Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns I'm not a shotgun guy....

but I'm getting there.

Sold my 870 in 12 gage year's ago but kept my Sear's "Ted Williams" model 75 20 gage semi and recently added a nostelgia Stevens 5100 12 gage double. My brother had trashed my original when I was in the Navy back in the 50's and I missed it.

I just added this Western Field (Browning designed Stevens 520)today via the internet. I got interested in it after watching a PBS edition of "History detectives" that featured a very similar example that might have been used by the Chicago mob back in the 1930's.





Anyone know anything regarding this model and it's clones?

About all I know is, it has no disconnector, so don't forget to let up on the trigger when you work the action...... A buddy of mine had a 16 when I was a kid, and it "got" me that way. Oooops . No harm, no foul, and no disconnector.

The Army used them in WWII for prison guards, and whatever else they needed shotguns for, too, complete with short barrels and perforated handguards over the barrel, along with a bayonet lug.
Good shotgun, but a little hard to look at.

I saw the same "History Detectives" episode, and as usual, it was pretty weak in gun facts. They did an episode on Bonnie and Clyde, too, that one wasn't worth a nickel. They got most of the "facts" wrong on that one.

Heavy but built like a tank - and can be taken down fairly quick if you want. My grandfather got one in the 1930s. My dad got it when grandpa died in 1967 (about 35 years later). I got it when my dad died in 2003 (after about another 35 years). I'm kinda worried about what's going to happen after another 35 years.

Model 520s and clones were made from around 1904 to 1932 (when they were replaced by the round backed but otherwise very similar 620), then again during WWII for the war effort. The one pictured is what I believe is the earliest version with the double humpback and suicide safety. Later guns also had a trigger guard or a tang safety, and there's two different designs for the slide release.

Neatest takedown system of any shotgun IMO.



You can actually get five shells in the mag. They look neat cut down.

Thanks for sharing guys. The humpback shipped today and I should receive it this week. I have my eye on the later straight receiver version too.

I'm also looking at vintage Remington model 11's, it would be interesting comparing the two.