jim c 351 Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 I recently adapted the orphan riot gun pictured below. It was on gunbroker.com.Its a mismatched gun with a damaged toe on the stock and missing the butt plate.The seller claimed it was once owned by the Fort Worth Police Department , but could provide no proof.Its not a bad looking gun and I'm happy with it. After I get a buttplate and repair the toe it will look even better.Any comments???Jim C 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 Buttplate is the standard plastic ( or whatever ) one used on the '40s commercial guns . My trench gun ( $150 ) had the plate replaced by a rubber pad . Luckily the stock was not cut . I found a guy at a large gun show that had about 50 in a box . After going through about 30 , I found one that was a perfect fit . That would be the best way to handle this so you won't have to fit it to the stock. I paid $25 for it . I later found a handguard that fit the wear on the gun perfectly fo $300 .Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted June 18, 2015 Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 Ohhhh.....yours must be an early one to have checkered wood . Mine has smooth and it's hard to keep your hand on the pump.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted June 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2015 Chris,I noticed that David doesn't have a photo of a 520 trench gun in the pinned section. Why don't you post a photo of yours for dalbert?I sent to a place named Popperts for a $7.00 buttplate. Been 2 weeks, haven't received it. Have you ever dealt with them??I have read that the riot guns came before the trench guns and usually have lower serial numbers and earlier features.My club had a plate shoot last Sunday and me and another 520 gunner shot up a half case of clay targets using a hand thrower. Lots of fun.Jim C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Chris,I noticed that David doesn't have a photo of a 520 trench gun in the pinned section. Why don't you post a photo of yours for dalbert?I sent to a place named Popperts for a $7.00 buttplate. Been 2 weeks, haven't received it. Have you ever dealt with them??I have read that the riot guns came before the trench guns and usually have lower serial numbers and earlier features.My club had a plate shoot last Sunday and me and another 520 gunner shot up a half case of clay targets using a hand thrower. Lots of fun.Jim C Jim C, One of my Stevens shotguns is a trench model, but without the trenchgun handguard. I'm away from them at the moment, but either my 520-30, or my 630 has the barrel slots for the handguard, and is in the correct serial number range. I'll have to check to make sure which one it is. They are pictured at the top of the reference page. I think a lot of WWII shotguns went to PD's. My Winchester Model 97 trench gun came from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. I have no paperwork to support this, but I have it from excellent authority that it came from there in the 1960's. David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted June 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 David,Well, Your 620 has a front sight and the 520 does not have a front sight, so I suspect the 520 is the trench. Is the 520 drilled for a front sight ???The shadows prevent me from seeing the screw grooves.How long have you been looking for the handguard??Its hard to make out from my photo, but the gun is stamped FWPD on the right side. I suppose the FW could stand for some dept. other than Fort Worth.Jim C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron_brock Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Chris,I noticed that David doesn't have a photo of a 520 trench gun in the pinned section. Why don't you post a photo of yours for dalbert?I sent to a place named Popperts for a $7.00 buttplate. Been 2 weeks, haven't received it. Have you ever dealt with them??I have read that the riot guns came before the trench guns and usually have lower serial numbers and earlier features.My club had a plate shoot last Sunday and me and another 520 gunner shot up a half case of clay targets using a hand thrower. Lots of fun.Jim CI've bought from Popperts. I assume they are an olde tyme type of place. You should get your parts unless something got lost in the mail, but it may take a few weeks. Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 The problem with mail order is they were drilled , mounted and hand fitted before being removed and the stock sent into finishing . The one you get may overhang at the top , bottom , one side or the other , or could be small on one side and overhang on the other . Hand pick is the only way to go . You don't want to file or sand on that original finish . David , if you want a picture , just ask and I'll put it on my to-do list.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted June 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 Chris,I'd be happy to hand pick buttplates out of a box of 50 if only I could find someone with a box of 50 without flying to Arizona.David is kind of shy about asking for things that why I did it for him. David likes volunteers.Thanks for your commentsJim C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalbert Posted June 20, 2015 Report Share Posted June 20, 2015 Chris, Yes, I'd appreciate a photo of a 520-30 trench gun for the reference section when you get a chance. Jim C, It is my 520-30 that is the trench gun, but without a shroud. I bought a repro shroud several years ago, but it would need some work to get it to fit without scratching up the gun. I'd like to find an original shroud sometime. The shotgun has the 3 slot millings, and is not drilled for a front sight. Here's a photo: David Albertdalbert@sturmgewehr.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted June 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2015 David, Very interesting.A 520 trench recently sold on GB that appeared to have a hole for a front sight. If so, then I guess it wasn't an original trench gun.Jim C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmagee1917 Posted June 22, 2015 Report Share Posted June 22, 2015 Prob'ly a riot gun converted to a trench . Trench guns have the bead on the adapter . Big question would be who did the conversion.One reason I paid only $150 was that the seller said barrel and stock had been cut down due to lack of bead hole and rubber recoil pad . The three groves told me he was wrong about the barrel but I didn't know he was wrong about the stock until I tried to shoulder it . Made the Thompson feel short stocked. I'll get you pics soon.Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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