Picked up new 870 today

[Al in Md.]

I aquired a new 12ga. 870 today. I hope some of You can tell when it was made? The Rem. hang tag has the follwing: Model 870 Magnum, 18" Police cyl. Plain Barrel, Capacity 5, Order #5022. The Ser.# is X208753M (last two digits incorrect)
The Rec. is blued and is Marked" Remington 870 Magnum" (no Wingmaster, Express, or Police). The stock w/recoil pad and forearm are wood, the follower appears to be metal. It is in its original box with all papers and looks to have never been assembled The box looks like it has a few years on it. One other question is what is a flex tab and how can I tell if I have or need it on this gun? thanks in advance, Al in Md.

[Dave McC]

Big Green uses letter stamps on the bbl to indicate the date. If you post those I'll try to date it.

If there are slots cut into the shell carrier, visible from underneath, it's got a flextab.

The flextab is designed to keep the 870 functioning if a shell is not pushed up past the shellcatchers when loading.In all my years of using 870s, this has happened to me only when I deliberately induced it.

On an agency weapon, or any 870 used by non- proficient personnel, it's a necessity. Otherwise, no.

Congrats on your new shotgun. Buy ammo, use up, repeat...

[Al in Md.]

Thank You for Your response Dave, Other than the Warning on the barrel to read instructions and the warning to use 2.75" shells in non Mag recvrs. yada yada, There is a 70 in a box and a F in a triangle, also a white ink stamp REP another mark is IMP CYL. Think I can figure the last one out. Also the collar on the barrel that fits around the Mag tube and the front sight base is gold in color and the bead itself is silver colored. The wood appears to be walnut but nothing fancy. At first I thought the barrel was unmarked as I had to use a magnifier to see most of this. The shell lifter has two cuts that run parallel to the the center axis of the chamber with a another cut at the rear at the end of the other two, Flex tab? Thank You for Your help. Al in Md.

[Dave McC]

You're welcome....

According to Kuhnhausen, the year stamp is a letter, sometimes two letters, with no border or other mark near it.Month stamps are also by themselves.Nothing you've given qualifies, so age remains a mystery. However, the Serial # hints at mid 70s at the latest. My TB(the only 870 close enough to check quickly) has a much higher number and it was made prior to 1982. Trouble is, I don't think the Flextab dates back that far. It could be a retro fit, but NIB guns hardly ever get updated.

Whatever is the age, it's an excellent tool and capable for feeding and protecting your family for decades.

REP is a proof mark. Triangle F is a mark from some stage of assembly.

HTH....

[Al in Md.]

Dave , Found a OO on the barrel, these markings are really small. Al in Md.

[9mmMike]

OO would be July '94 according to my notes.
Mike

[S.F.S]

Al,
Another thing you can do is call Remington's 800 # and give them the ser.# and they will give you the exact date of manufacture. Thats what I did..
Dave is correct in saying that the flex-tab was not in effect in the 70's.
If I remember correctly Big Green told me it came out in the mid 80's.

Scott

[Al in Md.]

Think I will call Big "Politically Correct" Green and find out. Good guns bad politics. Thanks to all, Al in Md.

[9mmMike]

Well?........

[Al in Md.]

Just submitted an Email to Remmy to inquire about the manuf. date on the 870 I picked up on 5/24 and the one I picked up yesterday. Al in md.

[9mmMike]

Thanks. I hate open-ended threads. ;)
I'm weird that way I guess.
Mike

[Al in Md.]

Old thread but I will update anyway. The first 870P was made in 1990 and the second one (purchased one week later) was made in 1995 per Remmy. Actually Remmy responded very quickly but I botched one of the Ser. Numbers. Confirmed the 1990 gun was a police model even though no indication on the recvr. Al in Md.

[9mmMike]

Thanks Al. What email address did you use for Remington?
Mike

[Al in Md.]

9mm Mike, just go to the Big Green home page (www.remington.com) find SUPPORT scroll to HELP CENTER find ASK A QUESTION. I first posed the "when was it made" question and they got back to me with a very friendly E-Mail the next day, like I said in my post I botched one of the ser. No's and it took a little while to work out. Very good example of fast service IMHO. Al in Md.