Hunting with a 20g, 20inch wingmaster

[Synchronizor]

The 870 was introduced in 1950. The 20ga has been there since the beginning.

I have never heard of Remington putting serial numbers on the receivers and the barrels. Back when the 870 was introduced, serial numbers weren't even required.

[XLIV]

my date code shows 1952 and the stamping matches the other stamps on the barrel. I saw other pics onl the web of such stamping, not doubting your experiances but there it is.

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[Synchronizor]

Are you sure it's the serial number you're talking about? The date code is not the same thing as the serial number (though Vitaly's lookup page over on the forum calls it that).

[XLIV]

I think so, a picture of the bbl and rcvr are on the last post of the previous page. They match, right down to the suffix "x".

Havent seen many numbered bbls so i thought i'd share

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[XLIV]

Here's another early one i found in my stables .. This time in 12g..



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Oops ill get a better pic tomorrow

[Synchronizor]

I think so, a picture of the bbl and rcvr are on the last post of the previous page. They match, right down to the suffix "x".

Ah, I didn't see that you added that later. That's a serial number alright, interesting. I've never seen a serial number on the barrel before. From a legal standpoint. the receiver is the actual firearm; and the 870 was designed from the beginning to be a gun with which owners could easily buy and change barrels for different roles.

Could your guns have been sent to the factory for repairs at some point, and they marked the barrels with the serial number of the receiver to keep track of them?

[XLIV]

I guess anything is possible with respect to 1950's factory practices. Gut reaction is its unlikely both guns were shipped back to factory rather it was initially an assembly procedure to mark each barrel. This practice used by many factories and nations throughout history (luger, mauser, Sks, etc). With advances in mass production it was recognized as an uneccesary additional step. Helps date the shotgun though.. Kinda neat i think.

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