Lets have some pictures of your builds.

[Gunny]

Very nice 870 Gunny, I love the traditional riot gun look with the Police wood. My preferred HD build is pretty much the same thing, just with a 20" barrel and a +3 extension. I've also kept the old armory number on the stock.

Everyone always seems to gravitate toward the black (or FDE, the new black, apparently...) polymer and pistol-grip stocks, but I personally find the traditional walnut to be tougher, more comfortable, and faster-handling than anything else. The 870's controls just seem to work much better with a semi-grip stock; and while I'm a pistol-grip stock feels and shoots nice in an ideal stance, it's awkward to swing it at someone's head or groin, and tough to hang onto if someone grab's the muzzle.

You won't be disappointed with the Remington extension, and not just because the finish matches. They were originally developed for military-contract 870s, and they're a real military design, unlike so many other products that are actually aimed at the civilian market, but are slapped with meaningless "mil-spec"/LEO labels and modeled by people wearing camouflage clothing to cater to self-imagined commandos. This background shows up in the features: tough steel construction, permanently-attached end cap (sized to accept M-16 bayonets), built-in follower stop to prevent the spring from over-compressing and binding up (though it sacrifices capacity with some 3" shells), corresponding notch on the outside to keep the bracket (or bayonet mount) in one place, two-piece design for a smooth interior transition between tube sections, and modular assembly with all parts but one shared between the different-capacity kits.

If you want an extended magazine for a hunting, sporting, or recreational build, there are some nice aftermarket offerings that are lighter or offer a little more usable space in the tube for accommodating longer 3" shells; but for a combat or defensive gun, where the foremost priorities are maximum durability and absolute reliability with 2.75" shells, there's nothing better than the Remington extensions.

Thanks Synchronizor and I will say that is one sweet looking 870, I love the rifle sights and the wood looks beautiful.
I have nothing against the black versions, I am just old school and favor the older wood furniture.
when I entered the Corps, it was still in the day of wood, the black rifle hadn't made its debut yet
Something about nice wood on a rifle or shotgun.

I am certainly looking forward to receiving the Original Remington Tube, and to get it added to the shotgun
I seen some up close and they certainly are made extremely well, a bit pricey, but in the long run it will well
worth it, least IMO ...

[Synchronizor]

I have nothing against the black versions, I am just old school and favor the older wood furniture.
when I entered the Corps, it was still in the day of wood, the black rifle hadn't made its debut yet
Something about nice wood on a rifle or shotgun.

I prefer the look and feel of wood, but that's mostly just a preference (though if I have to get physical with the gun, I'd rather clock someone with a solid piece of walnut than a hollow piece of plastic). There's nothing wrong with polymer furniture, it's cheap, durable, low-maintenance, and even the low-end vacuum-molded stuff is more than solid enough for a shotgun's accuracy potential. I just find it amusing when someone buys a shotgun with a perfectly functional wood or wood laminate stock, and thinks they need to switch it for a polymer version or some high-tech-looking pistol grip in order to have an effective HD weapon. The old Winchester 1897 trench shotguns had wood furniture and semi-grip stocks, and they were such devastating close-range weapons that Germany claimed their use in World War 1 was a war crime - and later threatened to execute any prisoner found with a shotgun (which kind of takes the wind out of their initial complaint...).

Also, those trench guns were used to knock incoming enemy grenades away in midflight with birdshot. That doesn't really relate to the topic of discussion here, but I'm mentioning it anyway because it's quite likely the most awesome use of a combat shotgun ever, of all time (beats the heck out of normal trap shooting as well).

[Gunny]

I have nothing against the black versions, I am just old school and favor the older wood furniture.
when I entered the Corps, it was still in the day of wood, the black rifle hadn't made its debut yet
Something about nice wood on a rifle or shotgun.

I prefer the look and feel of wood, but that's mostly just a preference (though if I have to get physical with the gun, I'd rather clock someone with a solid piece of walnut than a hollow piece of plastic). There's nothing wrong with polymer furniture, it's cheap, durable, low-maintenance, and even the low-end vacuum-molded stuff is more than solid enough for a shotgun's accuracy potential. I just find it amusing when someone buys a shotgun with a perfectly functional wood or wood laminate stock, and thinks they need to switch it for a polymer version or some high-tech-looking pistol grip in order to have an effective HD weapon. The old Winchester 1897 trench shotguns had wood furniture and semi-grip stocks, and they were such devastating close-range weapons that Germany claimed their use in World War 1 was a war crime - and later threatened to execute any prisoner found with a shotgun (which kind of takes the wind out of their initial complaint...).

Also, those trench guns were used to knock incoming enemy grenades away in midflight with birdshot. That doesn't really relate to the topic of discussion here, but I'm mentioning it anyway because it's quite likely the most awesome use of a combat shotgun ever, of all time (beats the heck out of normal trap shooting as well).

No Sir, nothing wrong with the black polymer furniture, for me its still the wood that gets my attention
I am very familiar with the Win '97 Trench Shotguns, as matter of fact, I collect old Win '97 and also
rebuild a lot of them and give them a little more life. I have a few in the collection, however no original
trench gun yet, just other models of the '97 in various grades and barrel lengths.
They are fun to shoot and represent a nice piece of history ....

[Synchronizor]

I am very familiar with the Win '97 Trench Shotguns, as matter of fact, I collect old Win '97 and also
rebuild a lot of them and give them a little more life. I have a few in the collection, however no original
trench gun yet, just other models of the '97 in various grades and barrel lengths.
They are fun to shoot and represent a nice piece of history ....

Nice. I love the craftsmanship that went into those early shotguns, and though I think modern shotguns are better designs all-around, we wouldn't have those today if it wasn't for the earlier models that they were based on. Many repeating shotguns are related so specifically that you can essentially construct "family trees", with identifiable inherited traits making their way through generations. The 870, for example, is a grandkid of the landmark Auto-5 (another Browning invention), and there are some definite family resemblances.

If you have some good photos, you should consider posting them in our Other Firearms section. I for one would love to see them.

[ponycarman]

Is that a blued barrel on yours sync? I love the look you have going and the functionality. I too prefer wood to polymer. I guess I'm just more traditional. Both my 870's are wearing wood. My express has its grey laminate stock and the wingmaster still wears its original stuff. I've thought about swapping the wingmasters to a police style stock instead of the original hunting style but it functions perfect already haha.

I tell people I'm young old school haha. Not many of the younger croud like wood, blued steel, revolvers, black powder, and manual action firearms (pumps, bolts,and levers). New stuff has its place and I have some but the old stuff has always been more fun and most times more practical.

[Gunny]

As a matter of fact, I just completed some minor repairs on a couple '97 that I picked up
and took some photo's of them to keep in my data base records. I see about getting them posted
on that other forum you mentioned.

hey ponycarman, I bet your 870 express in grey laminate looks sharp, Ive seen some variations that had the grey stock
they did look pretty sharp.

[ponycarman]

Thanks gunny. It does look pretty nice. It was my first 870.

[Synchronizor]

Is that a blued barrel on yours sync?

Yeah, it's an old Wingmaster slug barrel, the same one I used to take this picture:

One of these days, I'll redo all my different 870 parts with a matching, high-end finish. For now though, the mismatch is a purely cosmetic issue, and it doesn't bug me.

[navyshooter]

I collect old Win '97 and also
rebuild a lot of them and give them a little more life. I have a few in the collection, however no original
trench gun yet, just other models of the '97 in various grades and barrel lengths.
They are fun to shoot and represent a nice piece of history ....

Gunny

I grew up in WV and my maternal Grandfather hunted with a Win 97 shotgun. Some of my best memories of him is shooting that old 12ga with him. One of my Uncles got it when my Grandfather passed so its still in the family. My Uncles knows if for some reason he wants to sell it to call me first.

I've got my other grandfathers Remington M31, I grew up hunting with it, my Dad's dad passed when I was young, and someday it'll go to one of my sons.

You're right, there is something about the blued metal and wood of an old shotgun. Much like the M14's I "Grew up' with in the Navy.

BTW Gunny, that's a very nice looking 870 there.

[Gunny]

Gunny

I grew up in WV and my maternal Grandfather hunted with a Win 97 shotgun. Some of my best memories of him is shooting that old 12ga with him. One of my Uncles got it when my Grandfather passed so its still in the family. My Uncles knows if for some reason he wants to sell it to call me first.

I've got my other grandfathers Remington M31, I grew up hunting with it, my Dad's dad passed when I was young, and someday it'll go to one of my sons.

You're right, there is something about the blued metal and wood of an old shotgun. Much like the M14's I "Grew up' with in the Navy.

BTW Gunny, that's a very nice looking 870 there.

Thanks Navyshooter, I find I am always adding another of these '97 as I come across them, and I got a lot of them now
usually end up working on them for friends in the local area and restoring some I find back into working condition.
In their day they were a great duck and trap shotgun, not to mention their famous ability to be "Slam Fired"
Often these will appear in some of the ol' western movies....