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LOT 448
Excellent and Highly Desirable World War II U.S. Stevens Model 520-30
Slide Action Trench Shotgun - Serial no. 61445, 12 gauge, 20 inch round
bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This is an excellent example of a very desirable
World War II U.S. Army contract Stevens Model 520-30 trench shotgun with
the correct bayonet lug adapter and ventilated six-hole handguard. A martial
variant of a John Browning designed sporting gun, the 520 Trench Gun was
originally developed in response to a World War I request for new fighting shotguns for the
American Expeditionary Force. It made a strong impression on the evaluators but did not make it into
the field before the armistice was signed. Seeing potential for the gun on the police market, Stevens kept production going until 1932, and at the outbreak of World War II, the U.S. government bought every 520 that was still in the warehouse. Checked back into the arsenals at the end of the war, many were sent back into the field for the Korean War and Vietnam. The right of the barrel has the three-line Stevens company address and the left has the two-line gauge markings. Choke gauges at cylinder. The left of the receiver is stamped “MOD. 520-30” ahead of “U.S.”, and the correct “P/Ordnance Bomb” proof on the right of the barrel at the breech and left front edge of the receiver. It has an all blue finish with smooth walnut forearm and pistol grip stock with a black plastic buttplate. The stock and bayonet lug are correctly fitted with sling swivels. Length of pull is 14 inches.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% plus original blue finish overall showing some light cycling wear and some light handling marks, with sharp edges and markings in the metal. Wood is also excellent with defined edges, some light handling marks, and rich oil finish. Mechanically excellent. This excellent example of a World War II U.S. Stevens Model 520-30 trench shotgun would make a fine addition to any U.S. Military arms collection!
Estimate: 12,000 - 17,000