I'm looking for a little more information, or confirm what I already found, about a shotgun that belongs to my mother-in-law. It's similar to one that was discussed on this forum back in 1999.
Directly below is the information from my mother-in-laws gun:
In 1999, Harley Nolden responded to Joe Portale, who had a gun with basically the same info just a different serial number. Below is Harley's response:
So I'm guessing my mother-in-laws gun is also a Model 315 that was made before 1949. The serial number isn't preceded by a letter. Does this sound correct?
Is there any way to determine the manufacture date based on the serial number for guns made before 1949?
In a follow-on post in the 1999 thread, Joe thanks Harley for a parts diagram and I'm wondering if the parts diagram is still available.
Thanks, Phil.
Directly below is the information from my mother-in-laws gun:
Riverside Arms Co
Chicopee Falls Mass USA
Pat.Apr.20-1915
Serial Number 51776
Chicopee Falls Mass USA
Pat.Apr.20-1915
Serial Number 51776
In 1999, Harley Nolden responded to Joe Portale, who had a gun with basically the same info just a different serial number. Below is Harley's response:
According to my records the Riverside double is mfg'd By J. Stevens Co. and is actually their Model 315. This is one of several utility shotguns Mfg'd by Stevens from 1877-1988. My records indicate the the value on this shotgun is: NIB $1.000.00-Excellant=$500.00-$200.00.
There is a year code stamped on every Stevens double barrel shotgun produced between March 1949 and December 1968. The serial number is prefexed with a letter. if your shotgun does not have a letter preceeding the Sr# it was mfg'd prior to 1949.
There is a year code stamped on every Stevens double barrel shotgun produced between March 1949 and December 1968. The serial number is prefexed with a letter. if your shotgun does not have a letter preceeding the Sr# it was mfg'd prior to 1949.
So I'm guessing my mother-in-laws gun is also a Model 315 that was made before 1949. The serial number isn't preceded by a letter. Does this sound correct?
Is there any way to determine the manufacture date based on the serial number for guns made before 1949?
In a follow-on post in the 1999 thread, Joe thanks Harley for a parts diagram and I'm wondering if the parts diagram is still available.
Thanks, Phil.