Originally Posted By: Tim Frazier
Has anyone ever seen a matted plain barrel on a 17? Or a 31? I just picked up a 1950 870 20g BDL with a 26" matted barrel but have never seen one on any other model despite adds that mention it.



I also have some 17 parts and buy them when I find them. Numerich has quite a few as well.

Most folks don't realize how similar a 31 is to a 17 and how different a 37 is. Common ideas, different guns.


Tim, your 870 looks like BDL Grade(ADL at the least). If it is, it will be marked on the side of the receiver. They are not common these days. In those days the standard 870 was called AP Grade. These early 870s are very nice guns.
The ADL and BDL's were only offered with Matted or Vent Rib barrels. The AP were offered with Plain, Matted or Vent Rib barrels.

Ole Cowboy