJkuTSWgyJY0MCxphacOEAsw&usqp=CAU.jpg
 
DocRock said:
I have to say it's fishy. The 1943 date on the bayonet lug is odd and incongruous, suggesting that it may have been a refit to the more common riot gun (not originally fitted with heat shield). Also, the fitment is off. The back of the bayonet lug should be up against the magazine tube lug where it offered additional rearward support. My guess, and I do not posses sufficient knowledge to offer anything beyond an educated guess, is that a riot gun was subsequently fitted with a 520a heat shield. As to value, I couldn't say. The fact that it could well have been an arsenal refit should mean it's more valuable than a "tribute gun".

This is my fake/tribute that I built on a Western Field 520a 535:
Click to expand...

I believe the fitment is correct for a 620. here is an original barrel, with the first slot about an inch in front of the mag tube lug.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/887433636#carousel-modal-view-item

here is an original 620 trench up close
https://www.milsurps.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8463&d=1261282547
from this thread
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=17717&page=1
 
DocRock said:
Strange. I wonder why it's different from the 520a guns?
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520-30 trench guns were a rare WWI weapon. the 620 didnt get used by the military until WW2 and later is my guess. 20+ years can bring a lot of changes.
 
I have a Stevens m620 "Riot" gun. My understanding is that it was used by the Military Police
guarding POW's during WWII, Korea and Vietnam. My Br-in-Law brought this one home with
him when he returned from Korea in the 50's. How he got it, I don't know. I inherited it when he
died. As you can see it has the US & 4 stamp on the rcvr. Great little shotgun. Shoots as well as
any new model Self Defense shotgun.
Dano
STEVENS M620 US Property (4).jpg
STEVENS M620 US Property (2).jpg
 
DocRock said:
@omega5 that’s a great looking gun and a cool story to go with it! Great figure in the buttstock for a riot gun too.
Click to expand...
It's a tough old gun. Improved cylinder throws a slug accurate enough to deer hunt out to 60 yards or so.
Patterns well with 00 buck too. It's usable but I have it mounted on a wall with other old military guns like
an Spanish Mauser FR8, a Mosin Nagant, SKS, and an AK. If I was to damage it, I'd play heck getting
OEM replacement parts.
Dano
 
omega5 said:
It's a tough old gun. Improved cylinder throws a slug accurate enough to deer hunt out to 60 yards or so.
Patterns well with 00 buck too. It's usable but I have it mounted on a wall with other old military guns like
an Spanish Mauser FR8, a Mosin Nagant, SKS, and an AK. If I was to damage it, I'd play heck getting
OEM replacement parts.
Dano
Click to expand...

There are actually lots of 520/620 parts available. I built the whole second “trench gun” barrel assembly from parts from eBay and GB.
 
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