Thinking of purchasing this 870 Wingmaster. Value?

[Granth3w]

This is a 1979 Remington 870 Wingmaster. Seller says that it this is the original furniture and 20" barrel that it came with new. Most of the Wingmasters I see have checkering and longer barrels.

It comes with the +3 magazine extension (with original magazine tube cap) and an extra 28" barrel.

What would you all value this shotgun at, assuming that it's in pretty good condition?

Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[kudu]

With the extra barrel, I would say about $400-$500 depending on local market. Where I am at right now it is saturated and prices are down a bit. Looks in fine shape for the age.

 

[eastbank]

looks like a police-riot shotgun with a recoil pad added along with the extended mag tube(may be original). it looks like its in very good condition and with the extra barrel it should be worth 400.00 + easy. eastbank.

 

[Big7]

The receiver is in excellent condition.

With the "express" taking on the market, I would say $600.00 around here would be good for both buyer and seller.

You can call Rem. with the serial number and a pic and they will
be more than happy to tell you all about the wood.

They have been made in MANY configurations.. Some with
fancy gold inlay..

Hard to tell by just a few pics but the action is in great shape.

 

[Armored farmer]

I paid $450 after negotiations for a really nice 3"magnum 870 with 28" vent rib barrel with tubes.
This was one year ago.

 

[243winxb]

Pass if not a 3" receiver. Otherwise $300 w/vent rib bbl. . Plus $70 for the short barrel.

http://www.horstauction.com/guns

Google "Remington 870 Police" it may be an early one? No checkering. But i dont think it should have Wingmaster on the receiver?

The V in the serial number, makes me think it came with a vent rib barrel?

 

[Virginian]

Yes it should have Wingmaster on it.
The first V (prefix) in the serial number means it was made between 1978 and 1984. The second V (suffix) means it is a 2-3/4" 12 gauge receiver.
If yo want a police model that's about as good as it gets.

 

[entropy]

$400 is right in the ballpark. That one is in excellent shape.

 

[jaguarxk120]

The barrel code "CV" indicates it was made in April of 1979.

Please note this may be a police gun. You can check the Remington catalogs at
www.cartridgecollectors.org/ammunition-catalogs/Remington

In the sporting arms catalogs all Wingmaster stocks are checkered and do not have the style of forearm you pictured.

In the police catalogs the stocks have that style of forearm and plane butt stocks.

 

[1KPerDay]

Pass if not a 3" receiver.

why

 

[Granth3w]

Thank you all for the replies. He was asking $500, but came down to $450 with about $20-$25 worth of ammo. I've been keeping my eye out for an older police model, but seems like this may fit the bill, assuming everything looks alright when I meet with him.

And yes, it seems like almost all wingmasters ive seen have checkered furniture. The seller says that he added the magazine extension and 28" barrel, but everything else is how it came.

 

[Granth3w]

The barrel code "CV" indicates it was made in April of 1979.

Please note this may be a police gun. You can check the Remington catalogs at
www.cartridgecollectors.org/ammunition-catalogs/Remington

In the sporting arms catalogs all Wingmaster stocks are checkered and do not have the style of forearm you pictured.

In the police catalogs the stocks have that style of forearm and plane butt stocks.

So it's likely that someone early on just put on a 20" barrel and police furniture then, I'm guessing?

 

[eastbank]

this remington 870 was never a police shotgun and you can see it has the same kind of stock. you can buy 2-3/4" 12ga shells with 1-1/2 oz of shot if needed and with the right choke nothing shot within 40 yards will know the difference between that and 1-7/8 oz of shot in a 3" mag. eastbank.

 

[jaguarxk120]

The catalogs do not show this model in 1979 or 1980 years. But the police catalogs do show the plain stocked 870 with a recoil pad and a fore end that looks
close but not the same as this one. The police is a corncob type and is also fluted, the gun pictured does not any flutes by the barrel.

Could have been a special run of field grade Wingmasters, I do not know.

 

[Shaq]

I'd go for it. The older 870's are made way better than the newer ones (like most firearms). With the extra barrel & ammo, it's a great deal. Never mind the lack of checkering. Looks like a police model that didn't get much firing - probably sat in a closet or under a bed most of the time. That model didn't have checkering & that forend is found on police 870's.
Note: Pull off the forend & check for rust on the magazine tube. Keep that area greased. After 20 years of constant use shooting trap & skeet, I found some rust spots under the forend. Used steel wool & oiled. Came off easily.

 

[243winxb]

The older 870's are made way better than the newer ones

http://www.gunsmoke.com/guns/rem_lawsuit_result.html

Under the terms of that settlement, Remington has begun to make, and will continue to make, barrels for Model 870, 1100, 11-87, 12-gauge shotguns from a different type of steel, which can withstand higher pressures.

Why?

I like 3" actions and barrels with screw in chokes, just makes them more useful. Its personal preference. Plus it makes them worth more $$ IMO>

 

[Sunray]

Wingmasters weren't always Remington's high end shotgun. No Express or any other lower end until 1987. There was a Field Wingmaster made from 1964 to 1990. That's what that one is. There was a Riot Grade before that too.
Mine started out just like that one(that looks like it might have a pipe cutter shortened barrel. It have a bead? Or just has a 20" bird barrel that's particularly handy for upland birds.) but with a 2.75", 30" FC barrel and no recoil pad. Bought it in roughly 1980 or thereabouts. Paid about $315Cdn with taxes, then.
Don't recall there being an M870 Police in 1979. There were 870's that didn't have the 'Corn Cob' forestock though. Complete with the ugly polyurethane finish and pressed checkering.

 

[bannockburn]

My first shotgun looked just like the one the OP is considering. It was a 12 gauge Field Wingmaster with a 20" barrel and rifle sights on it. Later I added a 28" vent rib barrel and installed an extended mag tube on it. Nothing fancy but a very well built and finished shotgun.