870 Police Wingmaster question

[dasanii19]

Do authentic police Wingmaster's only say "police" on the side of the receiver?

I'm just curious because my local gun shop has a 12ga. 870 with only "Wingmaster" engraved, nothing identifying it as a "police" model. It does have a 18" barrel and a walnut police

Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[Shear_stress]

I believe the earlier models were just marked "Wingmaster". I've got one from the mid-1970s that issued to the North Dakota Highway Patrol (which I think is kind cool) and it doesn't have any "police" markings. The 870 Police model was introduced sometime in the 90s.

 

[dasanii19]

So I just need to get the serial number and call Remington right? Also, if the serial number ends with a M, that means it accepts 3" shells right? It doesn't have a extension or anything. Im also wondering if those older Wingmaster barrels have the locking ball bearing?

 

[Shear_stress]

That's right, just call Remington and they'll tell you the manufacturing date. I believe you are correct about the "M" marking. Not sure about the last one--let me dig mine out of the safe.

 

[rscalzo]

We had several in our armory. None said Police in the firearm. In fact none of our firearms had any of the LE Only or other marking that seem to command a premium from some dealers.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Plain wood walnut stock (no checkering) and a corncob forearm plus an 18" barrel = an early Police gun, before they were marked Police on the receiver (if no components have been changed). Receivers were only marked Wingmaster at that time. Same furniture plus a 20" barrel = a Riot gun. As well as date of manufacture, the factory can tell you what the gun was when it left the factory. 1-800-243-9700 is the number to call during business hours in NC.

M = a Magnum receiver, as long as the barrel is marked for 3" shells too, it'll handle them OK.

All Wingmaster barrels have the detent in the barrel ring.

Wingmaster marked Police guns were introduced in 1953, Magnum 870s were introduced in 1955.

lpl

 

[Rshooter]

I would say get it if it has the correct numbers. I have three Remington "Police" 870's and only one says "Police" on the side. This leads to confusion with some of the "Magnum" guns to as they did not say "Police" on the receiver.

 

[PJR]

I have an 870 Police purchased in the early 90s with a blued receiver that says neither "Police" or "Wingmaster" just "Remington 870 Magnum."

 

[ilmonster]

I recently picked up a well used 870 that was a police trade in with the police stock, 18" fixed cyl. choked barrel and it said Remington 870 Wingmaster on the receiver. It does have an "M" on the seriel number so it takes 3" shells. It was well used on the outside, and the inside looks fairly unused as do many police SG's. I replaced the springs with heavier police springs and now it is my main HD gun.