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Post subject: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:44 pm
Posts: 108
Location: Yukon, OK | Is there a way to tell what the manufature date of an 870 wingmaster using the serial number?
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Post subject: re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:52 am
Posts: 153
Location: East Coast | Here it is.
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 GAGE)
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”)
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Post subject: re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:12 pm
Posts: 207
Location: Michigan | If you have the barrel, the barrel should tell you the manufacture date. As noted above, the serial number only identifies the model type (which might indicate a manufacture range, I should admit).
However, the lettered barrel code is the best way to find the manufacture date, assuming the barrel is original.
http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/que .. arrelcodes
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Post subject: re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 8:20 pm
Posts: 13860
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia | But, there are also apparently a lot of guns without the barrel codes. Made right in the middle of when Remington was doing the barrel code thingy. I know; I have a Model 1100 LT20 Magnum (1978 vintage) with the original barrel and no barrel code, and an 870 12 gauge Magnum (circa 1976) with the original barrel, also with no code, and finally an 1100 28 gauge (Probably 1976 or 1977) with no barrel codes. I love it when these things happen.
Oh yes, they all have a lonely little proof mark on the other side of the barrel.
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Post subject: re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2003 9:31 am
Posts: 212
Location: Southern MS | Call Remington at 1-800-243-9700.(I think they are open M-F 9-5pm EST)
Follow the prompts (I think it is 7 and then 1) and you can speak with an actual person who can tell you month and year the gun was made. Barrels might sit a bit but receiver are the parts that are serialized.
I have nothing but positive feedback to give Remington. The staff has been very helpful. Nice to speak with folks..
Just my $0.02 worth...
Duke
_________________
We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. Benjamin Franklin
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Post subject: re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 8:20 pm
Posts: 13860
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia | 100% on the pat on the back for Remington's staff. I am sure they sometimes have to wonder why all these people care exactly when their guns were made nearing a half century ago. But, they come through repeatedly just the same.
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Post subject: re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Tue Sep 05, 2006 9:30 pm
Posts: 737
Location: Southern Illinois | I guess it might be important to know if it is over a half century old. This would make it eligible for transfer under a Curio and Relic FFL. (At least I think that is how it works..)
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Post subject: Re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2016 10:53 pm
Posts: 5 | I have a Rem. model 870 12 ga Vent rib wingmaster, and am curious as to the born date. Here are the pictures below at the link provided. , also with receiver serial number , some blocked out. Any help as to the weird horse shoe mark and the circle with the line on top would be great, thanks.
https://www.facebook.com/thomasbholladay3# Posted 11:05 PM 11/22/16
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
fbid=10211211467067247&set=pcb.10211211474587435&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid .. =3&theater
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Post subject: Re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 8:20 pm
Posts: 13860
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia | Wow, an over 8 year old thread revived. But, kudos on using the search engine !
No prefix is pre 1968, and by that number I would guess yours is late 1967 or early 68. If you have 4 numbers whited out I think that is the highest pre '68 serial number I have seen, because they generally went in order until they changed the prefix and then started again. Your barrel code is RW - and R is November (or 1968) and W is 1972. My guess is the barrel is 1972 and is not original to the receiver, but nothing is surefire. I have seen a pre 1968 2-3/4' 12 gauge with an 'L' suffix, which by all accounts is non existent, and I have seen every imaginable 'barrel code', including none at all. The horseshoe is an assembly line mark.
_________________
What could have happened.. did.
I do not trust Remington's dating service accuracy. If they were Match.com, you could end up with Nancy Pelosi.
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Post subject: Re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Tue Nov 22, 2016 10:53 pm
Posts: 5 | Thanks for the help, Virginian ..I also bought my son a an 870 12 ga express. it has the square barcode on the receiver. RS47785Z, the two letters are backwards on the barrel. KC but upside down it says CK. not even stamped all that well. As far as the rest of the serial on the other , its S656868V. Way more quality in the wingmaster. Any help on the date of the new one? I think I got 2008. Also 2017 depending of its ck or kc. any help appreciated. Thanks.
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Post subject: Re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2003 4:31 pm
Posts: 2494
Location: Virginia | When did Remington begin milling the relief slit at the back of the operating handle slot?
Dan
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Post subject: Re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 8:20 pm
Posts: 13860
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia | I'm confused as to which gun has what serial number and barrels code. We are talking 3 guns, right?
Dan, the 1100s have had the slot since 1963. No slots on 870s.
_________________
What could have happened.. did.
I do not trust Remington's dating service accuracy. If they were Match.com, you could end up with Nancy Pelosi.
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Post subject: Re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2003 4:31 pm
Posts: 2494
Location: Virginia | My 16-gauge 1100 must be pretty early since the relief cut is missing. It came with three barrels, two of which have no date marks and the third has PV, which I take to mean June, 1979, way too late to be original to the gun. The serial number has 5 digits and the W suffix, no prefix. I have an inquiry into Remington, will report what they say.
Dan
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Post subject: Re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 8:20 pm
Posts: 13860
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia | Going mostly on memory (dicey at best) the early 16s and 20 gauge standard weights did not have the stress relief slit behind the bolt handle slot, at least up thru 1973. I do not know when they added that to all gauges. The 28 gauge and .410 Matched Sets in 1969 did have the relief slits, as did the LW and LT 20s. The much later Classic 16s had it too.
_________________
What could have happened.. did.
I do not trust Remington's dating service accuracy. If they were Match.com, you could end up with Nancy Pelosi.
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Post subject: Re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2003 4:31 pm
Posts: 2494
Location: Virginia | Remington says my 1100 was manufactured in 1964. I also asked about the relief cut. They don't have a recorded date for that but believe it was in the 1970s. I have a vague memory of an article dealing with receiver cracks where the solution was to drill a small hole at the end of the crack. Still looking for that article.
Dan
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Post subject: Re: Wingmaster manufacture date via serial number?? |
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Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 8:20 pm
Posts: 13860
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia | I have heard of receiver cracks and issues with the LW 20s, but I have only ever seen two 12 gauges with cracks, and one of those had enlarged gas ports (didn't get to check the other one). I have seen a LOT of Standard 20s used in Skeet and no issues. The cracked 1100 I didn't get to examine had a hole drilled and was still trucking. Crack was at the rear of the relief slit.
_________________
What could have happened.. did.
I do not trust Remington's dating service accuracy. If they were Match.com, you could end up with Nancy Pelosi.
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