Remington Mod. 31 U. S. Property

[hoopnitram]

 We just got this shotgun, and looking for any history for it,
  Ser # 605xx , it is marked U.S. Property, it has what appears to be a pair of crossed cannons stamped into the stock, short barrel, it came with a 28-30" full choke barrel also.
  By the Manufacture code it appears to be built in 1942.
  Thanks for any help...
   Hoopnitram

[Swampman]

The Remington Museum states that a total of (9000) Model 31s were sold to the U.S. Ordnance Department during World War II. The majority of that number were long barreled skeet guns. The Riot Guns (no Trench Guns were made), have a 20.125-inch CYL bore barrel (marked on the left side of the barrel).

The goverment issue Model 31s are marked "U.S. PROPERTY" on the left side of the receiver with the flaming ordnance bomb symbol immediately following. The initials "RLB" (Lt. Colonel Roy L. Bowlin, Chief Rochester Ordnance District to 1942) will be found on stamped on the early end of the serial number range. The majority of the Model 31 Riot Guns will be found with the initials "FJA" (Col. Frank J. Atwood). Very few Model 31 Riot Guns will be found with the Ordnance crossed cannon cartouche on the left side of the butt stock. The correct serial number range for the Remington Model 31 government issue guns is 51,000 - 63,500.

All of the information I have provided above, was obtained from Joe Poyer's fine reference book "U.S. Winchester Trench and Riot Guns, and other U.S. Combat Shotguns"

[fireguymike]

Didn't they use those shotguns to teach machine gunners on bombers to hit moving targets? I saw something where the recruits were on a moving vehicle and claybirds were thrown as the vehicle moved alone a course.