Western Field Takedown 12ga

[The_Next_Generation]

Hey everyone,

There is a used Western Field 12ga (model 30 I believe) takedown model for sale at the club for $150. It's in pretty decent shape but the stock has been refinished and is splotchy, and the buttstock has two fairly large cracks in it with a small (.3" cube) piece of wood missing. I offered him $100 given the condition of the wood but he wouldn't budge.

Just wondering what you guys think it's worth buying or not. I don't have a pump gun, and I do like the fact that this is a browning design. It would look real nice next to my Remington Model 11

Thanks,
- TNG

 

[tenturna]

no pictures

 

[Hardware]

I've got two, one I bought for $100, refinished. The other I bought untouched for $75, intending to use it for parts. The refinished gun I sent out to my gunsmith and had the barrel chopped at 20". Now it is a truck gun that fits in a takedown .22 case.

The only snag is that ejection is not foolproof. These were designed to use paper cartridges and both of mine tend to have hangups while ejecting plastic hulls. Especially longer hulls. I've thought about sending my truck gun out to have the ejection port radiused, but can't justify the expense.

They are cool, Numrich has the parts. They are Stevens/Savage 520 shotguns. I'd avoid the early types with the triangular safety inside the trigger guard. There are other models with a tang safety and a cross bolt safety, which are the ones to go for. Early models will have a "double hump" receiver. Later models have a smooth top.

If you can't live without it, buy it. They come up on gunbroker frequently. Stevens made them for Montgomery Wards under Western Field and for Sears as well as Stevens/Savage.

ETA: These are made with some damn fine steel. The machining on the takedown mechanism is incredible. And the steel is very strong and THICK. Even after cutting off 10" of barrel my 20" barrel still measures slightly tighter than Improved Cylinder. My gunsmith had problems drilling the hole for the new bead due to the material thickness.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Get it.

 

[The_Next_Generation]

I'll be back at the club tomorrow, he said he'd think about the offer. We'll see