Older 870 Special Purpose

[waterrat]

Years ago I was in a marsh and a fellow had a 870 Special Purpose. It was mat finish with light walnut wood. I feel in love, the gun, not the guy. I have never seen another one, but have been jonesing for one for years, I am at the point where if I cant find one, I will make one. I am running an old 1953 Wing, that has since had the ejector done to handle 3", it was parkerized years ago, and is sporting a Express 26" RC VR barrel. I have collected a mixture of wood, fibreglass and synthetic stocks, and my dream gun is getting close. I have decided to get the gun Cerkoted, and refinish a set of stocks to the light colour. My question is: What colour was the original SP, Black, dark grey, etc Or, what colour would the masses suggest.

[Synchronizor]

I think the first 870 SPs had black oxide finishes, just with a matte, non-reflective surface. Since then, the special purpose line has expanded quite a bit. You might scroll through this page and see what you can find.

[DeaconKC]

If you are taking it back to the marshes, I would go for a tan or brown finish on the gun. Good luck!

[shootall]

Before the black guns came out with special purpose on the side there were a couple years that Remington turned out guns with the gray/green finish like military Parkerizing they were called special purpose also. . I have had 2 of them in 870s and know a guy with an 1100. The stocks were oil finished . They were 3 inch magnum. They also had chrome lined barrels with fixed chokes. I had my 30 inch bbl cut to 23 -3/4" and tubes added. It has dark wood . The other one had lighter wood which I still have in like new condition but I sold the gun years ago with camo furniture . The closest gun I have seen come close to it was the Police magnum it has the Wingmaster receiver not the express receiver . I have other barrels for it that match. I couldn't begin to name all the game that gun has taken one of my kids started calling it critter getter and it stuck . It has to be 30 years old . The org. stock split and was glued back together years ago. It has been a pleasure to hunt with. It also has gone swimming in beaver ponds with me several times . It has a very slick action from use. I can hold the gun up vertical and hit the slide release and it falls to its rearward position with out help.

So if it was me I would strip some Wingmaster wood and oil finish with boiled linseed oil mixed with mineral sprits or something else to cut it. The do the metal in Parkerizing gray/green when it wears it gets mostly gray. Hope this helped.

[shootall]

BTW it has a black recoil pad with no white spacers . Also no grip cap.

[gparrish@premier.net]

... and a fellow had a 870 Special Purpose. ... What colour was the original SP, Black, dark grey, etc Or, what colour would the masses suggest.

I too saw one that was owned by a hunting buddy. I liked the Parkerized finish on the barrel and 3-inch Magnum receiver and the oil finish on the walnut stock and fore end; and this particular shotgun had a 26-inch fixed choke vent rib barrel that looked mighty handy for green timber hunting. I found one at a LGS within 12 months of seeing the first one and bought mine, which looked identical and had Rem Chokes. There was an 1100 Special Field there as well, which I occasionally regret not getting at the same time which had the same look, but an English style non-pistol grip stock and a 2-round magazine.

The Parkerized finish on my 870 has held up well and the only real wear is on the coating they put on the bolt body to dull the chrome finish. The oiled walnut furniture looks as good as the day I bought it.