I recently picked up a Mossberg M44US, stamped US PROPERTY.
It is parkerized, and from the serial number it is from the first group ordered from Mossberg, January, 1943.
http://home.epix.net/~damguy/44usnumbers.htm
With CCI green tag it shoots like this at 25 yds 5 shots.
With the factory peep sight..
Never underestimate an old Mossberg...