Another serial number question

[*NOVA*]

This post is linked to a previous thread about my Remington 700. Someone pointed out the engraving on my stock might not match the year I thought the gun was manufactured-

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=719223&page=2

So, the RECEIVER has serial number C6988974. The Barrel has REP stamped on one side and KJ39 stamped on the other side. No other numbers on the barrel, except the barrel does have the warning stamped on it. The bolt has hand engraved 8374. When I look for charts to see when my gun was made it always refers to barrel serial number. I rarely see a reference to serial numbers on the receiver. Now I'm thinking the different parts were made at different times. I undertsnad that Remington might have made a bunch of actions (receivers) and stocked them up for a long time before mating them with the barrel. What date should I go by to date my gun?

 

[jmr40]

According to this website KJ is May 1989, 1940 or 1962 acording to the barrel date code. J is used 3 times, and 700's were not made in 1940. It could be a 1962 gun with the style stock refered to in the link.

Can you open the bolt with the safety in the "SAFE" position. If you can, it is a 1989 gun. Remington changed that in 1982. Pre-1982 guns locked the bolt down when on "SAFE" and required it to be placed in the "FIRE" position to open the bolt. If the bolt locks down when on "SAFE" my guess is 1962.

Also, from 1999-2001 they did not use a date code on barrels.

http://remingtonsociety.com/rsa/questions/barrelcodes

I don't know when your SN claims, but a call to Remington would straighten that out. It wouldn't be unusual for receivers or barrels to be made and not put together for a while.

The bolt should have the last 4 digits of the SN to make sure they get the right bolt with the right action during final assembly. I'd look close and make sure you're not reading one of them wrong.

 

[*NOVA*]

Good info - Thank you!