FIREARMS INFORMATION

• Remington 870 Serial Number Age
• Age Of Remington 870 By Serial Number
• Remington 870 Wingmaster Serial Number Age

Rem-Rand Serial Numbers Data from Remington Rand Corporation Records of Advertising. 3 and 5 we have no serial information. X Before serial number. Remington Model 870 Tactical Desert Recon We Found Bulk Ammo In Stock: 5.56 55gr FMJBT 1000ct $824.99 Rainier Arms 5.56 62gr LAP 1000ct $799.99 Rainier Arms 308 Win 147gr FMJBT 500ct $549.99 Rainier Arms.223 55gr HP Match150ct $119.99 Optics Planet. Remington dates of manufacture Remington made use of a two or three letter Firearms Identification Code that can be located on the left side of the barrel, just ahead of the frame. The first letter of the code identifes the month, the other letter(s) identify the year.

1968: no serial number prefix 1968 to present: letters used (in sequence) l-68, m-74, n-78, p-85, r-90 letter suffix same structure as the m/870 m/1187 letter prefix 1987 to present: “pc” 12 ga., 1999 “tl“ 20 ga., 2000 “sm” super mag. Letter suffix no letter suffix on this model. I have been buying a few 870s in the last couple of weeks. The first one I found is a 1970 870TB, which was the competition/trap gun with longer barrel (30') and deluxe figured stocks with the higher cheek piece. This one is a fixed MOD TRAP choke, VR barrel, 2.75' chamber. Picked up another.

Remington never (*) (**) used serial numbers to identify the date of manufacture of it's firearms, they however stamped a date code (spelled out below) by the first letter meaning the month and the last letter the yearof manufacture.

BARREL DATE CODE - stamped exposed on LH top rear of barrel after 1920

the following will only be stamped where applicable

#2 Part order barrel (not originally assembled to firearm)

#3 Service section received

#4 Return as received

#5 Employee sale

R.E.P. On the RH side of the barrel will be a Magnaflux, Remington proof & a test mark

If a gun is returned to the factory as a fire damaged, or blown up firearm, the factory will stamp it as a prefix to their date code with a #4 on the barrel and return it un-repaired. Then if the gun is ever subsequently returned to a warranty center or the factory by ANYONE, they will refuse to work on it as an unsafe firearm.

REMINGTON MANUFACTURING DATE CODE

stamped on LH top rear of barrel, 2 or 3 digit, (month first, year after) these will normally only be the last letters as seen below,

with the whole list shown here ONLY if it had been returned for repairs
The anchor shown here with the date code is just a symbol, as many different inspector marks will be seen

The above information was taken from Remington's own information sheet, so if your gun may not conform, then I am also at a loss in explaining.

The factory says all barrels are date code stamped, well I have found some that are not, or if they are, are so erratic stamping that trying to decipher them is impossible.

The photos below may help a bit. Both were taken off Remington 760s, with the one on the left, a 30-06 that I bought new October 10, 1954. This has been rebored to a 35 Whelen Improved. The one on the right again a 30-06, but with a shorter barrel that I made into a knock around quad rifle with pivot mounts.

Here the R represents November, & the ZZ would be 1953. The fourth digit being a 3 is inconsequential being an assembly number. There is no inspector mark on this side.

Here the first (LH) mark is the final inspector mark, the O represents July, the R would be 1968. And the F again being an assembly number.

JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
B	L	A	C	K	P	O	W	D	E	R	X

1920 = L	1930 = Y	1940 = J	1950 = WW
1921 = M	1931 = Z	1941 = K	1951 = XX
1922 = N	1932 = A	1942 = L	1952 = YY
1923 = P	1933 = B	1943 = MM	1953 = ZZ
1924 = R	1934 = C	1944 = NN	1954 = A (JAN. AA)
1925 = S	1935 = D	1945 = PP	1955 = B
1926 = T	1936 = E	1946 = RR	1956 = C
1927 = V	1937 = F	1947 = SS	1957 = D
1928 = W	1938 = G	1948 = TT	1958 = E
1929 = X	1939 = H	1949 = UU	1959 = F

1960 = G	1970 = T	1980 = A	1990 = K
1961 = H	1971 = U	1981 = B	1991 = L
1962 = J	1972 = W	1982 = C	1992 = M
1963 = K	1973 = X	1983 = D	1993 = N
1964 = L	1974 = Y	1984 = E	1994 = O
1965 = M	1975 = Z	1985 = F	1995 = P
1966 = N	1976 = I	1986 = G	1996 = Q
1967 = P	1977 = O	1987 = H	1997 = R
1968 = R	1978 = Q	1988 = I	1998 = S
1969 = S	1979 = V	1989 = J	*1999 = T

(*) Typically from the beginning, they NEVER used serial numbers to DATE their long firearms, but date codes. That does not preclude them from also assigning serial numbers. However for factory purposes, serial numbers were not the primary method of dating a firearm. Long guns made before 1941 (WWII) were serial numbered, even the 22 calibers. After the war with numerous new 22 caliber models being introduced, serial numbers were not assigned to ALL GUNS until the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968.

(**) On 8/9/99, they stopped stamping the barrels with the date code. They however continued to mark the date code on the end flap of the shipping box for shotgun barrels however. They planned on using just the serial numbers to tell when the gun was manufactured. So there was a 2 year gap in rifle date coded barrels and the normal consumer, or gunsmith would have to contact the factory for this information. They then saw the error of their ways apparently because of being inundated by phone calls and resumed stamping the date code on the barrel on 10/1/01.

*2000 = U	2006 = A	2012 = G	2018 = M
*2001 = V	2007 = B	2013 = H	2019 = N
2002 = W	2008 = C	2014 = I	2020 = O
2003 = X	2009 = D	2015 = J	2021 = P
2004 = Y	2010 = E	2016 = K	2022 = Q
2005 = Z	2011 = F	2017 = L	2023 = R

You will notice the year code repeats itself, but over 20 years difference. in this instance, you will need to know when each model was manufactured. To find general manufacturing dates it may be best to go to the Blue Book of Gun Values, which does give manufacturing dates of most models. So even if it (the code stamping) was used on the same model that could have been production over MANY years, in all likelihood sights or stocks would be different which would indicate the different date.

You will also notice the month code spelling out BLACKPOWDERX, this is a common code in the firearms industry. Also some letters were left out if there was a chance of misidentifying a date. Also they jockeyed year letters to a new starting point in 1980.

Also for the 870 and 1100 series shotguns there was a code to identify caliber/size of the actions.
M/870 LETTER PREFIX
1950 TO APPROX 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE) S-68, T-74, V-78, W-84, X-90, A-91, B-94, C-97, D-01, AB-05

LETTER SUFFIX (DESIGNATES GAUGE)
V 12 GA. (2 3/4”)
M 12 GA. MAGNUM (3”)
A 12 GA. “SUPER” MAGNUM (3 ½”)
W 16 GA. ( 2 ¾” )
X 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME” (DISCONTINUED)
N 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME MAGNUM” (DISCONTINUED)
K 20 GA. “LIGHT WEIGHT” (“LW”) (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
U 20 GA. LW MAGNUM (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
J 28 GA.
H .410 BORE (2 ½” OR 3”)
MODEL 1100 LETTER PREFIX
1964 TO APPROX. 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE) L-68, M-74, N-78, P-85, R-90
LETTER SUFFIX
SAME STRUCTURE AS THE M/870

If you find marks on the underside of the barrel, they will more than likely be fitters or assembly marks, which mean nothing as to dating the firearm.

I have seen one EARLY 740 S/N 54,9XX that has a barrel date coded May of 1969, which apparently had been sent back to the factory and rebarreled with a original 740 barrel instead of a 742 which was in production at that time.

An issue that people need to be aware of, is that many Remington firearms such as the 870 series of shotguns can have their barrels easily changed or replaced. So, if the barrel is not original to the specific firearm in question the barrel date code may be meaningless. Also if there is a custom or aftermarket barrel installed it will not have these factory codes.
Compunding the issue a bit may be the fact that Remington Arms stamps their final inspector stamps and assembly (product) codes in the immediate area of the date codes. So it may be difficult at times to determine exactly what is what. With that in mind, and considering a lot of variables. If a specific Remington firearm has a serial number, Remington Customer Service is always the first source which should be checked for date of manufacture as they would be the definitive source. There are no publically accessible databases for Remington serial numbers.

With the hundreds of different Remington models produced over the past 200 years, it can sometimes be difficult to determine the age of your firearm.

Overview
Since serial numbers were not required until 1968, your firearm may not have a serial number. For models without a serial number, we may be able to determine the age by the 2-3 letters that are stamped on the barrel. If your firearm does have a serial number, if you will call or email to the address below, the serial number and model number we can determine the approximate age of your firearm.
Contact Remington through their Help Center by e-mail at info@remington.com or call their historian at 1-800-243-9700 Mon-Fri 9-5 EST. (this number may not be operationa since Remington moved to the deep south).

Copyright © 2007 - 2020 LeeRoy Wisner All Rights Reserved
< />

Back to the Main Ramblings Page

Originated 01-29-2007, Last updated 10-26-2020
Contact the author

Learn - Basics

Dates in Firearm History
Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions
(From the Cody Firearms Museum)

Evaluating History of a Gun
Article by Jim Supica

Learn - Advanced

Factory Letters
And Military Records
Museums With Arms Exhibits
Arms Collector Groups

Other Useful Links

Book Recommendations
Book Reviews

Specialties
U.S. Military Arms
Factory Letters
And Military Records

Krag Bolt Removal
Which U.S. Bayonet?
M1917 Enfield Parts Markings
(from M1903.com)

M1 Garand Disassembly and Parts
(from CivilianMarksmanship.com)

Cartridges and Ammunition
International Ammunition Association
CartridgedCollectors.org

European Cartridge Research Association
http://www.ecra-net.de/

Cartridge-Corner.com
(headstamp info)

Corrosive Primers change to Non-Corrosive- Dates

Edged Weapons
Society of American Bayonet Collectors
BayonetCollectors.org

Recommended
Dealers
OldGuns.net

Manufacture Dates

Pre-1899 Antique
Serial Numbers
(From Empire Arms. Use at own risk.)

Mauser Pistol C-96
(Broomhandle)

Ruger
(& Factory Letters)

Markings

Serial Numbers
(foreign language)

Remington 870 Serial Number Age

Warnings

Spotting Fake Firearms
Antiques Roadshow Advice

Fakes
Article by Jim Supica

The Anti-Gun
Crowd Wants
YOUR COLLECTOR
GUNS TOO!
Article by David Kopel

Collection Care & Records
(Preservation tips, inventory software, insurance)

Arms / Gun Show Listings

Crossroads List

Living History
(Info coming soon)

Mannequins for Uniform Display
Make them yourself!

Age Of Remington 870 By Serial Number

Arms Collectors.com
Main Page

Remington 870 Wingmaster Serial Number Age