Date of Manufacture by Serial Number Lookup?

[msmp5]

I was hoping to get the various web (or other) sources of firearm "date of manufacture by serial number" gathered together in one place for future reference, as I think it would be a really useful thread for all of us with collector interest. (I tried the search function and did not see this done already, although I did find some info in various threads which referenced a few individual sources of this type of information.) So, I was hoping the knowledgeable folks here would add to this thread with whatever web sources - or even reference books - they use to determine firearm date of manufacture. I'll start by listing the ones I have so far:


Has Browning, some Colt, Winchester, and some military info/links:
http://www.proofhouse.com/


Marlin:
http://oldguns.net/sn_php/marlinlookup.php


Weatherby rifles:
http://www.weatherbyrifler.com/WbySerials.htm


Colt's Website (seems to have lots of missing serial numbers?)
http://www.colt.com/CustomerServices/SerialNumberLookup.aspx


Browning (this is different from the one accessed through Proofhouse.com):
http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/index.asp


So, please post the links to the ones you find most useful, and/or let us know which reference books are great sources for this type of information!

 

[REB]

For all Ruger Firearms. Note that Ruger didn't necessarily ship all firearms in order so this list is approximate.

http://ruger.com/service/productHistory.html

 

[Candyman87]

Beretta... provides approximate date.

http://www.berettasupport.com/applications/tech_data/schematics_search_new.htm

 

[HammsBeer]

For Swiss military rifle manufacture dates:

http://oldmilitarymarkings.com/schmidt_rubin.html#m31

 

[HammsBeer]

For dating German proof marked SIG pistols, find the two letter code on the bottom of the slide near the muzzle. As an example, KG would mean '96.

A = 0
B = 1
C = 2
D = 3
E = 4
F = 5
G = 6
H = 7
J = 8
K = 9

 

[HammsBeer]

AH Fox shotgun serial number dates (approx).

http://www.doublegunshop.com/dgsnos1.htm

 

[msmp5]

Beretta... provides approximate date.

http://www.berettasupport.com/applications/tech_data/schematics_search_new.htm

Yes, but that website only seems to provide info on relatively modern guns, maybe those produced in the last 30 or 40 years. Does anyone have a resource for determining date of manufacture on older Beretta firearms?

 

[Cee Zee]

Doesn't Browning provide date information on their web site?

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/

OK I see that's the same link you have at the bottom of your list. I can't delete the post but I can tell why I posted the same info you did. I just missed that you posted it.

 

[mgkdrgn]

methinks this deserves a "stickey"

 

[Tedzilla]

I wouldn't take the site listed for Marlin too seriously:

Marlin:
http://oldguns.net/sn_php/marlinlookup.php

I put in the serial number for my Model 39 and was told the year of manufacture is 1888! My curiosity forced me to check my other 39 and the answer was 1891... Anyone know when production of the Model 39 really started? TTAG lists 1921 to 1937 for the 24 inch octagon barrel 39 and this sounds right as my Dad was born in 1922 and one of them was his 1st rifle.

 

[Cee Zee]

Yeah I got a "no match found" when I plugged in the numbers from one of my Marlins. I'm pretty sure the one in my hand is real.

 

[msmp5]

One of the reasons I started this thread was in the hopes that eventually a lot of people would provide links to various websites and/or other forum threads/lists that are frequented by collectors of various makes of guns. The actual manufacturer's websites - like those of Marlin, Browning, Colt, Beretta, and likely others - while providing some information, often contain erroneous data or are incomplete for older guns before a certain manufacture date. And quite often, there is a wealth of info tucked away in other corners of the internet, not associated with manufacturer's websites, but typically provided by collectors who specialize in one type of firearm or another. (I will post one example shortly, in another post.) Anyway, if the admin deems this important enough for a sticky, that's fine. I'd just hope that anyone who is able to, will post their links to whatever sites they are familiar with, if such info would be useful to others for determining date(s) of manufacture by serial number. [Also, if any of you are aware of any good printed books which provide this info, I think many of us would like to know about those resources as well.]

 

[msmp5]

Link to Info on Argentine .45 Colts and Sistemas

For instance, here is a link to a discussion on another forum which has a huge amount of historical information on the Argentine .45 Colts and Sistemas. I found this while researching a gun for a buddy. Amongst other great historical information, there is also data on dates of manufacture for a variety of these guns.

http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=68064

This is the kind of info that I think a lot of collectors - and even casual gun owners who just want to get a bit more info on their particular firearm - would find very useful........ though I'm kinda new here, so I don't know how big collector/historical interest is amongst the THR readership!

But in any case, my request is that if you have this type of information/link/written resource close at hand for whatever make of gun, would you please share it here?

 

[herrwalther]

Yeah I got a "no match found" when I plugged in the numbers from one of my Marlins. I'm pretty sure the one in my hand is real.

Depends on the serial number. If it was made after 2000, I don't think the serial number lookup on that above website will work.

Walther follows a pretty strict dating scheme for their serial numbers. Here are the number codes for their proof mark to the right of "DE" or "Eagle over N"

A = 0
B = 1
C = 2
D = 3
E = 4
F = 5
G = 6
H = 7
I/J = 8
K = 9

 

[REB]

From a post in the Firearms Research section.
Remington Model 8 & 81

http://thegreatmodel8.remingtonsociety.com/?page_id=450

 

[utvolsfan77]

Anyone have info on Remingtons and Winchesters made since WWII?

 

[REB]

For Winchester see the proofhouse link in the first post.

 

[elkdomBC]

Husqvarna rifles,

skydevaaben.com

 

[msmp5]

Sako Date of Manufacture by Serial Number?

Anyone have a website/link for checking Sako serial numbers to find out Date of Manufacture? There are some web sources with a few references for pre-1972 Sako's but apparently none for later vintage guns. (Right now, I'm trying to find out a date for a Finnbear, ser #522xxx)

 

[jmr40]

For Winchester see the proofhouse link in the first post.

That doesn't work on guns made after Winchester sold out to United States Arms Company in the 1980's. I've not found any online info for guns made in New Haven from the early 80's to 2006.

I did find this that supposedly works for the FN made model 70's made 2008-present. It is correct for mine.

Z-1
Y-2
X-3
W-4
V-5
T-6
R-7
P-8
N-9
M-0

On MOST Marlins made 1972-present subtract the 1st 2 digits of the SN from 100 to get the DOM. The code doesn't work on all rifles, especially limited runs of specific rifles, but is accurate on most.

Remingtons made after 1921 use a date code on the barrel that is pretty accurate, but numbers do repeat. It shouldn't be hard to tell the difference between a gun made in 1932 and 2005 though even though they may have the same date code. The link is posted above. There were no date codes stamped between 8/1999 to 10/2001. Since shotgun barrels are often swapped it is not always accurate with shotguns, but would be for most rifles.

I wouldn't take the site listed for Marlin too seriously:

I've found it to be accurate if you enter the info correctly. There is a model 39, 39A, 39M and I think others versions of the 39. If you have a 39A, and enter the info under the 39, you'll get the wrong date.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

Ithaca shotguns.

http://www.ithacagun.com/pdfs/serialnumbers.pdf