Dating my 870

[throdgrain]

I don't mean taking it out for a drink. :)

I'd like to find out the year of manufacture for my 870 Wingmaster. I've looked on the Remington website, it says email us, but it doesnt seem to say the email address anywhere :confused:

Could anyone help me out? The serial number is T424XXXV if that helps. The barrel appears to be from 1977, but I'd like to confirm the rest.

[DaleCooper51]

I gave Remington a call this morning for you and they told me it was made in 1976 and had a 28" mod choke vent rib barrel on it.

Regards,

Dale

[Topgun121]

Don't know if this helps, but it was in another post.


According to the "Blue Book of Gun Values", the coding continues as follows:

Month Codes: [first letter]
B - L - A - C - K - P - O - W - D - E - R - X
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12

Year:______Code: [second (and third*) letters]
1950_______ WW
1951_______ XX
1952_______ YY
1953_______ ZZ
1954_______ A
1955_______ B
1956_______ C
1957_______ D
1958_______ E
1959_______ F

1960_______ G
1961_______ H
1962_______ J
1963_______ K
1964_______ L
1965_______ M
1966_______ N
1967_______ P
1968_______ R
1969_______ S

1970_______ T
1971_______ U
1972_______ W
1973_______ X
1974_______ Y
1975_______ Z
1976_______ I
1977_______ O
1978_______ Q
1979_______ V

1980_______ A
1981_______ B
1982_______ C
1983_______ D
1984_______ E
1985_______ F
1986_______ G
1987_______ H
1988_______ I
1989_______ J

1990_______ K
1991_______ L
1992_______ M
1993_______ N
1994_______ O
1995_______ P
1996_______ Q
1997_______ R
1998_______ S
1999_______ T

* the years 1943 though 1953 had double letters: ie, MM = 1943

As maybe seen, the year code letters duplicate; some knowledge of when the model was introduced should resolve the actual year of manufacture.
JohnBT is offline

[Lee Lapin]

Thanks, Dale, that was kind of you. I was about to do the same thing when I saw your post- already had the number dialed and was on hold, in fact 8^).

The best bet to date any Remington firearm is to call the factory during business hours at 1-800-243-9700 (if it isn't an international call, that is...). Barrel date codes work for barrels, but since barrels on 870s are easily interchangeable, there's no guarantee a given gun has its original barrel unless you are the original owner and know the barrel hasn't been changed.

lpl

[k9870]

this serial number stamped on reciever housing? i had been told you couldnt find 870s after 80-smthn

[Lee Lapin]

k9870,

Current/more recent 870 serial numbers are stamped between the holes for the trigger plate pins on the left side of the receiver.

As best I can remember, the serial numbers have always been on the left side of the receiver, maybe not always between the pin holes on the older guns tho. I don't have any of the older ones that live here out of the safe to check on right now, all but one that isn't in the safe right now have Sidesaddles on board that cover up that area.

lpl

[k9870]

thats where mine is, i had ben told you cant date recent 870s that way though

[throdgrain]

Guys thanks very much for going to the trouble of ringing them for me. The gun has a fixed modified choke 28" ribbed barrel stamped KI so I'm thinking the gun is of one peice, and that makes me a very happy man indeed :)

[DaleCooper51]

No problem.

I had a few minutes to spare this morning here at work.