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Stevens 520 Identification Guide

164K views 38 replies 6 participants last post by  OkiMarine 
#1 ·
Hello,
I started this ID guide here but for some reason it has dropped all the supporting pictures. I now maintain this guide over on Gun Values Board and keep it updated with photos and video and new research. Feel free to stop by: http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/stevens-5 ... -2617.html

Howdy,
I'd like to offer some information that I have collected over the years on how to ID Stevens 520 and 520A shotguns. This is a work in progress and I will update this post with more pictures of actual shotguns to show changes as I have time to take them. I'd like to give many thanks to Researcher01 who provided the Stevens catalog pages.

First off, Stevens 520 shotguns cannot currently be accurately dated with just a serial number. Stevens had an accidental fire in their records room right after WWI when they were being investigated for war profiteering and there was a great flood of the Connecticut River in 1936 that damaged the factory and records room again. This destroyed much of the information concerning production of these shotguns. It is stated that about 191,000 were made and my list of observed serial numbers supports this (All 520 variations between 1909-1939). Based off my research and collection of serial numbers, I also estimate that approximately 87,000 520As were made between 1940-1948 (including WWII 520-30 production). Without accurate records, I decided to chart an evolution of the 520 design by studying actual guns and available advertising literature. Let's start at the beginning.

1903-1909: John Browning filed a patent for a "hammerless" shotgun w/ a unique take-down barrel and locking breech block on 10 Jul 1903, it was approved on 7 Feb 1905 and along with a separate 27 Aug 1907 patent, that applies to the connection between the slide arm and the fore end, became the Stevens 520. Browning eventually sold the design to the J Stevens Arms & Tool Co in Chicopee Falls, MA.

JM Browning Patent 7 Feb 1905

JM Browning Patent 27 Aug 1907

1909-approx 1913/14: There are claims that production of the Stevens 520 may have begun as early as 1904 but it first appeared in Stevens' 1909 catalog #52 and was also offered for sale in the Fall 1909 Sears & Roebuck catalog. It is easily recognizable by having a round slide release knob on the left side of the receiver and a rounded pistol grip on the butt stock. The fore grip is ringed and uniform in size. The trigger housing is retained with three screws. The shell stop is a rocker design with a set screw on front right side of the receiver. There are other models going up to the fancy Stevens 535 with heavy engraving and checkered stocks (some English) and fore grips. Internally there is an inertial slide release block that is affixed to the inside of the receiver. A nub grooved safety, vice a larger triangle safety, is found on many early guns pre 1911.

Stevens Catalog #52 (1909)

Sears Catalog Fall 1909

Stevens Catalog #53 (1911) Stevens 520 and 522

Stevens Catalog #53 (1911) Stevens 525 and 530

Stevens Catalog #53 (1911) Stevens 535

1909-1913/14 Stevens 520

1913/14-1916: It is my guess that some time in this period Stevens started to change the design of the inertial slide release. During this period Stevens offered guns retaining the original round slide release button but incorporating the inertial block into the design of the trigger housing and they offered guns with a redesigned angled slide release in the trigger housing but retaining the original inertial slide release style attached to the inside of the receiver. It seems that they were experimenting with both trigger housing styles in a very short period. Unfortunately, the Stevens advertising continued to represent the guns with the original slide release configuration. See below for more on the evolution of the trigger housing.

Pre-1915 Stevens 535 with "new" style slide release but with inertial block still attached to receiver (screw above rear trigger housing screw)

1916-1919: Stevens was sold to New England Westinghouse (NEW) in May 1915 and on 1 July 1916 and the company name was changed from "J Stevens Arms & Tool Co" to "J Stevens Arms Company". Production of civilian firearms was either halted or severely curtailed at this time. NEW had a contract to make 1.8 million Mosin-Nagant rifles for the Russian Czar during WWI and they need a weapons manufacturing plant. When the communists deposed the Czar, they didn't pay the bill and NEW and Stevens went fell into financial trouble. An interesting note, around 1918 Stevens provided a 520 trench gun prototype to the US military. Supposedly several examples were made but no known examples survive. It had a unique two piece heat shield/bayonet lug. Stevens announced a return to full civilian production of firearms in the spring of 1919 was sold to Savage Arms on 1 April, 1920.

1920-1924: Production of the base Stevens 520 and the 522 Trap gun continued. These guns incorporated the design changes that were emerging in 1915 with regards to inertial block and slide release design. However, Stevens advertising continued to use pictures from the 1909-1913 period above that do not show the slide release and inertial block changes that happened pre-1916 as evidenced by guns with both company name styles incorporating the changes. These guns have the angled slide release button in the trigger housing and an inertial slide release block incorporated into the trigger plate. Butt stocks remain the same and fore grips retain the rings.

Sears Catalog Fall 1924

1920-24 Stevens 520

1925: The butt stock was redesigned with a flat ended pistol grip and checkering. This year marked the first appearance of the Stevens 520 as a store branded gun (Sears Ranger, Ward's Western Field). By the end of 1925 the trigger housing was redesigned in the 520 and the sliding inertial blocks were dropped. In guns prior to this time, the action is unlocked by the recoil of a fired round or by pushing the slide release, not by dry firing and applying forward pressure on the slide like modern shotguns. At the end of this period the inertial sliding blocks were replaced with a spring that keeps forward pressure on the slide release. That means that guns from this period on can unlock the action with forward pressure on the slide after a dry fire vice having to operate the slide release or fire a round.

Stevens Catalog #56 (1925)

Sears Catalog Fall 1925

1926-1927: During this period the fore grip got a diamond checkered pattern and in 1927 the 620 was introduced. It was a streamlined and redesigned 520. From this point on 520 development was closely tied to improvements made on the flagship 620. For cost saving purposes Stevens seems to have incorporated 620 changes, with the exception of the safety, into the 520 either at the same time or shortly after.

Sears Catalog Fall 1927

1926-27 Stevens 520

1926-27 Stevens 520

1928-1932: In 1928 (Stevens catalog #57) the streamlined Stevens 620 was introduced in a Stevens publication and the 520 was advertised under Stevens' budget line, Riverside Arms. The 520 appeared again in a revised #57 catalog in 1929 this time labeled as a Springfield, another budget line owned by Savage/Stevens. It was marked "Discontinued" in this catalog. This is the last time I can find the 520 represented in a Stevens sales publication (not parts catalogs). Sometime early in this period (1928-29) the front two screws that held in the trigger housing were swapped out for a pin. A 16 gauge version was introduced in 1928 Sears' catalogs and the 20 gauge came out in 1930. People seem to think that Stevens 520 production ended here or that only a small number of guns were made from remaining parts. This is absolutely not the case. The 520 went through several design changes and continued in full production as store branded guns. I have found a Stevens marked 520 from 1938-38 but I have yet to find a post 1932 Riverside Arms 520, or any 520 marked Springfield, but it is quite possible they're out there as the later Stevens 520A was marketed under the Riverside Arms name and one would expect Stevens to continue to fill the gap while the 520 was in production.

Stevens Catalog #57

Sears Catalog Fall 1928

Stevens Catalog #57 Revised (1929) notice that both guns are branded "Springfield" instead of "Riverside" and then stamped discontinued

Sears Catalog Fall 1932, notice the set screw under the front corner of the ejection port

1933-1935: The shell stop was redesigned from a rocker style to a spring loaded style and the forward set screw was removed. This allowed them to share these components with the 620s from this period. Some time during this period the ejector was redesigned and the screw mounting point was moved forward. I'm not sure when this occurs so I refer to them as early and late examples. There was a short period during the early phase of 1933-35 when Stevens dropped the breech block stop screw from the left side of the receiver so it is possible to find early guns from this period with and without them. In 1935 fancier wood stocks were offered as an option on 520s.

Sears Catalog Fall 1933, notice there is no set screw under the front corner of the ejection port

1933-35 Stevens 520 Right Side

1933-35 Stevens 520 Left Side (Early)

1933-35 Stevens 520 Left Side (Later)

1936-37: During this period Stevens again redesigned the shell (cartridge) stop, increasing it in length, this moved the mounting point further back on the right side of the receiver.

1938-39: This was when the trigger safety was dropped and replaced with the push button "cross-bolt" safety located behind the trigger. These guns also have a breech block rear stop screw on the upper right side of the receiver and a redesigned ejector that attaches via a round tab inside the receiver (no external screw, just a hole). These mirror design changes for the 620. A factory installed poly-choke was offered in 1939.

Sears Catalog Fall 1939, notice the shell stop screw and safety location

1938-39 Stevens 520 Right Side

1938-39 Stevens 520 Left Side

1940-1941: The Stevens 520 ended production and was replaced by the flat topped Stevens 520A in store brands and internal Riverside Arms markings (still as a 520) in 12, 16 and 20 gauges with a factory poly-choke option. The 520A utilizes a slide button safety located on the receiver tang. As a side note, I haven't found a gun marked 520A. This nomenclature seems to be internal to Stevens in their parts catalogs. The 520A is only pictured in Stevens' parts catalogs and in Sears and Montgomery Wards catalogs under their trade names. Stevens sold this gun under the Riverside Arms name but never put it in any factory gun catalog. The naming convention does make sense when you look at the evolution of the 620 into the 620A that happened during this time frame.

Sears Catalog Fall 1941

1940-41 Stevens 520A

1940-47 Stevens Barrel Roll Stamp Style

1942-1945: Stevens once again halted civilian production to make guns for WWII. The 520As were produced for the war effort as 520-30s in trench, riot and long-barreled training setup. This is a whole other topic in itself. Bruce Canfield provides excellent descriptions of these guns in his "Complete Guide to US Military Combat Shotguns". Anyone looking at these guns should be aware that the 520-30 is one of the most faked military shotguns. The martial stamps to make the correct military markings have been available for decades and professional gunsmiths have produced some very good fakes along with many home built jobs. This challenge is compounded by variations in early Stevens marking of these guns and the civilian purchase program that bought shotguns off the shelves of vendors and out of Stevens' inventory in order to meet wartime needs. Buyer beware.

1946-1948: The 520A ended its production run. Sears sold them as the JC Higgins Model 102.25 and Wards sold them as Model 30 SB562As during this period. Stevens stopped serializing shotguns in 1948 and there are a few 520As made in the last year of production without serial numbers. The highest serial number I have observed on a 520A is 86646.

Sears Catalog Fall 1947

1946-47 Stevens 520A

Throughout 520 production there were times when they were offered with raised matted rib barrels. Barrel lengths range from 26″-32″, however Stevens did advertise 620 riot guns w/ 20″ barrels in the 30s so it's not out of the question that a 520 came like this. Deluxe model 620s came out in about 1936 and 520s are also seen advertised with the same upgraded stocks.




Above is the evolution of the Stevens 520 trigger housing group(I didn't include the 520A because there is only one and it has a short tang and coil mainspring so it's easy to ID).
#1 1909-1913/14: The housing doesn't have a cut out for a slide release button. The slide release button is round and screws through the receiver into the slide release. The inertial release block is above the group. It clamps into the side of the receiver.

#2 1913/14-1915: The group retains the round slide release button but incorporates a new inertial release block into the side of the housing

#3 1913/14-1915: I don't have an example of this one but it can be seen in the picture of the engraved 535 above. The housing would have a cut out for an angled slide release button but doesn't have the inertial release block incorporated into the group. It is separate and clamped into the side of the receiver like #1.

#4 1920-1925: This housing has a cut out for an angled slide release button and in integral inertial release block.

#5 1925-1927: This housing replaces the inertial release block with a coil spring that maintains pressure on the slide release. This allows the slide to be unlocked with forward pressure after a dry fire. The slide release button, and cut in the housing, are modified to be straight. This housing, like all previous, uses two small screws to secure it to the receiver.

#6 1928-1937: This housing is the same as those above but replaces the front screws with a pin to secure the front to the receiver. Internally, as with all previous groups, there is a two leaf spring under the main spring that applies pressure to the slide release and the one-piece trigger/sear.

#7 1938-1939: This housing has the safety moved behind the trigger. Internally, the one piece trigger/sear is replaced by separate trigger and sear components that have pressure applied to them by coil springs.

I'll eventually add more pictures (specific model change examples and more catalog pages if required) when I get some more time. There are a whole bunch of internal changes to springs, triggers, breech bolts etc that I'll try to include as well in some detailed break down pics.

Enjoy and please let me know what I've gotten wrong or if you have examples of guns that don't fit these parameters. I'm certain they are out there.

James
 
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#27 ·
Jim: That fixed it. Everything I hoped it would be. You know, I've paid good money for books on guns that weren't this useful. You've really provided a first class reference for folks here. The unintended consequence of all this might be a mild run on these guns (now that you can figure out what you're actually getting). Stock up while you can!
 
#28 ·
I did not even know there was a problem with some photos not showing up... There was even information getting through that I was soaking up that I did not even notice. Was glad to see more photos when I did check this out again.
Mark
 
#29 ·
Jim: Went back and carefully re-read your original post (with all the additional photography). Lots of information to digest here(!). Both of the Western Field Model 30s I own have the later (#74) type of ejector, but the 12-gauge doesn't have the front breech-block screw on the left-side of the receiver (the 20 does). Go figure?

I also carefully looked over the early 520 advertisements that Dr. Drew provided. The model numbers and prices are interesting. Beginning at the field-grade, plain barrel 520 for $25 and ending at the Model 535 for $100 (w/522, 525, & 530 in between). Sadly, I have only seen photographic examples of the Model 522s (the Trap Model) and the 535s. It appears to me that the post-1925 Model 30 numbering sequence (for all makes, including the Riverside versions) is Model 30 for the plain barrel field-grade guns, Model 31 for solid-rib versions and Model 35 for the post-1938 non-suicide safety guns. Are there model numbers that I'm not aware of? I'm now assuming that sub-gauge guns used the same numbering sequences?

From what little advertising I've seen for the 620s, they used a similar system (620, 622, etc.). Last questions: What safety did the early 620s use? Inside of the trigger guard like the 520s? Also, what are the differences between the 620s and the 620a guns?
 
#30 ·
lloyd,

It looks like you have one of the guns, w/o the breech block stop screw, I mentioned above in my second reply. One just sold on GB (Ranger 33-37 Early type w/ 32" barrel), didn't get my bid in time. I'm thinking that's a one or two year model in the middle of the 33-37 range. Like they tried something out, didn't like it and changed it back. Does it have any sort of internal device to stop the breech block from sliding out other than the pressure from the cartridge stop?

The Stevens advertised model names are in the following catalogs:
1909-14--520 (base), 522 (trap), 525(?), 530(?), 535(delux) (Stevens reuses the 530 name later double barrel shotguns)
1920-25--520 (base), 522 (trap)
1928 Wholesale--620, 621 (both field grade take-down)
1928 #57--520 (Riverside), 620 (field grade), 622 (trap)
1929-38--620, 621 and 620 Riot (1935-37)
1939-40--620, 621, 620P (poly-choke)
1946--620, 620P (poly), 620CS (skeet)
1947--620, 620C (skeet), 620 Aerodyne (?)
1948-51--620 only
1952--620, 620C, 620P, 620PV (?)
1953-54--620 only

Sears sells them as Stevens 520s until 1924 and they offer the 620 one year in 1927. At all other times they market them under the Ranger/Ranger Repeater name and never mention model designations, however they are sometimes, inconsistently, marked on the guns:
Model 30 (520)
Ranger 30 (520A)
JC Higgins 102.25 (520A)

Montgomery Wards sells the guns under the Western Field name with the additions of "Deluxe" and "Browning" on some guns. It gets confusing here because they use 17 different model numbers.
Model 30 (520)
Model 35 (520 w/poly-choke, these are 1938-39 guns and I can't confirm if it's only poly-choke equipped guns, I've seen them w/ and w/o but they may have been cut off)
Model SB30A (520A)
Model SB33, SB033 (520A w/poly-choke)
Model 060 (620)
Model 60 (620 Deluxe and 620A)
Model 60SB (620A)
Model SB620A (620A)
Model SB60A (620A Deluxe)
Model 61, SB61A (621 Deluxe)
Model SB66, SB066 (621 Deluxe w/poly-choke)
Model SB067 (621 Deluxe w/comp)

It's more confusing than Japanese car nomenclature.

All the 620 family of guns had a cross-bolt safety behind the triggerCORRECTON: Early 620s had a trigger safety, see picture below.

Stevens Insert to Catalog #57 Revised (1929) this is the introduction of the 620 20 Ga, notice the cross bolt safety behind the trigger.
The differences in a 620 and a 620A are:
620s have a receiver tang and a trigger tang (the stock is held on with a screw between them like the 520s) and they use a flat main spring.
620As do not have tangs (the stock is attached w/ a long draw bolt through the butt stock) and they use coil main springs.

As far as I can tell the gauge, barrel length have nothing to do with model designation.
 
#31 ·
OkiMarine said:
All the 620 family of guns had a cross-bolt safety behind the trigger.
No, the earlier 620 shotguns had the "suicide safety" inside the trigger guard. This is shown in the add pic you posted, repeated below:



I have seen these from time to time on GB, but they are fairly rare as compared to their cross-bolt successors. In any event, thanks again for posting this illuminating info, happy to see your additional pics made an appearance.
 
#32 ·
Good Catch, I stand corrected by my own evidence! I've never seen one of the 620s w/a trigger safety so I didn't even think to take a closer look at that ad. The 620 identification guide is the next project so hopefully I can tack down when this change occurs.

Thanks
 
#33 ·
Jim, this is the gun I have without the breechblock screw on the left side.



It's a 28-inch modified choke gun I picked up as a project a few months ago. As to your question about how the breechblock stays in the gun....I'm not sure. It doesn't seem to be an issue when it's dissembled.

I see the ejector location isn't the one I thought it was. The 20 variant I have is in the forward location, so I assume this one is an earlier gun.
 
#34 ·
Yup, definitely a gun from the early period of 1933-37 based on the ejector position. I'm guessing that you just push in the cartridge stop in order to pull the breech block/carriage out. Having the stop screw seems like an unnecessary extra precaution once the spring steel cartridge stop was introduced after 1932. With the earlier rocker style cartridge stop the carriage can push it out of the way and fall out, especially when the parts are worn. I guess that Stevens found out it needed that extra level of safety for some reason and added it back to the design, maybe once parts started to wear. I have a 1920-24 gun where the breech block falls out even when the stop screw is fully in, not planning on shooting that one any time soon.

As a side note, here is a picture of what the breech block stop looks like on pre-1915 guns, it attaches from inside the receiver.
 
#36 ·
This topic just keeps getting better!! Even better yet, I dropped by the Gunsmith yesterday and my action arm was done being re-welded! My Stevens 520/Western Field Model 35 is back, complete and working!
Mark
 
#37 ·
Not to hijack this thread, but maybe a small diversion. 8) I've been accumulating fore end pieces so as to be able to replace a 620 hunting barrel with a short HD barrel without disassembling the whole thing. I just got an action arm and fore end barrel and noticed a problem. There's a straight saw cut across the fore end barrel to help anchor the riveted arm, leaving sharp angles at the ends of the cut. Of course, to a metallurgist this smacks of fatigue failure, and, sure enough, there are cracks at both ends of the saw cut. One is pictured below:



So are there any informed recommendations to halt these cracks and preclude further ones, either drill them out or hit them quick with a welding arc and then round out the ends of the cut?
 
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