Dating a Wingmaster
- Thread starter Don P
- Start date
AFAIK, The receiver cannot be dated by SN, but the bbl can, AND hopefully the bbl is original to the receiver.
The Remington Date Codes are always stamped into the barrel's lower side, near the rear - just ahead of the receiver.
The first letter of the Code is the month of manufacture, followed by one or two letters which are the year of manufacture.
As noted above, for shotguns with removeable barrels, the code will be valid for the manufacture of the barrel; maybe for the receiver, as barrels do get switched around.
According to the "Blue Book of Gun Values", the coding continues as follows (edited to reflect the intro year of the OP's Model 870) :
Month Codes: [first letter]
B - L - A - C - K - P - O - W - D - E - R - X
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12
Year:______Code: [second (and third * letters]
1950____*___ WW
1951____*___ XX
1952____*___ YY
1953____*___ ZZ
1954_______ A
1955_______ B
1956_______ C
1957_______ D
1958_______ E
1959_______ F
1960_______ G
1961_______ H
1962_______ J
1963_______ K
1964_______ L
1965_______ M
1966_______ N
1967_______ P
1968_______ R
1969_______ S
1970_______ T
1971_______ U
1972_______ W
1973_______ X
1974_______ Y
1975_______ Z
1976_______ I
1977_______ O
1978_______ Q
1979_______ V
1980_______ A
1981_______ B
1982_______ C
1983_______ D
1984_______ E
1985_______ F
1986_______ G
1987_______ H
1988_______ I
1989_______ J
1990_______ K
1991_______ L
1992_______ M
1993_______ N
1994_______ O
1995_______ P
1996_______ Q
1997_______ R
1998_______ S
1999_______ T
2000_______ U
2001_______ W
2002_______ X
As maybe seen, the year code letters duplicate; some knowledge of when the model was introduced should resolve the actual year of manufacture.
.
The Remington Date Codes are always stamped into the barrel's lower side, near the rear - just ahead of the receiver.
The first letter of the Code is the month of manufacture, followed by one or two letters which are the year of manufacture.
As noted above, for shotguns with removeable barrels, the code will be valid for the manufacture of the barrel; maybe for the receiver, as barrels do get switched around.
According to the "Blue Book of Gun Values", the coding continues as follows (edited to reflect the intro year of the OP's Model 870) :
Month Codes: [first letter]
B - L - A - C - K - P - O - W - D - E - R - X
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12
Year:______Code: [second (and third * letters]
1950____*___ WW
1951____*___ XX
1952____*___ YY
1953____*___ ZZ
1954_______ A
1955_______ B
1956_______ C
1957_______ D
1958_______ E
1959_______ F
1960_______ G
1961_______ H
1962_______ J
1963_______ K
1964_______ L
1965_______ M
1966_______ N
1967_______ P
1968_______ R
1969_______ S
1970_______ T
1971_______ U
1972_______ W
1973_______ X
1974_______ Y
1975_______ Z
1976_______ I
1977_______ O
1978_______ Q
1979_______ V
1980_______ A
1981_______ B
1982_______ C
1983_______ D
1984_______ E
1985_______ F
1986_______ G
1987_______ H
1988_______ I
1989_______ J
1990_______ K
1991_______ L
1992_______ M
1993_______ N
1994_______ O
1995_______ P
1996_______ Q
1997_______ R
1998_______ S
1999_______ T
2000_______ U
2001_______ W
2002_______ X
As maybe seen, the year code letters duplicate; some knowledge of when the model was introduced should resolve the actual year of manufacture.
.
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Thanks PetahW for the info. Double Y's stamped in the barrel. The widower that sold me the gun through a friend of mine stated that her husband had the gun before they were married some 50+ years ago so I'll roll the dice that the gun is the way Remington produced it in 1952. Nice gun shoots nice and the price was right at $225.
Thanks again for the info.
Thanks again for the info.
1-800-243-9700 is Remington's customer service number. Work down the phone tree until you reach a real person. Give them the Serial Number and they'll give you the born on date.
Barrels get swapped frequently, so the codes may be misleading.
Serial numbers are forever. The V suffix on yours indicates it's a 2 3/4" gun so forgo the maggie numbs.
A vintage WM is first class condition for $225 is a great deal.
Enjoy......
Barrels get swapped frequently, so the codes may be misleading.
Serial numbers are forever. The V suffix on yours indicates it's a 2 3/4" gun so forgo the maggie numbs.
A vintage WM is first class condition for $225 is a great deal.
Enjoy......
Pawn shop Wingmaster
Just home from the Pawn Shop and have suffered thru the glare of the Mrs. and am enjoying my new used old Wingmaster.
Looks like a 1979 gun from what I can tell off of the S#. The extensive impressed checkering looks like a '79 gun too. Has two beads, 28" tube, modified choke, raised vent rib with a that looks pretty wide. Thick Remington butt pad. I'm a trap shooter and have been shooting a Parker SC and while I love the gun it beats me to death. Looks like the comb on this Remington will be a little lower and won't bruise my cheek bone as much as the wonderful old Parker does.
Paid $325 for the gun. Very few scratches and almost no rust. Looks essentially new. Has sling swivels. Perfect bore. White spacers. The gun is not light. Is marked with the Remington Arms of Ilion New York address. Looks like it may have had a gold wash in the lettering. Blue throught out is bright and shinny. Follower is blued too, seems to me that they are usually in the shinny white.
So how'd I do?
Just home from the Pawn Shop and have suffered thru the glare of the Mrs. and am enjoying my new used old Wingmaster.
Looks like a 1979 gun from what I can tell off of the S#. The extensive impressed checkering looks like a '79 gun too. Has two beads, 28" tube, modified choke, raised vent rib with a that looks pretty wide. Thick Remington butt pad. I'm a trap shooter and have been shooting a Parker SC and while I love the gun it beats me to death. Looks like the comb on this Remington will be a little lower and won't bruise my cheek bone as much as the wonderful old Parker does.
Paid $325 for the gun. Very few scratches and almost no rust. Looks essentially new. Has sling swivels. Perfect bore. White spacers. The gun is not light. Is marked with the Remington Arms of Ilion New York address. Looks like it may have had a gold wash in the lettering. Blue throught out is bright and shinny. Follower is blued too, seems to me that they are usually in the shinny white.
So how'd I do?
supercub99
New member
I too just acquired a 410 870 wing master with enhanced engraving. I think it's one of the 999-2001 as there is no numbers on the barrel. Just has "mod" for the choke type on that side and rep on the other.
berettaprofessor
New member
Don't bother. It just wants to be fed, stroked firmly, and set off at regular intervals.
