revho
Member
Here is one to study. I believe this a 1951, 870 riot with a 20" barrel. Barrel is serial numbered to the gun. Anyone ever seen one altered to a tang safety?? Criticize away and thanks for any info.
870 wingmaster tang safety
- Thread starter revho
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Texas Star
US Veteran
That is one of the most remarkable things I've seen in firearms. Never heard of that on a M-870.
I'm surprised that no one else has commented. I hope someone who knows about this thing posts.
Any idea who did the work? Does the safety actually work well?
I'm surprised that no one else has commented. I hope someone who knows about this thing posts.
Any idea who did the work? Does the safety actually work well?
OP
revho
Member
To the best of my knowledge the safety works. I just got the gun a month or so ago from my dad. He did use it for pheasant hunting and has a long barrel for it. He got it in the early '70s from his great uncle. Uncle Rube was a WW 1 vet and auto mechanic by trade. I dont think my dad even knows the safety is wrong. Im 99% sure this safety was added in the field because of the workmanship. Factory would have done a much cleaner job with the wood. My 1% of doubt is only because of how early this one was made. The original safety hole is blocked out with a "sex" screw. Any ideas from what gun the safety is originally from?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That safety modification was quite a job.
I have only seen a couple of the EARLY Wingmasters that had barrels with serial numbers matching the receivers.
I have only seen a couple of the EARLY Wingmasters that had barrels with serial numbers matching the receivers.
OP
revho
Member
I called Remington and the nice lady in customer service could only confirm the date. She gave me the email address of the historian, so I emailed off some photos and the little info I have. I hope to hear back in a couple weeks or so.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Was Uncle Rube a lefty?
Beautiful Wingmaster; let us know what you hear from the historian...
OP
revho
Member
Well Hap, I called my Dad this evening and asked him just that. "Was Uncle Rube left handed?". He laughed and said he didnt remember, but asked why I wanted to know. I asked if he knew that the 870 Wingmaster he gave me had the safety in the wrong spot. He gave another laugh and said that he did. He said, " Rube hated that safety location on that 870 so much that he had it changed out. He HATED that trigger guard safety.". Now....to me, at that point, you must have really hated that safety but really loved that gun to want to pay for that to get that work done. It is what it is at this point. Dad had know idea who did the work or when exactly, but the work looks old to me....
Any more comments are certainly welcome!
Thanks
Kevin
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
I've never seen that modification, but I like a tang safety. Too many years shooting side-by-sides. Pretty roughly done, but I think Uncle Rube was onto something.
A company in Western NY here (Lockport,,near Buffalo) by the name of 'Sports Equipment Co.' made top tang safety conversion kits for numerous popular firearms.
Most use the same idea as shown on this 870 of a sheet metal cover plate placed just in back of the rec'vr.
The 'kit' included all the parts to do the conversion for a specific arm along w/a small instruction sheet.
Probably 1930's to 1960's
Another firm was Anderson Gun Shop in Washington State (Yakima?). His were tang safety conversions mostly for bolt action rifles and the ones I've see usually left only the safety thumb piece and a small bit of the new 'tang' it slid on showing. More of a custom look than the above .
In biz in the 1950's and 60's that I recall. Maybe before and after that too, but I don't know.
Just a couple possibilitys,,it looks like a production item to me. I'm sure others have had the same idea to market a top tang safety conversion for them.
added;
Here's a link to thread on another forum w/a picture of one of the 'Sports Equipment Co' kits to convert a Savage 99 to a tang safety. You can see the sheet metal cover w/ safety thumb piece and the related pieces that went with the conversion. All probably a bit different depending on the gun of course.
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/8985765/1
Couldn't find any other pics of their conversions in my search.
Most use the same idea as shown on this 870 of a sheet metal cover plate placed just in back of the rec'vr.
The 'kit' included all the parts to do the conversion for a specific arm along w/a small instruction sheet.
Probably 1930's to 1960's
Another firm was Anderson Gun Shop in Washington State (Yakima?). His were tang safety conversions mostly for bolt action rifles and the ones I've see usually left only the safety thumb piece and a small bit of the new 'tang' it slid on showing. More of a custom look than the above .
In biz in the 1950's and 60's that I recall. Maybe before and after that too, but I don't know.
Just a couple possibilitys,,it looks like a production item to me. I'm sure others have had the same idea to market a top tang safety conversion for them.
added;
Here's a link to thread on another forum w/a picture of one of the 'Sports Equipment Co' kits to convert a Savage 99 to a tang safety. You can see the sheet metal cover w/ safety thumb piece and the related pieces that went with the conversion. All probably a bit different depending on the gun of course.
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/8985765/1
Couldn't find any other pics of their conversions in my search.
Last edited:
OP
revho
Member
Many thanks 2152hq. Very helpful and especially helpful with the link you posted. Hopefully a old kit like the one in the link you posted will pop up some day to confirm who produced it.
postban
Member
I realize the age of this thread but I have found another one of these modified tang safety guns. It looks very similarly modded to that 870 above.
A non-shooting coworker brought this in for me to look at. It was dirty throughout and a some surface rust but came out looking great with a little teardown and thorough cleaning.
1939 Winchester Model 12 in 16ga
The Fire Control Group is sliced right up the middle and a transfer bar is installed. Works exactly like a doublegun safety, forward to fire, back to safe.
Then a lever from the tang safety is oriented next to the rear action screw.
On/off
Origianl safety hole is left open with detent, spring and plunger gone.
Did I mention it was dirty?
She is shining now.
A non-shooting coworker brought this in for me to look at. It was dirty throughout and a some surface rust but came out looking great with a little teardown and thorough cleaning.
1939 Winchester Model 12 in 16ga
The Fire Control Group is sliced right up the middle and a transfer bar is installed. Works exactly like a doublegun safety, forward to fire, back to safe.
Then a lever from the tang safety is oriented next to the rear action screw.
On/off
Origianl safety hole is left open with detent, spring and plunger gone.
Did I mention it was dirty?
She is shining now.
This is why I like forums. Just when you think you've seen it all!
That '51 870 should have a lot of life in it. Rudy Etchen couldn't wear his out, and he shot more than most of us put together.
That '51 870 should have a lot of life in it. Rudy Etchen couldn't wear his out, and he shot more than most of us put together.
Back in the 70s when I was shooting skeet one of our older members had a 1100 12G that had a tang safety on it. I saw it for years and even shot the gun a few times and it worked fine. I now do not remember the name of the Smith that did the work, but it was very well done and in fact look factory.
Frank46
US Veteran
Interesting thread, I've seen a bunch of 870's(my favorite shotgun) and never ran across such a modification. But I do agree that a tang safety on a 870 would be a natural as that is right where my right thumb would be. Thanks for sharing. Frank
I've been shooting 870's since the 70's in several venues, I have heard of such modifications, but never seen one in the flesh. I am a fan of the tang mounted safety. Interesting mod's, thanks for posting photo's of the internals.
