How about a picture shot from above. Instead of one from the rear where everything you're trying to look at is fading off into the distance. Something 90° to the camera would be really nice. Left side and right side.

 

Done, thank you sir.

 

I'm not saying it wasn't but the forearm doesn't look anything like most military shotguns of the time and Cutts compensators weren't normally used by POW guards.

 

Cutts compensators weren't normally used by POW guards.

They weren't, but they were in aerial gunnery schools. If it was used by the military, it will have a flaming bomb proof stamp.

 

Looks like a Winchester model 12 to me 🤷‍♂️

 

That's what I was thinking. Is it a takedown?

I never handled a Model 12, but I know that the takedowns exist. And that just kind of looks like it should turn 90° and come apart, like a 1897.

 

It's not a Winchester 12, pretty sure it's a Stevens Model 620.

 

It doesn't have a 620 forearm. Nor is it an Ithaca or model 12.

 

It doesn't have a 620 forearm

That's what was throwing me off, but that is a 620 if it has tangs, no tangs it's a 620A. Made until 1955, might be a Sears or hardware store model.

 

It looks like a 620 where the barrel and mag tube meet the receiver but I can't find a 620 or 620 A with that style of forearm. They all have the metal ring on the base. Maybe somebody retrofitted a different one. Can you post a pic of the bottom of the receiver where the mag tube meets the receiver? That will tell if it's a 620.

 

Ok it is a Stevens 620. That forearm tho.

 

The 620 was used by the military however they ALL were stamped with the "P" and flaming bomb on the receiver with US after the serial number and the trench guns had a bayonet lug. The barrels were stamped with "P" and US with a faming bomb on the right side. Sense this gun does not have the stamping that all of them had I would say this gun was NOT used in the military.

 

You could be right sir. But, like I said, I have picture of my dad while he was still wearing an eyepatch (from his injury at Normandy) at the Alva POW camp. The shotgun he's holding looks like one of the two I have (including the Lyman Cutts suppressor).

A follow-up email I got from Ithaca suggested that it might be a specially made Remington 31. I've reached-out to the Remington Society of America. I'll let everyone know what they say.

 

It's not a Remington. The unique take down design was developed by Browning and was used on the Stevens 520 and 620. I don't know of anything else that used it.

 

I see what you mean, and I believe you are correct. Thank you for your help and your patience in explaining your conclusion.

 

I think not look at the receiver and safety set up.

 

It's a 620A, no tangs like a 620, they changed to a stock through bolt, made 1940 to 1955. Stevens is the only one that used that Browning patent take down, like Hawg pictured.
I did find a pic of a 16ga 620A with that forearm, and checkering pattern, but I couldn't copy it to post here.

 

I sent an email with pictures to Savage Arms, Inc. (the company that owns Stevens Firearms). I'll let everyone know what they say.

Also, a well-know firearms auction house has opined that it is a 620A specially designed for use at POW camps. (They asked me not to disclose their name, until I was ready to consign for auction. I'm not sure I want to do that ... but at my age and with no family other than my wife, it may be the wise thing.)

 

WB, I think that auction house may be feeding you a line. If it was used in a military POW camp, it would have the U.S. Flaming Bomb proof stamp. There were "Trench" and "Riot" models, purchased and issued, and no matter where they went, they had that proof stamp. The ones used in the Aerial Gunnery schools were stamped as well. They were the only ones used by military, that had a Cutts Compensator.
Yours, being completely devoid of markings, is very strange. I hope Savage can give you some information on it, I'm curious what it's story is as well.

 

WB, I think that auction house may be feeding you a line. If it was used in a military POW camp, it would have the U.S. Flaming Bomb proof stamp. There were "Trench" and "Riot" models, purchased and issued, and no matter where they went, they had that proof stamp. The ones used in the Aerial Gunnery schools were stamped as well. They were the only ones used by military, that had a Cutts Compensator.
Yours, being completely devoid of markings, is very strange. I hope Savage can give you some information on it, I'm curious what it's story is as well.

I will keep you posted.

 

Watching and waiting

 

Probably not Military due to missing flaming bomb or U.S. Property stamps. This will be solved by the barrel
because that`s not a regular style of fitting to the muzzle. I have had several to include a first year Hi Standard
semi-auto and none had that style of attachment. I think that`s going to be the key to solve this.
To me it looks like a house brand shotgun. Made by-for???