So I handled an old wingmaster riot gun.....

[357wheelgunner]

So I was at the local gun shop today, when one of the regular employees showed me a recent purchase: An older 870 Wingmaster, with a 20" rifle sighted barrel and beautiful bluing and wood stocks. The bluing was perfect, I swear I could see my face in it. And the stocks were works of art. I racked the action and....WOW!!! perfectly smooth in every way.


What the hell happened? Why can't Remington do this anymore? I like my police model, but that wingmaster was amazing. He only paid $300 for the thing, and it only had a few shots through it.

Now I am in a deep state of depression, as I fear I will never find a gem like the wingmaster I handled today.

 

[pmbiker]

I know what you mean. My first 870 was a 1951 vintage WM in almost perfect condition. The blueing looked wet and the action is slick as goose stuff. Then I bought a 870Ex.... The action is getting better but it'll never compare to my WM. I've been looking for another old WM to convert to a HD gun and replace the clunky express, still looking.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

Now I am in a deep state of depression, as I fear I will never find a gem like the wingmaster I handled today.

Then go buy it.

 

[PJR]

Remington can make them but will we buy them at the price they'd need to charge for the extra handwork?

In defense of Big Green it's not just them. I have an early 60's vintage S&W Model 10 whose smoothness and blueing puts anything from the Performance Center to absolute shame. Same with Winchester and Browning.

Paul

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

Dude, buy it.

 

[porterdog]

Now I am in a deep state of depression, as I fear I will never find a gem like the wingmaster I handled today.

Check out the for sale area at sigforum dot com; there is a guy there who works for Norrell arms selling-trade in wingmasters. Lots of photos available.

No affiliation, other than the fact that mine arrives tomorrow!

Robert

 

[Dave McCracken]

Classic Wingmasters are as fine a shotgun as ever was made, by anyone, anyplace.

Newer WMs come close. I handled one recently and was impressed.

Comparing Expresses to WMs is apples to oranges. Even so, the Express line is worthy. The one 20 gauge YE here is not as smooth as my old WMs,but not by much. Doing the stuff in the thread on breaking in new pump guns up in the floaters helps tremendously.

For those who despair of finding their Cinderella 870 or a fine WM of vintage years, remember that of the 8 million 870s made so far, more than half are WMs.

 

[sm]

Them Old Guns do have Soul - don't they?

From a simpler time when craftsmanship, quality of parts and assembly meant more than the quanity of goods produced and before the bean counters were born.

I have a Theory about finding stuff .

Whatever one is looking for won't be there - so don't "intentionally" look for it.

Instead, just keep the item on the "back burner" of your mind, because the item may present itself while looking for something else.

How many times have you gone to a store to buy a specific item - made a specific trip just for that item - and not available. As you turn to leave - mumbling with disgust 'cause you have to go to another store - there is that other item you were looking for last week?

Shotguns, ammo, dog collars or beef jerkey - makes no never mind...try it and see.

Oh - stuff always shows up when you are broke. Leave money, checkbook and CC in the vehicle, walk into to store with nothing in your pockets but lint and stale gum...

..just run like hell back into store after retrieving your money from vehicle because they had the old WM and Model 10's when you first walked in asking about something else.

I see heads nodding ...happened to you folks too - huh?

 

[357wheelgunner]

Yes!!!!

I went back today, and the shop employee who had found the shotgun asked me if I wanted it......Hell yes I wanted it, but I did not act as excited as I was. I calmly asked if he would trade it even for my 3" model 65 S&W. He did, and I am stroking my beautiful new shotgun.

The wood sparkles and I can actually see my face in the bluing......I am a happy boy today.

 

[MrTuffPaws]

Good to hear it. Congrats

 

[Brian Dale]

Well Done, 357! Thanks for sharing the good news.

You've got it, Steve; that's probably Newton's Fifth Law of Finding Good Stuff -- Wait: you're the engineer here; which law of physics is that, anyway?