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LOT 3424
Excellent and Very Scarce World War II U.S. Inspected Remington
Model 31 Slide Action Riot Shotgun - Serial no. 60058, 12 gauge, 20 inch round bbl.,
blue finish, walnut stock. This is an excellent example of a U.S. inspected Remington Model
31 riot shotgun manufactured in June of 1942, one of a reported 8,992 delivered on U.S. government contract
between 1940-1944. These shotguns were used mostly for security duties and gunnery training,
with some evidence that at least a few Model 31s saw combat use during the war. At the outbreak of World War II, Remington diverted most of its Model 31 shotgun production in order to manufacture M1903 bolt action rifles, while also concentrating its efforts on manufacturing Model 11 autoloading shotguns for military use, leading to the relative scarcity of U.S. contract Model 31 shotguns. Crossed cannons ordnance inspection cartouche stamped on the left of the buttstock. The top of the barrel is roll stamped with the two-line Remington Arms address and patent dates, with the left marked “12 GA. For 2 3/4 inch shells or shorter” ahead of “CYL”. The lower left of the
barrel is stamped with the matching serial number “60058” ahead of the date code “PL” (6/42). The left of the receiver is roll stamped with the Remington name, model and serial number. It has a bead front sight and raised solid matte rib on top of the receiver (only). Fitted with a thirty groove pump handle, pistol grip walnut stock and bakelite Remington serrated buttplate.
CONDITION: Excellent, nearly as issued, retains 97% plus original blue finish with minimal cycling wear and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Wood is also excellent with defined edges, a patch
of crazing on the left of the stock, some light handling marks, and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. This excellent U.S. inspected Remington Model 31 riot gun would be near impossible to improve upon! Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
LOT 3425
Highly Desirable Early Production Four Digit Serial Number 2442 World War II U.S. Inland M1 Semi- Automatic Carbine - Serial no. 2442, 30 Carbine cal., 18 inch round bbl., parkerized/blue finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in the first main-run production block of M1 Carbines from GM’s Inland Division, this would be among the earliest M1 Carbines manufactured for U.S. issue. Blade front sight and “S” marked Type I flip-up rear sight, with an Inland “7-42” barrel, unmarked Type I barrel band, blue finished “IO” flat top bolt, milled Inland trigger housing, “H in shield” hammer,
checkered push button safety, serrated “W-I” magazine catch, “PI” operating rod and “AI” magazine. Fitted with an early Inland high wood stock with an “I” oiler cut and stamped with an “O”, “LA” and flaming Ordnance bomb and crossed cannons in the sling inlet, and two-rivet handguard stamped with an “O” and flaming Ordnance bomb on the underside. Includes an olive drab green canvas sling and oiler. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% original parkerized finish with light cycling wear, original blue finish showing beneath on the barrel, a few areas turned to a smooth brown, 97% original blue finish on the bolt, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. 99% original blue finish remains on the magazine. Stock is very fine with attractive raised grains, some light handling marks, and distinct edges. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
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LOT 3426 Desirable World War II U.S. Purchased Winchester Model 70 Rifle with RIA Marked Stock - Serial no. 41984, 30-06 Springfield cal., 24 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This Winchester Model 70 rifle was manufactured circa late 1941 to early 1942 and is in its standard configuration and is stamped with a boxed “RIA/FK 3” cartouche on the left wrist of the stock. Identical Rock Island Arsenal inventory markings on World War II era Model 70 Sporting Rifles are illustrated on page 145 of “The Model 70 Winchester” by Dean H. Whitaker and page 298 of “The Rifleman’s Rifle” by Roger Rule. The Army and Marine Corps purchased a limited number of Model 70 Standard rifles during World War II, with most utilized as target rifles. Some of these rifles were evaluated as potential sniper rifles. The rifle has a type 1 receiver with the early clover-leaf rear tang and has two filled in holes on the left rear of the receiver for mounting a target sight. It is fitted with a sporter weight Winchester barrel that has the two-line Winchester factory address followed by “30GOV’T’06” caliber marking. The bolt is correctly electro-stencil matching serial numbered “41984” on the underside, and it has a solid bolt handle knob with early type 1 bolt sleeve/safety, marked on top with an arrow and “FIRE”. The barrel and receiver are both stamped with circled “WP” proofmarks, and a flaming ordnance bomb is stamped on the barrel. It has a low comb stock with the checkered panels on the sides of the forend and pistol grip area with the checkered steel buttplate. Includes a brown M1907 leather sling. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% original blue finish with some areas of light thinning and some light handling marks. Stock is also very fine with defined edges, some scattered scratches and dings, crisp checkering and a crisp cartouche. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500