Western Field Deluxe Model 50 help (long)

[meh92]

Help please. A buddy asked me to look at an old shotgun he was given by a neighbor a while back. I cannot find any information on it anywhere.

It is a Montgomery Ward Western DeLuxe Model 50 16-ga pump. The gun has a single action bar. The barrel is about 28" with a double bead and solid rib with serrations on the top of the rib. The barrel is stamped "Browning Patent." The safety is the same as a Remington 870 in both location and external operation. The slide release is located on the left side of the receiver, right beside the trigger. There is a square notch cut out of the top of the machined receiver, into which the locking lug slips. It also has dual spring-loaded extractors.

The gun is mostly made up of machined pieces, not stampings like many newer guns. The fit is quite good. The finish, what's left of it, is almost brown. I got it apart and gave it a thorough cleaning and lubrication. Looking inside, it was somewhat reminiscent of a few JMB designs I've tinkered with. The "Browning Patent" stamp on the barrel made me wonder.

I know that Several different companies made guns for Montgomery Ward. Who made this and what manufacturer's model is it?

Overall, the gun seems to be in good condition with no barrel rings, rust, or signs of metal stress anywhere. It just looks well used and cared for.

The gun seems to have a few problems, though. When the gun is cocked and in battery, and you shake it fore and aft, there is a high-pitched metallic rattling inside the bolt. Pull the trigger and the noise goes away. I'm assuming the firing pin is making the noise. When I took it apart, there was no firing pin spring inside the bolt. Is there supposed to be one?

Second, the gun will cycle normally. Pulling the trigger will release the hammer as designed and unlock the bolt. However, if I hold the trigger down after it is pulled, and then cycle the slide, the trigger will not reset when released whether the bolt is in battery or not.

Those seem to be the only issues with the gun. Can anyone offer some help?

 

[Fred Fuller]

Is this it?

http://www.auction-block.com/rath081907/additions/Picture 567.JPG

lpl/nc

 

[Big Az Al]

Savage/Springfield model 520

To take it down, there will be an oddly machined place on the mag tube, this is to give fingers better grip, turning will either tighten or loosen, loosen until the locking peice is moved away from the front of the action the barrel then moves down wards, move until bolt is released from action slide arm, move action slide arm all the way froward, and slide barrel all the way down out of action. An enteresting way of taking a takedown shot gun apart.

they had an early one with the Browning hump at the back of the action, and a later rounded action.

 

[meh92]

Yes, that's the one. It has a rounded, not square-back, just like the picture. It came apart and went back together without any problems. About when were these rounded-back versions produced? How can I tell what sized shells it will take? Would a serial number help?

I am used to a Remington 870 and Winchester 1200/1300 so I'm not sure if this Western DeLuxe is acting up, or if this is the way it's supposed to work. When the action is cycled and trigger is pulled, everything works fine. As long as I release the trigger before I actuate the pump again, the trigger will reset for the next shot. However, if I keep the trigger pressed to the rear after firing and cycle the slide without releasing the trigger, the trigger will not reset (when I release it) once the gun is in battery again. At this point, I have to pump the action with my finger off the trigger for the trigger to reset.

I suspect one of two things is occurring here. I'm no gunsmith or engineer, just a slightly informed German-blooded tinkerer, so please bear with me.

1. The gun has no disconnect capability, just like the old Model 12's. Holding the trigger back locks the firing pin in place allowing for "slam-firing" as fast as the action can be cycled. My friend had a very old Model 12 which did this. We blew through a ton of shells when we were kids.

2. Something is broken.

Thanks for the help

 

[mnrivrat]

A little additional info.

You are correct - there is no disconnector system in this Browning design. It is not broken. Nor is there a firing pin spring.

Your model is the 620 (slope receiver) which is the later version of the model 520 that had the hump back.

By the time these guns were produced the chambers has been standardized so you would not have the early short chamber .

I don't recall exact years of production but likely from the late 30's up into the 50's . Both the model 520 and later model 620's were produced in "trench gun" models used by the military in WWII era (and slightly earlier).

They of course are take down models as shown in the photo.