Bingham by Iver Johnson

Can't help you on the year, beyond 1900-1950 era. As long as the barrel is not laminated steel or Damascus, those dove loads should be fine if the gun is tight. Wouldn't hurt to have a gunsmith verify it, though.

Interesting, the model is XLCR, same as a model of Harley I had, a Sportster Cafe Racer.

Most inexpensive shotguns didn't even get serial numbers until a law requiring them was passed in 1968, so maybe it's later than that?

Several makers did serialize all rifles and shotguns regardless of price point.
Several makers did not serialize all rifles and shotguns until it was required by law.
The long guns without serial numbers I have seen tend to be the kind of guns I saw behind the farmhouse door when Dad took me to visit family in the country in the 1950s. I have referred that class as "farmer's specials". But a lot of inexpensive rifles and shotguns were serial numbered.

BTW That Iver Johnson looks just like the IJ shotgun my Uncle Ed let me carry on a squirrel hunt.

Sure looks like an Iver Johnson "Champion" to me. But not all were marked as such because a lot were sold as private label guns to places like that hardware chain mentioned. I'm not sure if the private label guns were serialized with what the I.J. factory wanted on them or what the purchaser wanted. I have two Iver Johnson shotguns and a book on them that has some serial number info. I'd have to dig it out and see if I can decipher anything on that serial number. Far as I know, Iver Johnson serialized everything even though it wasn't required when they were building shotguns.

Update: Checked my Iver Johnson shotgun serial number information. Came up empty; I think my info only covers the Iver Johnson guns and not the ones made for other mass retailers. Sorry I can't be of more help; it's frustrating not being able to research old guns that were made in large quantities. I agree with Entropy's suggestion of having a good gunsmith verify its condition. If it's good to go those 12 ga. dove loads should be fine. Some of those old 12 ga. single shots kick pretty hard with stiffer loads like slugs or turkey loads. My Iver Johnson Champion is a 16 ga. and not too bad with most field loads. The Champion series were pretty light which made for easy carry & quick handling because that's what you do with a hunting shotgun 99.9% of the time unless you're busting clay birds or something.

Hi Phil; The book I was consulting is called "A Short Illustrated History Of The Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works" by Joseph T. Vorisek. Got it a few years ago from Cornell Publications, www.cornellpubs.com It's a soft cover with 155 pages and probably not considered the definitive authority on the subject. I was able to date the Iver Johnson Hercules Grade 12 ga. double I picked up a couple years ago easily but my 16 ga. Champion I was only able to pin down as pre-WW2, sometime in the 1930's, which is probably correct, as its been in my family since it was purchased new sometime in the 1939- 41 time frame. Couldn't find anything in your serial number range and they didn't have a lot of info on all the shotguns I.J. produced for other retailers. Would also have to determine if it's an Old Model Champion, ( 1880 - 1908 ) or a New Model Champion ( 1908 on ). Interesting old guns; too bad it's so difficult researching them.