What is Reddit's opinion of Bruce N. Canfield's Complete Guide to United States Military Combat Shotguns?

The Winchester 97 is the most wanted US shotgun. It's not the rarest, but that rarity/demand ratio drives prices, not rarity alone.

You'll be lucky to get a real one for under 2k. The market fluctuates by hundreds of dollars on this stuff so use Gunbroker's sold items to keep track.

Fakes are extremely common. Know that there are essentially two models of Winchester 1897 trench gun. WWI and WWII. I won't even start on the differences and you shouldn't trust the internet anyway. Go buy a book and read up in fine detail before considering buying.

If anything doesn't smell right, walk away.

Bruce Canfield's Combat Shotguns is well regarded, still in print, and reasonably priced.

Quick PSA: Looking for more info on surplus firearms? Check out the wiki pages over on /r/milsurps. It's still a work in progress, but there's tons of links to websites, books and other posts on reddit related to all sorts of C&R/milsurp guns.

And...before anyone says it... no, these were not used by the Ohio National Guard during the Kent State Massacre.

This is a Remington Model 870 shotgun (<--photo album) made specifically for the Ohio National Guard (ONG). These shotguns were factory ordered for the ONG and all appear to have been made in 1971-1972. They were ordered in two configurations: with a factory folding stock like pictured and with a standard fixed wooden buttstock. Folding models all appear to be dated 1972 with fixed stock models being 1971. Roughly 400 were folding stocks and roughly 800 were fixed stock models, according to Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore (SOS). It's assumed that these roughly 1200 shotguns are all that remain from the original order by the state. While similar in appearance to other military issued 870 shotguns, like the Remington Mark 1 and M870 riot guns, they were not former military shotguns converted or sold to the ONG. These shotguns were documented in use by the 838th ONG Military Police , the 216th Engineer Battalion and 612th Engineer Battalion and were kept at the National Guard Armory in Youngstown, Ohio. Photographs document these shotguns being used during the 1993 Lucasville Prison Riots and during Hurricane Katrina response in 2005. One 838th MP veteran cites carrying them in response to 9/11 in Washington DC. This particular shotgun was issued to the 838th ONG Military Police.

These guns were used by the 838th for training up until (at least) 2014. Ultimately, these shotguns were phased out of use and replaced with the M26 shotguns. In October of 2018, Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore acquired 1,286 shotguns from the Department of Rehab and Corrections (DRC) who themselves had received them directly from the Ohio National Guard. This was likely done in order for the guns to be sold commercially as there are typically restrictions for military organizations to sell weapons directly to the public. Models with the fixed stock were listed for $229 and those with folding stocks were listed for $239. Vance Outdoors storefronts received around 20 to 25, but the remainder were sold online by SOS.

These shotguns were made from Remington Model 870 Wingmasters. The serial number dates the gun between 1968 - 1973, but the gun can be more specifically dated with barrel date codes.

When the shotgun arrived, there was a piece of masking tape with 838th written on it. It was partially removed by the retailer to record the serial number (unfortunately), but does provide provenance to the ONG 838th Military Police. The 838th MP would be seen using these shotguns (both fixed and folding models) during the Lucasville prison riots and Hurricane Katrina. They were also reported to have used them in response to 9/11 in Washington DC.

An FOIA request from the ONG indicates these were logged into property books on January 1st 1975 and cost the state $82.66 each! The ONG transferred these guns to the DRC on 10/5/2018 in order for them to be sold commercially. The letter also indicates that these were kept at the Youngstown Armory.

The date code on the barrel is EW, indicating September (E) and 1972 (W). All ONG 870 shotguns were marked as having Cylinder chokes with one exception; a single Modified choke gun observed. REP is a remington proof. The small triangle is a magnaflux mark. These shotguns were all made for 12 gauge, 2-3/4" shells. The star marked on the left of the 12gauge marking indicates a 55 degree rim cut on the mouth of the chamber, which was implemented post 1969 as a SAAMI standard. It was formerly 45 degrees. Some shotguns made by Remington would have a 3" ejector installed even if it were a 2-3/4" chamber gun. This gun has a 2-3/4" ejector installed.

Remington marketed these folding stocks only to law enforcement agencies at the time. The Remington stock is marked "Patent Pending" . US Patent US3798819A with a priority date of 1972-03-09 and a publication date of 1974-03-26 seems to be the patent Remington took out on this folding stock set. The ONG 870 shotguns had factory sling swivels installed on the folding stocks. Not all police 870 folders had these installed, and the sling swivels on the open market are fairly rare and expensive. This shotgun came directly to me without the correct sling swivel installed, but had a piece of 550 cord tied through the grip and a USGI silent sling installed. The green USGI M14 sling has also been received with these guns.

Another unique feature on these guns is the factory bayonet lug that clamps to the magazine extension. US Patent 3445951A was filed July 27, 1967 and issued May 27th 1969. There are three screws which hold the bayonet lug in place; two on either end and one slightly off center between them. That off center screw passes through a recess in the magazine tube to keep the lug from sliding back and forth. The bayonet lug will accommodate any standard bayonet that fits an M16 or M4 rifle. The muzzle ring fits over an extension on the magazine tube and attaches to a lug similar to that used on the M16 family of rifles and carbines. The US M7 and M9 bayonets would be considered “correct” for these shotguns.

As always, I’m always trying to learn more about stuff and welcome corrections or more information in the comments:

A new sub calls for what is certainly my "newest" military surplus firearm! Before anyone says it... no these weren't used by the Ohio National Guard during the Kent State Massacre...

This is a Remington Model 870 shotgun made specifically for the Ohio National Guard (ONG). These shotguns were factory ordered for the ONG and all appear to have been made in 1971-1972. They were ordered in two configurations: with a factory folding stock like pictured and with a standard fixed wooden buttstock. Folding models all appear to be dated 1972 with fixed stock models being 1971. Roughly 400 were folding stocks and roughly 800 were fixed stock models, according to Sportsmans Outdoor Superstore (SOS). It's assumed that these roughly 1200 shotguns are all that remain from the original order by the state. While similar in appearance to other military issued 870 shotguns, like the Remington Mark 1 and M870 riot guns, they were not former military shotguns converted or sold to the ONG. These shotguns were documented in use by the 838th ONG Military Police , the 216th Engineer Battalion and 612th Engineer Battalion and were kept at the National Guard Armory in Youngstown, Ohio. Photographs document these shotguns being used during the 1993 Lucasville Prison Riots and during Hurricane Katrina response in 2005. One 838th MP veteran cites carrying them in response to 9/11 in Washington DC. This particular shotgun was issued to the 838th ONG Military Police.