A 90-year-old shotgun gets a new lease on life

For some time I've wanted a shotgun that will 'take down' - i.e. one that can be disassembled into two halves, for ease of transport, and also so that it doesn't scream 'Long gun!' to anyone seeing me carry it in a rifle sleeve or case.  In particular, I wanted it with me as a travel gun, to have something hard-hitting on hand in hotel rooms, just in case.  (A handgun's all very well, but if you really need to defend yourself against a determined criminal, a bit more energy and 'thump' is appreciated.  See the chart in this article for details.)

The quintessential 'take down' shotguns are the John Moses Browning-designed Winchester Model 1897 and its successor, the Model 12;  but they're expensive, frequently costing $500 upwards in good condition, despite their age.  Also, there's a certain reluctance to chop up such classic guns for defensive purposes.  Therefore, I looked for cheaper alternatives, that would not be any great loss to collectors if cut down for use in confined quarters like a hotel room.

A couple of years ago, I lucked into a Montgomery Ward Western Field Model 30.  This was a store-branded version of the Stevens Model 520, another John Moses Browning design that was produced between 1909 and 1955 in a number of versions.  When I got it, mine looked something like this, albeit in somewhat poorer surface condition (click the image for a slightly larger view).

However, the mechanical components looked to be in good working order, which was the most important thing.

Inspection, and a serial number check, revealed it to be the version manufactured in 1926-27.  This image, courtesy of Wikipedia, reveals the elements that identify it as such.  The firearm depicted is the Ranger model, made as a house brand for Sears, but otherwise identical to the 'Western Field' model made for Montgomery Ward.  The only difference between them and the Stevens originals was the model name engraved on the side plate.  Note the safety catch inside the trigger guard.  It's pulled back to render the weapon safe, and pushed forward to fire it - not the most desirable feature, as one's finger is thus altogether too close for comfort to the 'bang switch', but those ergonomics were acceptable in those days (the famous M1 Garand rifle, the standard US service rifle during World War II, uses a similar system).  One simply has to be careful when handling it.

The takedown mechanism for the Stevens 520/Sears Ranger/Montgomery Ward Model 30 is ingenious, and very strong.  Here's a video clip illustrating how it works. I recommend watching it in full-screen mode to see the details.

I sent the shotgun off to my friend and Blogorado comrade, Joe Speer, for him to work his gunsmithing magic on it.  He shortened the barrel to the legal minimum, and replaced the original brass bead with a red fiber-optic unit that's easier and faster for my aging eyes to pick up in a hurry.  He also went over all the mechanical parts, cleaning them up and making sure everything was in good working order.  At my request, he shortened the stock and fitted a modern, highly absorbent recoil pad that will make shooting the gun much more comfortable.  Finally, he applied a Cerakote finish to the entire shotgun, providing a thoroughly modern, weather-resistant finish that also looks very good.  (He said he had a terrible time getting the finish to 'take', and had to repeat the process three times.  Thank goodness Joe's a patient man who pays attention to detail!)

Here's how the finished product looked this afternoon.  Click the image for a much larger view.

Thanks, Joe!  You did a great job, as usual.

The shotgun will now become my traveling companion when I think it might be needed.  I can divide it into two halves and transport it in an ordinary duffel bag, or even a shoulder bag if necessary.  Loaded with Federal #1 buckshot (using that company's Flite Control wad to hold the pattern together to extend the round's effective range), it should provide an additional level of social persuasion, in the unlikely (and unfortunate) event that it might be required.

Peter