Neat old shotgun - AR15.COM

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Posted: 3/10/2010 12:17:13 AM EDT

Sorry about the terrible pics. Don't have my camera at the moment. But I digress.

It's an old beater Montgomery Ward 520 series. I think from about 1941. It more or less never leaves my trunk. It is unique in a lot of ways, and is based on a Browning design. It had police department markings which suggest it was a riot gun back in the day (probably sat in someone's trunk for 30 years.) It's 5+1 12ga.

The best part of this shotgun is it's VERY quick and easy to break down.

Thus making it easier to take nearly anywhere (Like work

) without being seen or noticed.

Posted: 3/10/2010 12:18:43 AM EDT

[#1]

Very cool!!

Posted: 3/10/2010 12:18:59 AM EDT

[#2]

cool, neat that you can fit a full size shotgun in a brief case.

Posted: 3/10/2010 12:23:31 AM EDT

[#3]

I love, LOVE take down guns.

That's a classy looking Shotgun to boot!

My old Win. M1912 riot gun fits in a Jan sport backpack, gotta love serious firepower in benign opaque wrappers.
Looks like I need to cruise goodwill for briefcases.

Posted: 3/10/2010 12:45:18 AM EDT

[#4]

Sweet.

Does the magazine tube stay full with ammo when it's broken down like that?

Posted: 3/10/2010 12:47:01 AM EDT

[#5]

Quoted:
Sweet.

Does the magazine tube stay full with ammo when it's broken down like that?

Unfortunately it doesn't naturally. You can however do it yourself with a little creativity.

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:07:04 AM EDT

[#6]

You could do this with a short barreled take-down Winchester 97 also.

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:13:34 AM EDT

[#7]

I like!

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:13:44 AM EDT

[#8]

I like!

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:18:40 AM EDT

[#9]

I want one. How much would and example like that run these days?

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:21:56 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
I want one. How much would and example like that run these days?

I've seen them for 150 bucks.

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:34:45 AM EDT

[#11]

Awesome. Found a similar one on gunbroker for that much. Thank you.

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:35:41 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Awesome. Found a similar one on gunbroker for that much. Thank you.

You'll love it. They're built like tanks. They load strangely (the lift keeps them in the magazine) but they're tons of fun.

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:48:10 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Awesome. Found a similar one on gunbroker for that much. Thank you.

You'll love it. They're built like tanks. They load strangely (the lift keeps them in the magazine) but they're tons of fun.

That's so you can keep it loaded with lead, then dump it quickly when you hear the game warden.

Or so my Grandfather says.

Posted: 3/10/2010 2:48:39 AM EDT

[#14]

Is it a concealed weapon if it is broken down like that, and in a briefcase or whatever?

Posted: 3/10/2010 2:50:43 AM EDT

[#15]

Sweet! love the briefcase option.

Posted: 3/10/2010 2:52:18 AM EDT

[#16]

Very nice

Posted: 3/10/2010 2:53:04 AM EDT

[#17]

That is very cool.
Like the briefcase application

Thanks for posting

Posted: 3/10/2010 6:32:08 AM EDT

[#18]

Cool

. Can you tell us more about how they break down? Are all 520's take down models?

Posted: 3/10/2010 6:32:42 AM EDT

[#19]

Do want.

Posted: 3/10/2010 6:41:51 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Cool

. Can you tell us more about how they break down? Are all 520's take down models?

You pull the front hand guard back, unscrew the magazine, pull the barrel/magazine down, and there ya go. It's very easy.

Posted: 3/10/2010 7:27:56 AM EDT

[#21]

I'm doing the same thing with a Winchester '97.
My barrel assembly is the same length as the butt/action.
Fits in a nice lil pouch....slick.

You wouldn't expect a 12 gauge pump to come out of
something like that now would you......

Posted: 3/10/2010 7:30:53 AM EDT

[#22]

Montgomery Ward, wow, now that brings back memories. I haven't seen one it at least 15 years, and I never remember them selling guns. I want one!

Posted: 3/10/2010 9:46:36 AM EDT

[#23]

I believe the 520 was manufactured for Monkey-Wards by Savage/Stevens.

Posted: 3/10/2010 9:52:18 AM EDT

[#24]

It really is built like a tank. I have one from 1922. Mine is a 16 guage though.

Apparently it was popular in Vietnam too.

Posted: 3/10/2010 9:56:57 AM EDT

[#25]

The 520 is based on a 1905 John M. Browning patent. Modified later into the 620 which essentially was a streamlined, no-rear-hump version. 520 made through 1930 and saw much action WWII - VN. I have two in civies and one 520-30 ord-marked riot gun.

Built like a tank and generally cheap when you find them. All steel and walnut. No Al or plastic or birch.

Posted: 3/10/2010 10:13:11 AM EDT

[#26]

I have a Westernfield brand .20 ga. from MW. It is actually a Mossberg 500.

Posted: 3/10/2010 10:45:25 AM EDT

[#27]

pretty cool nothing on gb though..

Posted: 3/10/2010 10:57:43 AM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
I believe the 520 was manufactured for Monkey-Wards by Savage/Stevens.

I thought so, but I didn't want to assume that and have 50 posts telling me how stupid I am

Posted: 3/10/2010 10:58:05 AM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:
pretty cool nothing on gb though..

Try Stevens 520

Posted: 3/10/2010 11:10:39 AM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
Is it a concealed weapon if it is broken down like that, and in a briefcase or whatever?

Unloaded & in a nonfunctional state. Under MO law it's good to go legally.
Even if somehow the mag tube could be loaded (drill a couple of small holes in the mag tube & use a cotter pin, etc to hold shells in place) it'd still be OK.

Posted: 3/10/2010 11:41:34 AM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
It really is built like a tank. I have one from 1922. Mine is a 16 guage though.

Apparently it was popular in Vietnam too.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/uploads//monthly_10_2008/post-1759-1224736060.jpg

I gave My dad a Stevens 520 a few years ago and included that copy of American Rifleman.
"Shotguns of the Vietnam war"?
He loved it and it looks great next to his M1 in the safe.

Posted: 3/10/2010 11:54:53 AM EDT

[#32]

the front fell off......

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:27:45 PM EDT

[#33]

Tag.

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:38:54 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:

Tag.

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:48:29 PM EDT

[#35]

I want need one of those.

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:49:51 PM EDT

[#36]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Tag.

What kills me is I just bought a folding knife on Monday because of a thread here, now I'm scouring fucking RiverofGuns, Gunbroker, Auction arms, and GunsAmerica for this shotgun.

DAMN YOU GD!

I swear I have no willpower.

Posted: 3/10/2010 1:59:57 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Tag.

What kills me is I just bought a folding knife on Monday because of a thread here, now I'm scouring fucking RiverofGuns, Gunbroker, Auction arms, and GunsAmerica for this shotgun.

DAMN YOU GD!

I swear I have no willpower.

I don't blame ya. I had to buy it when I saw it.

Posted: 3/10/2010 2:01:08 PM EDT

[#38]

this is a very cool shotgun.

(also ZS represent :))

Posted: 3/10/2010 2:37:28 PM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I believe the 520 was manufactured for Monkey-Wards by Savage/Stevens.

I thought so, but I didn't want to assume that and have 50 posts telling me how stupid I am

I believe Stevens was using the Ranger brand name for the MW shotties.

Posted: 3/10/2010 2:54:11 PM EDT

[#40]

Pretty cool.

Posted: 3/10/2010 2:55:03 PM EDT

[#41]

Hypothetical:

If this is broken down into two pieces, without the magazine being loaded, is it still a "weapon"?

"Are there any weapons in the car?"

"Nope."

Can I bring it into NY and NJ in the trunk in 2 pieces?

Hmmmm....

Posted: 3/10/2010 2:58:09 PM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:

Hypothetical:

If this is broken down into two pieces, without the magazine being loaded, is it still a "weapon"?

"Are there any weapons in the car?"

"Nope."

Can I bring it into NY and NJ in the trunk in 2 pieces?

Hmmmm....

While I don't know the legalities... I can say you could have this guy assembled in no time. Snap it in, spin the magazine tube and you're ready to roll.

Posted: 3/10/2010 2:59:50 PM EDT

[#43]

Very nice.

HH

Posted: 3/10/2010 4:23:28 PM EDT

[#44]

Here's some info for everyone considering one of these from an old school Army Ordnance
guy who many of the better informed would know. I emailed him how this design would
stack up to a '97 Winchester and here is his reply:

Dave, There is no comparison, The 520-30 & the 620 share the same mechanism, the 620 being streamlined to look like the Model 12 Win (not!!!) The shotgun works well when new and I find no terrible complaints in the US manuals of the era, to date, however the spring tail that engages the slide release has become brittle and will fail. This failure won't allow the slide lock to disengage after the round is fired. I'd imagine, with spring making of the era, this was a problem at the time. Our shop took in 4000+++ shotguns in Viet Nam for TI
before issue, most were M12 & M97's about a third were Savage spawn! I think we used up the last of the WWII parts supply of this #%%&*@@* spring that our RIA tech reps could dig up for us. (@@##$$%**&&^%$##)(!!!).

Posted: 3/10/2010 4:42:04 PM EDT

[#45]

I like it.

Thanks for sharing.

Posted: 3/10/2010 4:47:40 PM EDT

[#46]

Quoted:
Very cool!!

Very, very cool!!

Posted: 3/10/2010 5:47:02 PM EDT

[#47]

When I was a young policeman in 1969, we had them in the squads. They were replaced by 870's.

Posted: 3/10/2010 6:12:17 PM EDT

[#48]

Quoted:

Hypothetical:

If this is broken down into two pieces, without the magazine being loaded, is it still a "weapon"?

"Are there any weapons in the car?"

"Nope."

Can I bring it into NY and NJ in the trunk in 2 pieces?

Hmmmm....

You can bring it into NYS with no problem, regardless of whether it's in 2 pieces or not.

NYC is another matter, and I'm willing to bet that it'd be a problem either way.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Neat old shotgun

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