Help with a Mossberg bolt action!!

[Collector0311]

Ran across a .410 bolt action Mossy in my LGS, it's tagged as a Mossberg&Sons 183D-D, and that's about the only identifiable markings on this thing. Where are the serial numbers hidden on this thing?! Or were there any? They are asking 200 but have room to move down if necessary. I'd be buying it as a refurbishing project. School me on this shotty please!

 

[thunder173]

I have the single shot version of that gun, been around a long time. Mine has no serial number on it anywhere. My dad bought it for my mother back in the 50's. It's still a great old shooter. Don't know as I'd give 200 for one myself though,..but if it suites your needs,...its your money. You probably won't go wrong on it.

 

[rcmodel]

Shotguns & .22 rifles were not required to have serial numbers until passage of the 1968 Gun Control Act.

rc

 

[Uniquedot]

They sell for about $75.00 around here, but if you really want it you could offer as much as $125.00. Like RC said it was probably made prior to 1968 and has no serial number present.

 

[chas08]

$200 is way overpriced for around here! I bought a 183 KE a while back for $80 and it is very clean! 75-125 would be more in the ballpark! Excellent Squirrel gun by the way!

 

[BigJimP]

I don't see too many of them around...but they were pretty popular in the 50's and 60's ( I still have an old Westerfield bolt action 16ga )...that I got in about 1960 as a birthday present.../and it was used then...

If its in good shape...in my area, because its a .410 ...there would be a lot of buyers for it ...at $ 150 ....$200...so I don't know that his price is out of line much if at all...

 

[12Bravo20]

I don't know the OP location but $200 sounds high. I bought a 183K (internal box magazine and C-lect adjustable choke) a couple of years ago for $125.

 

[Apple a Day]

I just finished putting the missing pieces on my father's old 185 which I got back from my brother.
From what I've read bolt action shotguns were popular as a less expensive repeater back several decades ago, before serial numbers were required. A lot of them were sold by department stores like Sears (back when that was perfectly normal).
Some parts are available online. Check Numrich dot com. Mine had a screw-on ball on the end of the bolt handle that was missing. I looked everywhere and couldn't find one so I made one myself out of wood. The front sight - also missing - has the same hole/thread dimensions as a modern Mossberg shotgun so I just ordered a new one and it fit just fine.
$200 is a bit high. For $150 I'd jump on it, though, depending on what shape it's in.

 

[Collector0311]

Thanks fellas! I had never seen a piece like this before. I ended up grabbing myself a Winny1897 12ga yesterday and will probably grab the mossberg next week as a project piece. Please go and check out my thread for the '97!