Stevens Arms 5100

5333 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by ellingb86, Dec 30, 2009

ellingb86

Discussion Starter · Dec 27, 2009

I recently inherited a beautiful 5100 from my Grandpa, only problem is that I don't really know much about it and was hoping you guys could help me out. I have been doing some research but can't find out much. The shotgun has U.S. Property stamped on the left side of the stock and my mother told me that my Grandfather was stationed in Alaska during WWII. But I can't find anything about it being used in the service. On the right side of the frame there are the markings (Springfield; J. Stevens Arms Company; Chicopee Falls, Mass USA). On the right side is just the 5100. It is a 12 GA. If anyone knows anything about this firearm let me know because I am almost completely in the dark about it right now. Thanks

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Gil Martin

· #2 · Dec 27, 2009

Welcome to the Forum

I have a Stevens Arms Model 5100 in 16 gauge. These double barrel shotguns were made in the late 1930s and early 1940s or there abouts. During WWII a lot of civilian shotguns were pressed into service and that accounts for the "U.S. Property" stamping in the stock. Hope this helps. All the best...
Gil

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O'Connersun

· #3 · Dec 29, 2009

I have a 20 gauge from the late 1930's and it was pressed into police duty on one occassion. As Gil said, the Government pressed into service a lot of non-military arms during WWII for a wide variety of reasons. Shotguns were used for training and recreation, in addition to guard and security uses. I have a 720 semi-auto also, a 12 ga, that was aparently used by bomber gunners for gunnery practice. It has the US ordnance marks on the receiver.

The 5100 seems as sturdy and reliable as the 311 but a bit handier, better balanced. I love the little 20 I have and its killed all sorts of game but with heavy loads it is a booter! You've inherited a nice work-horse gun!

Its only speculation, of course, but I would venture that your Grandfather may have brought the gun home from Alaska with him or bought it shortly after the war when so many of these guns hit the market. Its possible he could have used it in some secondary role, sentry or security work and the like. A lot of people who, for a wide variety of reasons, could not serve in combat units were used in roles like guarding prisoners, factorys, bases, etc. I would expect that gun to be used in something like that.

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ellingb86

Discussion Starter · #4 · Dec 30, 2009

Thank you guys, your information helps me out a lot. It's to bad I can probably never find out the true history of the firearm as I have no surviving relatives who know anything about it. Thanks again and if anyone knows anything else, let me know, I'll be checking this post regularly.

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