My grandpa's shotgun was recently handed down to me, and before I gave it some much needed cleaning, I wanted to get some information on it.
It is a Savage 720 serial #714XX, 21" barrel w/ compensator and 3 chokes.
My grandpa was a career military man, starting in the Army Air Corp in WWII. I think this shotgun was acquired sometime during or after WWII, but not sure. It has been stored in attics and garages since, and suprisingly is not in too bad shape.
I'm trying to find some history on this gun.
I also want to know if I should shoot this ****** or just leave it to look good in the corner. What types of loads should it cycle? Is the reciever supposed to be bare metal or did someone remove the blueing. And whats up with the funky compensator?
The model 720, I believe, was originally a Springfield shotgun. It was made from about 1930 until the late '40s. After 1940 they (some?) had an engraved receiver. Look here: www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230494
Yours was a Military trainer. I see the flaming bomb on the barrel & reciever with the "US" . These are worth 2 or 3 times more than a standard 720. I had a few but I sold them a few years ago.
This is a Savage M720 that was sold to the military during WWII. It came from the factory with a cylinder bored barrel (****) and the Cutts or Weaver choke was added later. In the original condition it is worth about $1800 to $2000 but since it has been modified, I can't say what the value would be. The choke device could have been added by the armory for use on a military skeet or trap range. At any rate, the gun is priceless to you since it was your Grandpa's.
While these guns were sold to the military as trench/riot guns, most were used by gunnery crews as trainers as Gogmatt mentioned. They were made on John Browning's patent as were the FN A5 and the Remington M11 & American Browning. The military M720 serial numbers ran in the 69,000 - 90,000 range.
These are good solid guns about on par with the Remington M11 and will last a lifetime. Most parts are not interchangable with the Browning of Remington guns.[/i]
Thanks for all the replies and info. I found out a little more about this gun. The aerial gunnery training aspect makes sense, my granpa flew B-24 Liberators in WWII. The Cutts compensator was added sometime shortly after the War, and the shotgun was used for bird hunting in Europe during the immediate post-war years. It apparently didn't survive the trip back to the United States because I was told the blueing on the reciever was so pitted and rusted it was removed sometime in the early 1960s.
I have no intention of selling this, I'd like to make it a shooter and do some dove hunting. Will I be doing anything wrong if I get the receiver re-blued?
Yeah, that gun looks like it "was rode hard and put away wet"! But it should be a GREAT shooter, and a good memory of Grandpa, a true family treasure.
I wouldn't worry about rebluing it, no problem if you want to!
Just make sure you get instructions from someone with an A5 or similar on how to adjust the friction rings for heavy loads vs. light loads (it's easy to do) before you use it.
I tend to "leave 'em be". As long as you're not dragging it out on rainy days and willing to be a little extra-careful in keeping the bare metal protected, the old girl should wear her age proudly. You want something shiny to shoot doves with? Pick up something that's already shiny!
As for collectors and value... I find that there are just some folks that go ballastic every time a "flaming bomb" is threatened with a buff and blue job. I don't go quite that far, but I do think most of them should be left as they are to be used and treated kindly in their old age.
BTW, neat shotgun, neat story. Cherish it whatever you decide to do with it.
I'm not that familiar with the Savage 720, but do know the Rem. 11's. Does the 720 have a recoil cushion such as the Remington has? If they do and you have it re-blued the cushion will need to be replaced. Hot salts blue will destroy the cushion.
I'm not that familiar with the Savage 720, but do know the Rem. 11's. Does the 720 have a recoil cushion such as the Remington has? If they do and you have it re-blued the cushion will need to be replaced. Hot salts blue will destroy the cushion.
I have one of these that has NOT been modified with a choke. Mine is a shorter barreled TRENCH Semi Auto. I has a great worm-hole in the forearm wood that gives it GREAT character. Mine is stamped with US also.
I might be interested in selling it. VERY nice weapon.
I just traded a marlin mod 60 for one missing a forend.
Has the flaming bomb and its been reblued over top of pitting, has the compensator too. its actually a very cool shotgun lol!
image in the parts wanted area.
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