New member Nashville
New member Nashville
Hello! I just bought my first Wingmaster, actually my first 870. I have been shopping for and looking at 12 gauge pumps for a while. Went to a local gun shop to look at the Browning BPS, and found a vintage Wingmaster. Couldn't pass up what seemed to be the better gun for less $. The gun I bought was advertised as a 1968 model. It's in near mint condition. Has chrome bolt and shell lifter, near perfect bluing, and the wood finish is only slightly marked near the butt. Called Remington this morning to double check the date, and the receiver serial number indicates a 1957 production date. The barrel code stamp reads KDR. I have not been able to find any info online about why there are three distinct letters on the barrel. The D matches the 1957 year of the reciever serial number. The lady I spoke with at Remington said the R could be a distinct maker's mark(?). Any thoughts or knowledge about this? The gun has a 28" barrel with modified choke, and a corn cob fore-end. It's a real beauty, and I couldn't be happier. Just wondering about the extra barrel code letter. I probably paid a little too much ($520), but I don't think there are a lot of these in this condition around, and as a friend said, price doesn't matter much if you like it and can still afford supper!
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Synchronizor
- Elite Shotgunner
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- Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:04 am
- Location: The Inland Northwest
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Re: New member Nashville
Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on your purchase. We'd love to see pictures. Is your gun a Magnum model?
If the gun's condition is as good as it sounds, I don't think $520 is a bad price at all. MSRP for a brand-new Wingmaster is $818, and if you adjust for inflation (and depending on the exact model), your gun likely would have cost around that same amount back in 1957 when it was new. There have been a few improvements made since the 1950s, most notably interchangeable choke tubes, high-visibility magazine followers, improved recoil pads, and the flex-tab update to a few action components, but apart from those minor items (with which your gun can be updated if desired), a 65-year-old 870 in like-new condition is just as good a gun as one that left the factory last week.
As for the barrel code, "KD" would indicate a production date of May (K) 1957 (D). Some years have two-letter codes, but none are "KR". Manufacturing dates aren't the only things Remington has stamped the barrels with over the years, the extra "R" could indicate a repair, additional inspection, or other production information.
If the gun's condition is as good as it sounds, I don't think $520 is a bad price at all. MSRP for a brand-new Wingmaster is $818, and if you adjust for inflation (and depending on the exact model), your gun likely would have cost around that same amount back in 1957 when it was new. There have been a few improvements made since the 1950s, most notably interchangeable choke tubes, high-visibility magazine followers, improved recoil pads, and the flex-tab update to a few action components, but apart from those minor items (with which your gun can be updated if desired), a 65-year-old 870 in like-new condition is just as good a gun as one that left the factory last week.
As for the barrel code, "KD" would indicate a production date of May (K) 1957 (D). Some years have two-letter codes, but none are "KR". Manufacturing dates aren't the only things Remington has stamped the barrels with over the years, the extra "R" could indicate a repair, additional inspection, or other production information.
Re: New member Nashville
Thank you, Synchronizor. The gun is chambered for 2 3/4" shells. After some more searching on the web, it seems that I have a 1957 Standard Grade Wingmaster, judging from the pictures and description on this website:
http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/journals/870/
I'll try to post pics here. I've thought about upgrading the barrel and receiver to accept 3" shells, but I may just keep the gun as-is and be on the lookout for another used Wingmaster to modify.
https://imageshack.com/i/nrw7jzj
https://imageshack.com/i/nh0zd7j
https://imageshack.com/i/jttbkpj
https://imageshack.com/i/1x4aixj
https://imageshack.com/i/05zemdj
https://imageshack.com/i/1faqg4j
http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/journals/870/
I'll try to post pics here. I've thought about upgrading the barrel and receiver to accept 3" shells, but I may just keep the gun as-is and be on the lookout for another used Wingmaster to modify.
https://imageshack.com/i/nrw7jzj
https://imageshack.com/i/nh0zd7j
https://imageshack.com/i/jttbkpj
https://imageshack.com/i/1x4aixj
https://imageshack.com/i/05zemdj
https://imageshack.com/i/1faqg4j
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Synchronizor
- Elite Shotgunner
- Posts: 3022
- Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:04 am
- Location: The Inland Northwest
- Contact:
Re: New member Nashville
Great-looking specimen. It looks like it's seen some use, and it probably wouldn't hurt to have its springs and other wear parts checked out and replaced if needed, but I don't see any signs of abuse or excessive wear. It's definitely a pre-'68 non-magnum gun based on the serial number. Not sure of the exact model, but an AP Standard-Grade is a good guess based on the ribbed fore-end and uncheckered stock.
3" shells and older 870s were discussed recently in this thread. Converting a non-magnum gun to cycle 3" shells isn't that tough, but it may not be worth worrying about. Pretty much anything you can do with a 3" shell can also be accomplished with a heavy 2.75" "short-magnum" load. All you get with 3" shells is a little extra capacity, and capacity is usually only a limiting factor with large buckshot or lightweight nontoxic shot.
3" shells and older 870s were discussed recently in this thread. Converting a non-magnum gun to cycle 3" shells isn't that tough, but it may not be worth worrying about. Pretty much anything you can do with a 3" shell can also be accomplished with a heavy 2.75" "short-magnum" load. All you get with 3" shells is a little extra capacity, and capacity is usually only a limiting factor with large buckshot or lightweight nontoxic shot.