- Remington Serial Number Chart Dates; Please note that many rifles, particularly 22s, did not have serial numbers prior to the 1968 Gun Control Act. Remington added serial numbers in 1967 staring with 400,000. Since year codes are often duplicated, a code letter on a gun with a serial number would be later than 1967 while one without a serial.
- Founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington. Company has distinction of being oldest firearms manufacturing firm in United States. Since 1856, it has been known by four different names: between 1856 and 1888, E. Remington & Sons; 1888-1910, Remington Arms Company; 1910-1925, Remington Arms U.M.C. Company (Union Metallic Cartridge Company); and 1925 to present, Remington Arms.
FIREARMS INFORMATION
Remington never (*) (**) used serial numbers to identify the date of manufacture of it's firearms, they however stamped a date code (spelled out below) by the first letter meaning the month and the last letter the yearof manufacture.
BARREL DATE CODE - stamped exposed on LH top rear of barrel after 1920
MODEL 8 Serial Numbers These are the last serial numbers for each year of production for the Model 8 Year – Serial – Total.
the following will only be stamped where applicable
#2 Part order barrel (not originally assembled to firearm)
#3 Service section received
Remington 870 Serial Number Chart
#4 Return as received
#5 Employee sale
R.E.P. On the RH side of the barrel will be a Magnaflux, Remington proof & a test mark
If a gun is returned to the factory as a fire damaged, or blown up firearm, the factory will stamp it as a prefix to their date code with a #4 on the barrel and return it un-repaired. Then if the gun is ever subsequently returned to a warranty center or the factory by ANYONE, they will refuse to work on it as an unsafe firearm.
REMINGTON MANUFACTURING DATE CODE
stamped on LH top rear of barrel, 2 or 3 digit, (month first, year after) these will normally only be the last letters as seen below,
with the whole list shown here ONLY if it had been returned for repairs
The anchor shown here with the date code is just a symbol, as many different inspector marks will be seen
The above information was taken from Remington's own information sheet, so if your gun may not conform, then I am also at a loss in explaining.
The factory says all barrels are date code stamped, well I have found some that are not, or if they are, are so erratic stamping that trying to decipher them is impossible.
The photos below may help a bit. Both were taken off Remington 760s, with the one on the left, a 30-06 that I bought new October 10, 1954. This has been rebored to a 35 Whelen Improved. The one on the right again a 30-06, but with a shorter barrel that I made into a knock around quad rifle with pivot mounts.
| Here the R represents November, & the ZZ would be 1953. The fourth digit being a 3 is inconsequential being an assembly number. There is no inspector mark on this side. | Here the first (LH) mark is the final inspector mark, the O represents July, the R would be 1968. And the F again being an assembly number. |
JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
B | L | A | C | K | P | O | W | D | E | R | X |
1920 = L | 1930 = Y | 1940 = J | 1950 = WW |
1921 = M | 1931 = Z | 1941 = K | 1951 = XX |
1922 = N | 1932 = A | 1942 = L | 1952 = YY |
1923 = P | 1933 = B | 1943 = MM | 1953 = ZZ |
1924 = R | 1934 = C | 1944 = NN | 1954 = A (JAN. AA) |
1925 = S | 1935 = D | 1945 = PP | 1955 = B |
1926 = T | 1936 = E | 1946 = RR | 1956 = C |
1927 = V | 1937 = F | 1947 = SS | 1957 = D |
1928 = W | 1938 = G | 1948 = TT | 1958 = E |
1929 = X | 1939 = H | 1949 = UU | 1959 = F |
1960 = G | 1970 = T | 1980 = A | 1990 = K |
1961 = H | 1971 = U | 1981 = B | 1991 = L |
1962 = J | 1972 = W | 1982 = C | 1992 = M |
1963 = K | 1973 = X | 1983 = D | 1993 = N |
1964 = L | 1974 = Y | 1984 = E | 1994 = O |
1965 = M | 1975 = Z | 1985 = F | 1995 = P |
1966 = N | 1976 = I | 1986 = G | 1996 = Q |
1967 = P | 1977 = O | 1987 = H | 1997 = R |
1968 = R | 1978 = Q | 1988 = I | 1998 = S |
1969 = S | 1979 = V | 1989 = J | *1999 = T |
(*) Typically from the beginning, they NEVER used serial numbers to DATE their long firearms, but date codes. That does not preclude them from also assigning serial numbers. However for factory purposes, serial numbers were not the primary method of dating a firearm. Long guns made before 1941 (WWII) were serial numbered, even the 22 calibers. After the war with numerous new 22 caliber models being introduced, serial numbers were not assigned to ALL GUNS until the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968.
(**) On 8/9/99, they stopped stamping the barrels with the date code. They however continued to mark the date code on the end flap of the shipping box for shotgun barrels however. They planned on using just the serial numbers to tell when the gun was manufactured. So there was a 2 year gap in rifle date coded barrels and the normal consumer, or gunsmith would have to contact the factory for this information. They then saw the error of their ways apparently because of being inundated by phone calls and resumed stamping the date code on the barrel on 10/1/01.
*2000 = U | 2006 = A | 2012 = G | 2018 = M |
*2001 = V | 2007 = B | 2013 = H | 2019 = N |
2002 = W | 2008 = C | 2014 = I | 2020 = O |
2003 = X | 2009 = D | 2015 = J | 2021 = P |
2004 = Y | 2010 = E | 2016 = K | 2022 = Q |
2005 = Z | 2011 = F | 2017 = L | 2023 = R |
You will notice the year code repeats itself, but over 20 years difference. in this instance, you will need to know when each model was manufactured. To find general manufacturing dates it may be best to go to the Blue Book of Gun Values, which does give manufacturing dates of most models. So even if it (the code stamping) was used on the same model that could have been production over MANY years, in all likelihood sights or stocks would be different which would indicate the different date.
You will also notice the month code spelling out BLACKPOWDERX, this is a common code in the firearms industry. Also some letters were left out if there was a chance of misidentifying a date. Also they jockeyed year letters to a new starting point in 1980.
Also for the 870 and 1100 series shotguns there was a code to identify caliber/size of the actions.
M/870 LETTER PREFIX
1950 TO APPROX 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE) S-68, T-74, V-78, W-84, X-90, A-91, B-94, C-97, D-01, AB-05
LETTER SUFFIX (DESIGNATES GAUGE)
V 12 GA. (2 3/4”)
M 12 GA. MAGNUM (3”)
A 12 GA. “SUPER” MAGNUM (3 ½”)
W 16 GA. ( 2 ¾” )
X 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME” (DISCONTINUED)
N 20 GA. “HEAVY FRAME MAGNUM” (DISCONTINUED)
K 20 GA. “LIGHT WEIGHT” (“LW”) (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
U 20 GA. LW MAGNUM (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 “LT”)
J 28 GA.
H .410 BORE (2 ½” OR 3”)
MODEL 1100 LETTER PREFIX
1964 TO APPROX. 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE) L-68, M-74, N-78, P-85, R-90
LETTER SUFFIX
SAME STRUCTURE AS THE M/870
If you find marks on the underside of the barrel, they will more than likely be fitters or assembly marks, which mean nothing as to dating the firearm.
I have seen one EARLY 740 S/N 54,9XX that has a barrel date coded May of 1969, which apparently had been sent back to the factory and rebarreled with a original 740 barrel instead of a 742 which was in production at that time.
An issue that people need to be aware of, is that many Remington firearms such as the 870 series of shotguns can have their barrels easily changed or replaced. So, if the barrel is not original to the specific firearm in question the barrel date code may be meaningless. Also if there is a custom or aftermarket barrel installed it will not have these factory codes.
Compunding the issue a bit may be the fact that Remington Arms stamps their final inspector stamps and assembly (product) codes in the immediate area of the date codes. So it may be difficult at times to determine exactly what is what. With that in mind, and considering a lot of variables. If a specific Remington firearm has a serial number, Remington Customer Service is always the first source which should be checked for date of manufacture as they would be the definitive source. There are no publically accessible databases for Remington serial numbers.
With the hundreds of different Remington models produced over the past 200 years, it can sometimes be difficult to determine the age of your firearm.
Overview
Since serial numbers were not required until 1968, your firearm may not have a serial number. For models without a serial number, we may be able to determine the age by the 2-3 letters that are stamped on the barrel. If your firearm does have a serial number, if you will call or email to the address below, the serial number and model number we can determine the approximate age of your firearm.
Contact Remington through their Help Center by e-mail at info@remington.com or call their historian at 1-800-243-9700 Mon-Fri 9-5 EST. (this number may not be operationa since Remington moved to the deep south).
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Originated 01-29-2007, Last updated 02-24-2021
Contact the author
When was my rifle made?
After 1921, Remington employed a “date code” system which consists of a series of letters identifying the month and year of manufacture. This date code is typically 2-3 letters hand stamped on the jacket head (refer to the photograph below for location). The first letter in the code represents the month, the second (and sometimes third) letter represents the year. It is not uncommon for these letters to be stamped sideways.
When a rifle was returned to Remington for a repair, the factory would stamp a repair code. These codes read the same as the date code, but were followed by a “3”. It is not uncommon to find the “3” stamped backwards. For those rifles manufactured prior to 1921, rifles not found with a date code, or rifles found with ONLY a repair code, these will be dated best by using the serial number list at the bottom of the page.
Determining month of manufacture (FIRST LETTER)
B – January
L – February
A – March
C – April
K – May
P – June
O – July
W – August
D – September
E – October
R – November
X – December
Determining year of manufacture (SECOND AND/OR THIRD LETTERS),
M – 1921 D – 1935
N – 1922 E – 1936
P– 1923 F – 1937
R – 1924 G – 1938
S – 1925 H – 1939
T – 1926 J – 1940
U – 1927 K – 1941
W – 1928 L – 1942
X – 1929 MM – 1943
Y – 1930 NN – 1944
Z – 1931 PP – 1945
A – 1932 RR – 1946
B – 1933 SS – 1947
C – 1934 TT – 1948
UU – 1949 WW – 1950
These are the last serial numbers for each year of production for the Model 8
Year – Serial – Total
1906~2266 2266
1907~7754 5488
1908~12439 4685
1909~17168 4729
1910~21889 4721
1911~26489 4600
1912~30063 3574
1913~33041 2978
1914~35187 2146
1915~36938 1751
1916~38469 1711
1917~39918 1449
1918~40917 999
1919~42009 1092
1920~44825 2816
1921~45938 1113
1922~47297 1359
1923~48826 1529
1924~50136 1310
1925~51519 1383
1926~53160 1641
1927~55878 2718
1928~58741 2863
1929~61467 2726
1930~64024 2557
1931~65465 1441
1932~66360 895
1933~66867 507
1934~67676 809
1935~68841 1165
1936~69581 1010
1937~69485 96
1938~69488 3
1939~69490 2
* Despite these production totals, rifles as high as 69929 have been observed
These are the last serial numbers for each year of production for the Model 81
Year – Serial – Total
1936~1675 1675
1937~4895 3220
1938~6862 1967
1939~8872 2010
1940~12623 3751
1941~17748 5125
1942~21575 3827
1943~21579 4
1944~21694 115
1945~23809 2115
1946~30525 6716
1947~37104 6579
1948~43778 6674
1949~51187 7409
Remington Serial Number Chart
1950~55581 4394
Remington 700 Serial Number Chart
* Despite these production totals, rifles as high as 57949 have been observed