I recently bought an older 870, it looks like the original 870 in the 1950 ad on this site or the 870AP model on the 1955 ad.
It has the small ribbed forearm, and a plain walnut buttstock, no checkering. The buttstock has been cut for a recoil pad, but it had a slip on pad installed. No matter as it's cracked and missing a chunk of wood near the receiver.
The serial number is 4664xxV. The bluing on the 30 uinch FULL choke plain barrel is PERFECT, and the bluing is very good on the receiver with some slight pitting. This one doesn't appear to have been fired much at all.
At the end of the magazine tube is a large headed device that moves about 1/8 inch and is under magazine spring pressure. Is this the vari-weight plug mentioned in the 1955 ad?
Any idea where to get an excellent condition original stock for this one?
Thanks