P Stamps on Western Field (Stevens) SG

[Nihonto Chicken]

Okay, no action on the C&R forum, so I'll give it a try here. I recently got a Ward's Western Field Model 30 (badge named Stevens Model 520) with the tang mounted safety. It is very similar to the Stevens 520-30 made for the military during WWII, but I assume mine was made in the late '20s or early '30s. However, I note that it has a P stamped on both the the receiver and barrel, which I associate with the P and flaming bomb stamps on military issued shotguns (no flaming bomb stamp on my gun). Is the P on my SG just a proof mark applied to civilian pieces, or what? There is no such P mark on my civilian Stevens 620. Photo below:



Hopefully someone here can provide a good answer so I don't have to register to ask on Shotgunworld or (shudder!) Jouster.

[prc77]

I believe that it is a mark to indicate that the barrel has been tested "PROOFED"

[Mickey D]

As stated, proof mark.

[Nihonto Chicken]

I believe that it is a mark to indicate that the barrel has been tested "PROOFED"

As stated, proof mark.

Yes, a proof stamp, but were such marks applied to civilian retail market arms? Here is a link to a sales notice on another forum (no relation) that I came across while researching this question. The fellow has a Stevens 620 with U.S. stamp (shown) plus a P barrel stamp (not shown in ad) and no flaming bomb stamp:

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_7_162/921813_STEVENS_MODEL_620___12GA___U_S__Marked____300___KANSAS_CITY.html

Here is his P stamp as shown in his extensive Photobucket pics, appears to match mine:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/akratz/Stevens%20620/PA205300.jpg

Here is the entire Photobucket coverage:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/akratz/Stevens%20620/

Interestingly, his gun has the trench type barrel, though the barrel may be a replacement. If it is all original, I would suspect that the receiver and barrel would have the same circle-H, circle-J, non-circled Q marks as shown on the trigger guard (my civilian 620 has different letters, but they all match, and are there in lieu of a serial number).

So is this Stevens 620 perhaps a fake that was not carried to completion? Or, what I'm beginning to suspect, were there shotguns in stock that were intended for the US Military that were proofed and possibly modified, but which for whatever reason were never accepted and were subsequently diverted back into the civilian market? Inquiring minds want to know!

[Nihonto Chicken]

The Plot Thickens ...

Well, here's someone's answer on another forum (see last response):

Weird but nice Stevens 620 - WWII?

Anyone care to confirm or deny?