Another Darn 870 Followed me Home

[Lawyerman]

I was paying on a lay away at my favorite pawn shop today when I spied the telltale corncob forearm of an old 870 Wingmaster peaking out at me. The gun serial numbered to 142,000 range.

It has a 28 inch or so barrel, modified, plain. Someone cut down the buttstock about an inch and added an excellent Pachmayer recoil pad, no hack job, done right. No rust, blue is thin in spots, buttstock has a few scratches from honest use. A little dickering and $90 later it's mine. I will probably buy an 18" rifle sighted barrel for it, add a two shot extension and save the modified tube for changeover hunting duty.

I figure this gun was made in the mid 50's or so????? A good day out.

 

[Al Thompson]

Sure there wasn't a 1 in front of that 9?

Great buy!

 

[Coltdriver]

Great Deal!

You can go to the remington web page and send them an email with the receiver serial number on it. They will reply with the year made and the original configuration it was sold in.

 

[Sven]

My first 870 (Wingmaster 26", new) is waiting for me to pick it up - I love that there are examples of this design dating back so far... means I'll never have a problem finding parts - if I ever need any, that is!

Congrats... how about some pictures, if possible?

 

[45R]

Thats a sweeet deal!!! 90 bucks for a shotgun!!!

 

[Zip06]

Lawyerman - Right place...right time. Congrats.

 

[Lawyerman]

That's actually the second cheap 870 in the last 3 mos.

The other gun was an 80's Wingmaster with some surface rust. I bought it for $50. I sold the barrel that was on it after bead blasting it and painting it with Header paint for $30. I sold the really nice wood that was on it for $25.

I took it all apart and cleaned the heck out of it, bead blasted the receiver and magazine tube and painted it with header paint, scrounged up some Express cheapo wood left over from a project gun and put it together. Awhile back I had ordered several 18" barrels with rifle sights, slapped one of those on and instant riot gun. A Scattergun 2 shot extension and a sling completed the package. It is my "throw it on the ground, no fear, ugly" training gun. I've got less than $125 in the whole deal.

I will do the same with this gun but no need to paint and I want to keep the shortened stock on it. I will stick one of the rifle sight barrels and an extension on, add a sling and done.

 

[Dave McCracken]

Great deal. It's nice to know there are some deals still out there.

FYI, Number 6 was made in 1955, according to Remington. Its serial number's in the 399XXX range. Yours is very early, and if t'was pristine, probably worht a bundle. As it is, nice shooter.

Project guns are fun and often one can do something for a pittance.

Frankenstein cost about $140,including barrel work.

Number 6 was a bit of a bargain, and less than $200.

Sven, parts seem to be a non-issue. And since an 870 is as easy to take apart and put together as Legos, one can mix and match.

Frank currently has the coontail forend from my oldest 870, an aftermarket M/C stock, and currently the barrel from my TB on it. Number 6 has the chopped down and tubed Express barrel that was Frank's, and it's original barrel is resting for the nonce. The TB has the new LC barrel, and next week they may ALL be different again.

 

[Lawyerman]

Dave, I had no idea this was that early of a gun. I have another that has a serial number in the 69,000 range. It is about 98% I would guess.

What is the collector interest in early 870's? I gave $150 for the 69,000 gun with the intention of using it as a loaner during pheasant season when we have big hunts. May have to rethink that plan.

 

[Dave McCracken]

870 collectors, not shooters, want mint condition 870s, earlier the better. Worn 870s drop rapidly in collector value.

Non standard 870s, like the early Grand American trap grade, Trap and Skeet grades, and presentation pieces have collector value, given near new condition.

Fancy factory engraving and wood, custom features hike the ticket. After market doesn't. Polychokes drop the value big time.

The Special Field 870 is possibly turning into a collector.

Talk to Remington about that 69K gun.

Later, I'll pop off the SS from my oldest 870 and check the number. Barrel stamps indicate it was made in November, 1950.

 

[Longbow]

$90 for an 870?!!

Man, that really beat my $125 Wingmaster w/ Hastings rifled barell!!!