Stevens Model 77E Marked US

[opaul]

From what I have been able to determine so far, this may be a Viet Nam era Stevens Model 77E. It is marked US on the right side of the receiver and has the proof mark P on the receiver and the barrel. It is also stamped SCHD, which (I think) are the initials for South Carolina Highway Department. From wiki pedia - these were issued to SVN troops, military didn't like them much in favor of the Ithaca. A small number where sent stateside and an unknown quantity was picked up by the SCHD.
I rescued it today. The stock had been sprayed with yellow paint. I cleaned it up the best I could and I think it looks pretty good. It is parkerized which I believe to be the original finish. The recoil pad is hard as a brick, so I'm looking for a replacement.
Anybody have any additional information on these guns?

[alwslate]

I've seen a few magazine articles on military shotguns and the
Stevens 77 was one of the guns used in Nam. All I know is what I've
read and I guess they were not highly regarded because the stock to
receiver attachment proved to be weak and stocks tended to crack.

[David LaPell]

A friend of mine has one but yours is nicer. If I recall, they have the same "slam fire" capabilities of the Ithaca and the Winchester Model 12. I handled his and it would certainly do the job.

[amazingflapjack]

Ah yes-I remember it well. We had one-sawed off-and it was carried by a guy named "Dirty Eddy." It was well liked by all, especially me. I don't remember what shells we had for it, but it would lift a water laden hunk of Me Kong Delta sod 8-10 feet into the air! The nice thing about this gun was its light weight as compared to the blunderbuss "riot guns" with the ventilated barrel shroud and long barrel with, I think, a bayonet lug on it; more bang for the weight. Dirty Eddy carried his in a "holster" rig kind of like McQueen's in "Wanted Dead or Alive." It was handy, and it was potent-you felt confident with it in your hand. I think of that gun and my model 10 4 inch pencil from time to time. You've got a winner, in my view.

[opaul]

Originally Posted by alwslate

I've seen a few magazine articles on military shotguns and the
Stevens 77 was one of the guns used in Nam. All I know is what I've
read and I guess they were not highly regarded because the stock to
receiver attachment proved to be weak and stocks tended to crack.

You are correct, I read that as well. There is no receiver bolt (tang) going into the stock. Part of the trigger assembly is enclosed in the butt stock.

[opaul]

Originally Posted by amazingflapjack

Ah yes-I remember it well. We had one-sawed off-and it was carried by a guy named "Dirty Eddy." It was well liked by all, especially me. I don't remember what shells we had for it, but it would lift a water laden hunk of Me Kong Delta sod 8-10 feet into the air! The nice thing about this gun was its light weight as compared to the blunderbuss "riot guns" with the ventilated barrel shroud and long barrel with, I think, a bayonet lug on it; more bang for the weight. Dirty Eddy carried his in a "holster" rig kind of like McQueen's in "Wanted Dead or Alive." It was handy, and it was potent-you felt confident with it in your hand. I think of that gun and my model 10 4 inch pencil from time to time. You've got a winner, in my view.

Thank you, I consider myself fortunate to have found it.

Thank you for your service. Although I served, I never served in Viet Nam.

[gwpercle]

Very nice save , maybe not as glamorous as the Winchester, Remington or Ithaca, it is still historical and not many combat shotguns of that era show up. Good job!
I pulled out of my bedroom closet , the gun kept for things that go bump in the night , and guess what it is ...yep, a Stevens 77E.
Mine is not G.I., but a hand down from my Uncle Howard from Texas. He hunted with it for decades. I needed a short barreled, cylinder bore shotgun , so he helped me cut and crown it to 19 inches. Now it's still seeing service with me as house protector and short barreled slug/buckshot gun for hogs and deer.
They may not be glamorous but they are very serviceable. Take it on your next hog hunt or at least to the range and have fun.
Gary

[amazingflapjack]

we had no issues with the stock, as it was cut down to a pistol grip-the barrel was probably cut off right in front of the pump-we weren't to concerned about any gun laws.