I wouldn’t rule it absolutely not factory applied. There are some early M520-30 riot guns with the hand stamped “M.520 U.S” on the receiver that looks like it was done by a kindergartener. I was sure they were fake until I found 3 more just like it. They’re in the correct serial number range.
I’ve got a Model 520A (JC Higgins 102.25) from 1946-47 that should have a 70k serial number but instead has a 4 digit serial hand stamped on the side of the receiver much like that 620 riot.
Last edited by Keydet92; 05-28-2019 at 06:23.
James,
I'm a collector and researcher of Stevens 520/620 shotguns.