WWII U.S. Savage Model 720 Riot 20″ 12 GA Semi-Auto Shotgun, 1942-1945 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1,275.00

LSB#: WY240910RW009

Make: Savage

Model: U.S. Property 720

Serial Number: 70690

Year of Manufacture: 1942-1945, likely closer to 1942 due to the commercial engraving on the receiver.

Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 3/4″ Shells

Action Type: Long-Recoil Semi-Automatic with Tubular Magazine

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “SAVAGE”, “SAVAGE ARMS CORPORATION / UTICA, NEW YORK, U.S.A”, “MODEL 720”, with a U.S. flaming bomb, “P”, “SP” in oval and “***”. The right side of the barrel is marked “PROOF TESTED-12 GAUGE / – 2 3/4 INCH CHAMBER -“. The left side of the receiver is marked with a “P” and a flaming bomb followed by “U.S”. Each side of the receiver is etched with game scenes, scroll, and the left has a Savage logo. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number “70690”. The barrel is not serial-marked.

Barrel Length: 20″

Choke: Cylinder Bore, Fixed

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a silver-colored bead on a ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. The top of the receiver is serrated to reduce glare and provide a sighting plane.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a finger-grooved forend, pistol grip, straight comb, and serrated black hard rubber buttplate. There is a crack at the bottom-rear of the forend on the right. There is a patch repair through the wrist. There are scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The LOP measures 14″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered light wear and well defined serrations. Overall, the stocks are in Good-plus condition as refinished, repaired, and likely replaced (see Our Assessment).

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. There are infrequent spots of minor erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 87% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is handling wear on the bottom of the receiver. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with a more notable ding on the left of the receiver above the flat toward the front. There is infrequent minor oxidation. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The Savage 720, like the Remington 11 and Sportsman, was a U.S. produced copy of the Browning/FN Auto-5 long-recoil semi-automatic shotgun. Like the Remington models, the 720 saw use by the U.S. Military during WWII in both Riot and Sporting configurations. The Riot guns would be used in security roles such as guarding bases or factories while the Sporting guns would be used for aerial gunnery training. This example is properly marked for a Military 720, and is in the early part of the military serial range when commercial receivers with decorative engraving were used to fill early orders. These early guns also typically had commercial checkered stocks, so it is possible that the stocks have been replaced. Some barrels were serial marked, while some were not, and there is no consensus on whether an unnumbered barrel indicates replacement. Given how scarce genuine 720 Riot guns are, this shotgun will make a great addition to a collection that hasn’t managed to add one. If the collectors do not take notice, it should still prove to be a nice recreational or defense shotgun with a story. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud