How to find out the age of a gun.

[gunnutt]

I currently have a Stevens model 22 cal. that according to my dad may have been made in the 40's-50's. I would like to know if anyone knows of a place I can check the serial number and find out when it was made.

 

[wireless]

What is the model number and serial number (if any)? You might also check out the following link since it is a .22:

RFC Forums

 

[Smokey Joe]

Gun age

I've found manufacturers of a weapon to be helpful with this type of question. In this case, contact Savage Arms and ask them.

 

[Jim K]

I would not be too hopeful on getting the info. At that time, the law did not require serial numbers on .22 rifles and shotguns, and few makers put them on, except for high-ticket items like the Winchester 52. Generally, no records were kept of individual guns, since there was no method of doing so.

In fact, one of the consequences of the Gun Control Act of 1968, which mandated serial numbers on all guns, was that makers simply stopped producing inexpensive .22 rifles and shotguns, saying the market would not stand the increase in price caused by the numbering and the attendant record keeping.

Jim

 

[carebear]

Cut the barrel and count the rings. It's the only way to be sure.....

There are specialty books about almost every firearm type made. One way to tighten down a production period, if not year, is by checking minor production changes. Often times manufacturers will change a sight or lever shape or location (for example) for a variety of reasons.

Those changes are recorded by the manufacturer and can help isolate time.

 

[Walter]

Gunnutt...

...click on the link below, scroll down to the "Savage/Stevens" section
and see if you can find what you are looking for.
You will need "Adobe Acrobat" to access this info.

https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/Firearm/Serialize.pdf

Walter