US marked Remington M31

[scosgt]

And yes, they did indeed take just about any pump shotgun in inventory at the factory.

The story goes, the 520-30 was discontinued with the introduction of the 620 round back receiver, to compete with the more modern M12.

At the onset of war Uncle contracted with Stevens for all the left over 520-30 receivers laying around unsold at the factory.

I had an Ithaca skeet grade that was stamped FJA. The ONLY FJA stamped Ithaca shotgun I ever heard of. The gun was mint and real. The serials before and after than gun appear in the Ithaca sales records I have. That one does not. The "story" was that this gun was from the estate of a former President of Ithaca Gun. In fact, I bought it from a high end shotgun dealer located about 5 miles from the old Ithaca factory.

Buy the gun, not the story.

But there are some oddballs out there. The Remingtons posted here appear to me to be correct and original (except for recoil pads of course).

The "long barrel M97" was originally a riot gun. The barrel dated 1948 is a dead giveaway. However, M97 military riots in any kind of condition are extremely rare.

[dogfoot]

I love this stuff, glad I found you guys.
My last long gun, an RLB marked Ithaca 37:

https://i.imgur.com/gIiImfi.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eiz1QrZ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FfY1pVd.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/s5ZZ0ny.jpg

Bubba put a junk choke tube on it ☹️
Kent ����

[scosgt]

I have one of the rare ones - marked both UNITED STATES PROPERTY and RLB!
A small lot that went to Springfield Armory just before the war.

[Keydet92]

Scosgt, that is the "story" on the M520-30 that can be found in print in several places, including Canfield but it's just a story based on a misunderstanding of what really happened at Stevens. The 620 replaced the original 520 in 1927 as the flagship pump for Stevens. The 520 was then dropped from Stevens catalogs in 1929 relegated to trade and store brand production until it was replaced by the 520A in 1940 (also only trade and store brand). It's the 520A, that was new and in full production that was renamed the 520-30 for the military contract. Because you don't see them in Stevens catalogs, people think they were discontinued but over 200K 520 shotguns were made between 1927-39 and 30K 520A shotguns were made between 1940-42. The 520A continued in production after the war until 1948 with over 100K made (including wartime 520-30 production).

[dokcop]

scosgt/Keydet92 Thanks very much for the very explicit explanation. Regarding the object of my original post: assuming that my 92% (conservative)) estimate of condition with the bore bright and excellent, no corrosion or damage, gun totally functional (I shot clays with it for years) and clean original wood with original (hard rubber or plastic) buttplate, nothing refinished or buggered with, can you suggest a fair value? I have someone interested in it.

Regards, Dokcop

[Keydet92]

Dokcop, I apologize for the hijack, just trying to correct that story.

[dokcop]

No problem A very interesting discussion. Regards, Dokcop.

[dogfoot]

DokCop,
I sent you an email.
Kent