ON HOLD - Rare Stevens Model 520 Trench Shotgun - Navy Issued

Description

2/13/25 - This is the first example we've encountered of a Stevens 520 Trench shotgun that was issued to the U.S. Navy. A martial variant of a John Browning designed sport 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 to 1932, and at the outbreak of World War II, the U.S. government bought every 520 that was still in the warehouse. There were ~33,000 Stevens 520-30s produced for the war, with a mix of trench guns, riot guns and long-barreled training guns among those 33,000. This one is marked with the 'U.S.' military proof and flaming bomb. Matching serial numbers on trigger housing, tang, stock, barrel and barrel extension. The documentation is a notice of release from the Defense Surplus Sales Office, Naval Supply Center, in Oakland, CA. This example is listed by serial on the form. It's a nice example aside from an area of pitting on the right side of the receiver/barrel/mag tube. Very nice finish everywhere else. Nice wood stock with a minor surface crack on the left side wrist. High-polished 6-row heat shield and a correct, unmarked plum color bayonet lug. Excellent bore. Smooth action.