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Joined: 07 Apr 2014 Posts: 17 Location: Meridian, Idaho

I have an early 60s 16 gauge sorta oddball. Original owner bought the gun, joined the Army, spent 30 years, mostly overseas. Gun has sat in gun cabinet.
Gun has 28 inch full choke barrel, barrel has a matte rib.
Forend is a target style, longer model, not “corncob” type.
This gun shot little to none, inside very clean, I had a hard time getting apart due to dried up grease/oil.
Was this a special order trap for a women or small statured guy? Any ideas? Other than storage rash on stock it appears close to new.

Joined: 24 Mar 2010 Posts: 280 Location: Northwest PA

I'm missing something. What makes you think it's for a woman or short guy? LOP?

Matted rib or matted barrel? Are you talking about a matted ventilated rib, or a solid matted rib. Never seen an 870 with a solid rib. I didn't think Remington ever made them that way. Model 31's could be had with solid ribs. Might the 870 have been offered that way in earliest versions? I've seen a few early 16 ga. 870's with matted barrels, but even those are fairly uncommon. I think matted barrels are quite nice.

I will digress to say I prefer solid ribs or matted or plain barrels in bushy circumstances. I know it isn't a huge problem, but some ventilated ribs can catch and hold debris when one goes through thicker vegetation. In my way of thinking, ventilated ribs are for high volume/high frequency shooting -- e.g. targets, doves, etc. -- where barrel cooling and thermal distortion of the target "picture" can be a problem.

Anyway, your 870 sounds nice. Post pictures.

Cheers!

Joined: 07 Apr 2014 Posts: 17 Location: Meridian, Idaho

Gun has a matted barrel, no vent rib. As a 16 gauge it seems odd to have its features, my thoughts were it was a trap gun, 16 gauge would not beat up a smaller statured person.

howdy ... I don't think a matted plain barrel was totally odd . Don't think it could possibly vent heat - just a visual . Have to disagree about beating up a shooter for trap - this would be the ULTIMATE shooter beater !! If only the loads we have now were avail back in the day ! Nick mighta sold billions of wads then .

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1257 Location: Nebraska

Sounds like the ADL version, matted barrel top and larger, checkered forearm and checkering at the grip.

Yes I have heard it referred to as a Deluxe version of the 870.

Griff

Joined: 30 Sep 2020 Posts: 185 Location: ont canada

I have that same gun with matt barrel in 12 and 16 gauge . Fifties production nice light barrels and checkered with nice walnut they are as smooth as butter. Great find enjoy.