Stevens 520 hump back shotgun

Geezerbiker · July 9, 2020, 04:59 PM

Anyone here have any knowledge about these? From what little I've found on the net, mine is likely a first year model but it's hard to say.

Some idiotic previous owner did some unattractive carving on the stock and I'd like to replace it but the few times I've seen stocks for sale, they want more than the gun is worth for them. Also I've read about short and long tang versions of this shotgun but no real definition of what that means. The patina on the stock is even all over so I'm guessing that the caving could be more than 100 years old like the rest of the gun...

Surprisingly, it has a serial number but hidden on the inside of the tang of the receiver. The number on mine is less than 2000 and one of the reasons I suspect it to be a first year model. I don't know if JMB sold the design outright or licensed it to Stevens. If it was a license deal, that would explain the serial number.

Tony

stuckinthe60s · July 16, 2020, 07:30 AM

long and short tang is how long the receiver 'wings' that hold the stock on are. top tang is on top, bottom tang is behind trigger guard. its where the stock screws go. sometimes the bottom tang is part of the trigger guard.
part 3 (arrow) is a tang to a rem model 11.
pic 2 is a more modern version of a tang.
hope this helps.

Hawg · July 16, 2020, 09:51 PM

If it's a double hump and marked J Stevens Arms & Tool Company it was made between 1909 and 1916. The company was renamed J Stevens Arms Company in 1916.

Don Fischer · July 17, 2020, 09:21 AM

Ive never seen that action in a Stevens before. Looks like the Browning action. In the time period that was made wasn't the Rem mod 11 out also? Another Browning shotgun. Seem's I was told the mod 11 came out before the Browning on Browning patent's. sound's like maybe the Stevens did to?

natman · July 17, 2020, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Fischer

Ive never seen that action in a Stevens before. Looks like the Browning action. In the time period that was made wasn't the Rem mod 11 out also? Another Browning shotgun. Seem's I was told the mod 11 came out before the Browning on Browning patent's. sound's like maybe the Stevens did to?

The Stevens model 520 being discussed here is a pump shotgun. I don't understand the references to Browning action and Rem model 11.

FWIW, the Browning A5 came out first and the Remington model 11 is a licensed version of it. Savage also had a version, the 720.

Hawg · July 17, 2020, 10:28 AM

The Stevens 520 is a pump developed by John Browning and manufactured by Stevens.

stuckinthe60s · July 17, 2020, 12:24 PM

the pics are just a training aid for what a tang is, nat'.
(an example)

Geezerbiker · July 17, 2020, 03:34 PM

I know what a tang is but what I don't know is what length is meant by long and short tang versions of this shotgun.

Like I said before, I think mine is a very early model and model number wasn't stamped on the slide. Either that was a mistake or it was made before they were doing that. The serial number is less than 2000 so unless they started over at some point, that makes it a 1909 gun...

Tony

stuckinthe60s · July 17, 2020, 05:20 PM

it means either an early gun or a late model gun had a longer tang the other!

Geezerbiker · July 17, 2020, 11:13 PM

Dude, you have an excellent grasp of the obvious...

Tony

stuckinthe60s · July 18, 2020, 06:59 AM

your own words...>>>>Also I've read about short and long tang versions of this shotgun but no real definition of what that means. <<<<

dude, if it was obvious, why did you state there was no definition of what that meant? all I did was define a tang for you.

good luck with your quest.

Geezerbiker · July 19, 2020, 01:04 AM

I was referring to exact length so I know what to look for. Perhaps I could have stated it more clearly.

I'm also very curious about the lack of the model number being stamped on the slide. I've found no mention anywhere about any of these guns not having it. So is it a fluke or was there a time when they didn't stamp them. It could be one of those mysteries that has no solution...

Tony

603Country · July 20, 2020, 06:33 PM

Yes, Savage had a humpback on the Browning design, as did Remington. And my faded memory suggests that Winchester might also have had one...maybe.

I always thought the Remington came out before the Browning, but I could sure be wrong and don’t feel like looking it up. The Remington Model 11 was discontinued in 1948, when I was a couple of month old.

jmstr · July 22, 2020, 01:35 AM

Have you read this? https://www.gunvaluesboard.com/steve...uide-2617.html

stuckinthe60s · July 22, 2020, 10:54 AM

603....youre thinking of the win model 40.

Geezerbiker · July 25, 2020, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmstr

Have you read this? https://www.gunvaluesboard.com/steve...uide-2617.html

Thanx, that's good article. I'm going to try and contact the author...

Tony

July 9, 2020, 04:59 PM	#1
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	Stevens 520 hump back shotgun Anyone here have any knowledge about these? From what little I've found on the net, mine is likely a first year model but it's hard to say. Some idiotic previous owner did some unattractive carving on the stock and I'd like to replace it but the few times I've seen stocks for sale, they want more than the gun is worth for them. Also I've read about short and long tang versions of this shotgun but no real definition of what that means. The patina on the stock is even all over so I'm guessing that the caving could be more than 100 years old like the rest of the gun... Surprisingly, it has a serial number but hidden on the inside of the tang of the receiver. The number on mine is less than 2000 and one of the reasons I suspect it to be a first year model. I don't know if JMB sold the design outright or licensed it to Stevens. If it was a license deal, that would explain the serial number. Tony

July 17, 2020, 12:24 PM	#7
stuckinthe60s Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2017 Location: Va., Ct., Mo.. Posts: 877	the pics are just a training aid for what a tang is, nat'. (an example) __________________ Retired Military Aviation Former Member Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot,NRA Shotgun/Pistol Instructor NSSA All American, Skeet/Trap Range Owner

July 17, 2020, 05:20 PM	#9
stuckinthe60s Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2017 Location: Va., Ct., Mo.. Posts: 877	it means either an early gun or a late model gun had a longer tang the other! __________________ Retired Military Aviation Former Member Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot,NRA Shotgun/Pistol Instructor NSSA All American, Skeet/Trap Range Owner

July 18, 2020, 06:59 AM	#11
stuckinthe60s Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2017 Location: Va., Ct., Mo.. Posts: 877	your own words...>>>>Also I've read about short and long tang versions of this shotgun but no real definition of what that means. <<<< dude, if it was obvious, why did you state there was no definition of what that meant? all I did was define a tang for you. good luck with your quest. __________________ Retired Military Aviation Former Member Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot,NRA Shotgun/Pistol Instructor NSSA All American, Skeet/Trap Range Owner Last edited by stuckinthe60s; July 18, 2020 at 07:46 AM.

July 22, 2020, 10:54 AM	#15
stuckinthe60s Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2017 Location: Va., Ct., Mo.. Posts: 877	603....youre thinking of the win model 40. __________________ Retired Military Aviation Former Member Navy Shooting Team Distinguished Pistol Shot,NRA Shotgun/Pistol Instructor NSSA All American, Skeet/Trap Range Owner

July 16, 2020, 09:51 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	If it's a double hump and marked J Stevens Arms & Tool Company it was made between 1909 and 1916. The company was renamed J Stevens Arms Company in 1916.

July 17, 2020, 09:21 AM	#4
Don Fischer Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2017 Posts: 1,868	Ive never seen that action in a Stevens before. Looks like the Browning action. In the time period that was made wasn't the Rem mod 11 out also? Another Browning shotgun. Seem's I was told the mod 11 came out before the Browning on Browning patent's. sound's like maybe the Stevens did to?

July 17, 2020, 10:28 AM	#6
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	The Stevens 520 is a pump developed by John Browning and manufactured by Stevens.

July 17, 2020, 03:34 PM	#8
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	I know what a tang is but what I don't know is what length is meant by long and short tang versions of this shotgun. Like I said before, I think mine is a very early model and model number wasn't stamped on the slide. Either that was a mistake or it was made before they were doing that. The serial number is less than 2000 so unless they started over at some point, that makes it a 1909 gun... Tony

July 17, 2020, 11:13 PM	#10
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	Dude, you have an excellent grasp of the obvious... Tony

July 19, 2020, 01:04 AM	#12
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	I was referring to exact length so I know what to look for. Perhaps I could have stated it more clearly. I'm also very curious about the lack of the model number being stamped on the slide. I've found no mention anywhere about any of these guns not having it. So is it a fluke or was there a time when they didn't stamp them. It could be one of those mysteries that has no solution... Tony

July 20, 2020, 06:33 PM	#13
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	Yes, Savage had a humpback on the Browning design, as did Remington. And my faded memory suggests that Winchester might also have had one...maybe. I always thought the Remington came out before the Browning, but I could sure be wrong and don’t feel like looking it up. The Remington Model 11 was discontinued in 1948, when I was a couple of month old.

July 22, 2020, 01:35 AM	#14
jmstr Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2001 Location: San Joaquin Valley, CA Posts: 1,281	Have you read this? https://www.gunvaluesboard.com/steve...uide-2617.html