Dating a Wingmaster

Don P · March 27, 2012, 11:28 AM

I would be most appreciative for the help in trying to date my Remington 870 Wingmaster.
Serial # 195161V
Thanks in advance for any info

PetahW · March 27, 2012, 04:08 PM

AFAIK, The receiver cannot be dated by SN, but the bbl can, AND hopefully the bbl is original to the receiver.

The Remington Date Codes are always stamped into the barrel's lower side, near the rear - just ahead of the receiver.

The first letter of the Code is the month of manufacture, followed by one or two letters which are the year of manufacture.
As noted above, for shotguns with removeable barrels, the code will be valid for the manufacture of the barrel; maybe for the receiver, as barrels do get switched around.

According to the "Blue Book of Gun Values", the coding continues as follows (edited to reflect the intro year of the OP's Model 870) :

Month Codes: [first letter]
B - L - A - C - K - P - O - W - D - E - R - X
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12

Year:______Code: [second (and third * letters]

1950____*___ WW
1951____*___ XX
1952____*___ YY
1953____*___ ZZ
1954_______ A
1955_______ B
1956_______ C
1957_______ D
1958_______ E
1959_______ F
1960_______ G
1961_______ H
1962_______ J
1963_______ K
1964_______ L
1965_______ M
1966_______ N
1967_______ P
1968_______ R
1969_______ S
1970_______ T
1971_______ U
1972_______ W
1973_______ X
1974_______ Y
1975_______ Z
1976_______ I
1977_______ O
1978_______ Q
1979_______ V
1980_______ A
1981_______ B
1982_______ C
1983_______ D
1984_______ E
1985_______ F
1986_______ G
1987_______ H
1988_______ I
1989_______ J
1990_______ K
1991_______ L
1992_______ M
1993_______ N
1994_______ O
1995_______ P
1996_______ Q
1997_______ R
1998_______ S
1999_______ T
2000_______ U
2001_______ W
2002_______ X

As maybe seen, the year code letters duplicate; some knowledge of when the model was introduced should resolve the actual year of manufacture.

.

Don P · March 27, 2012, 05:59 PM

Thanks PetahW for the info. Double Y's stamped in the barrel. The widower that sold me the gun through a friend of mine stated that her husband had the gun before they were married some 50+ years ago so I'll roll the dice that the gun is the way Remington produced it in 1952. Nice gun shoots nice and the price was right at $225.
Thanks again for the info.

Hawg · March 27, 2012, 06:30 PM

Quote:

I would be most appreciative for the help in trying to date my Remington 870 Wingmaster.

Candy and flowers might be a good start.

Don P · March 27, 2012, 06:58 PM

Not a problem all I need is a little help on how to get the sweets and flowers through the wires to your PC!

The chocolate keeps melting and the stems of the flowers keep breaking

Dave McC · March 27, 2012, 07:17 PM

1-800-243-9700 is Remington's customer service number. Work down the phone tree until you reach a real person. Give them the Serial Number and they'll give you the born on date.

Barrels get swapped frequently, so the codes may be misleading.

Serial numbers are forever. The V suffix on yours indicates it's a 2 3/4" gun so forgo the maggie numbs.

A vintage WM is first class condition for $225 is a great deal.

Enjoy......

stepmac · April 29, 2013, 02:54 PM

Just home from the Pawn Shop and have suffered thru the glare of the Mrs. and am enjoying my new used old Wingmaster.

Looks like a 1979 gun from what I can tell off of the S#. The extensive impressed checkering looks like a '79 gun too. Has two beads, 28" tube, modified choke, raised vent rib with a that looks pretty wide. Thick Remington butt pad. I'm a trap shooter and have been shooting a Parker SC and while I love the gun it beats me to death. Looks like the comb on this Remington will be a little lower and won't bruise my cheek bone as much as the wonderful old Parker does.

Paid $325 for the gun. Very few scratches and almost no rust. Looks essentially new. Has sling swivels. Perfect bore. White spacers. The gun is not light. Is marked with the Remington Arms of Ilion New York address. Looks like it may have had a gold wash in the lettering. Blue throught out is bright and shinny. Follower is blued too, seems to me that they are usually in the shinny white.

So how'd I do?

iagbarrb · June 2, 2016, 08:35 PM

Hy folks
Let me bring this thread back, cause Ive recenty got a wingmaster.
Problem by dating is that I have following three letters:
AJ U.
Any help?

supercub99 · June 6, 2016, 11:56 PM

I too just acquired a 410 870 wing master with enhanced engraving. I think it's one of the 999-2001 as there is no numbers on the barrel. Just has "mod" for the choke type on that side and rep on the other.

berettaprofessor · June 26, 2016, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Candy and flowers might be a good start.

Don't bother. It just wants to be fed, stroked firmly, and set off at regular intervals.

March 27, 2012, 11:28 AM	#1
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Dating a Wingmaster I would be most appreciative for the help in trying to date my Remington 870 Wingmaster. Serial # 195161V Thanks in advance for any info __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

March 27, 2012, 04:08 PM	#2
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	AFAIK, The receiver cannot be dated by SN, but the bbl can, AND hopefully the bbl is original to the receiver. The Remington Date Codes are always stamped into the barrel's lower side, near the rear - just ahead of the receiver. The first letter of the Code is the month of manufacture, followed by one or two letters which are the year of manufacture. As noted above, for shotguns with removeable barrels, the code will be valid for the manufacture of the barrel; maybe for the receiver, as barrels do get switched around. According to the "Blue Book of Gun Values", the coding continues as follows (edited to reflect the intro year of the OP's Model 870) : Month Codes: [first letter] B - L - A - C - K - P - O - W - D - E - R - X 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 Year:______Code: [second (and third * letters] 1950_______ WW 1951_______ XX 1952_______ YY 1953_______ ZZ 1954_______ A 1955_______ B 1956_______ C 1957_______ D 1958_______ E 1959_______ F 1960_______ G 1961_______ H 1962_______ J 1963_______ K 1964_______ L 1965_______ M 1966_______ N 1967_______ P 1968_______ R 1969_______ S 1970_______ T 1971_______ U 1972_______ W 1973_______ X 1974_______ Y 1975_______ Z 1976_______ I 1977_______ O 1978_______ Q 1979_______ V 1980_______ A 1981_______ B 1982_______ C 1983_______ D 1984_______ E 1985_______ F 1986_______ G 1987_______ H 1988_______ I 1989_______ J 1990_______ K 1991_______ L 1992_______ M 1993_______ N 1994_______ O 1995_______ P 1996_______ Q 1997_______ R 1998_______ S 1999_______ T 2000_______ U 2001_______ W 2002_______ X As maybe seen, the year code letters duplicate; some knowledge of when the model was introduced should resolve the actual year of manufacture. . Last edited by PetahW; March 27, 2012 at 04:14 PM.

March 27, 2012, 05:59 PM	#3
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Thanks PetahW for the info. Double Y's stamped in the barrel. The widower that sold me the gun through a friend of mine stated that her husband had the gun before they were married some 50+ years ago so I'll roll the dice that the gun is the way Remington produced it in 1952. Nice gun shoots nice and the price was right at $225. Thanks again for the info. __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

March 27, 2012, 06:58 PM	#5
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Not a problem all I need is a little help on how to get the sweets and flowers through the wires to your PC! The chocolate keeps melting and the stems of the flowers keep breaking __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

April 29, 2013, 02:54 PM	#7
stepmac Member Join Date: January 17, 2013 Posts: 41	Pawn shop Wingmaster Just home from the Pawn Shop and have suffered thru the glare of the Mrs. and am enjoying my new used old Wingmaster. Looks like a 1979 gun from what I can tell off of the S#. The extensive impressed checkering looks like a '79 gun too. Has two beads, 28" tube, modified choke, raised vent rib with a that looks pretty wide. Thick Remington butt pad. I'm a trap shooter and have been shooting a Parker SC and while I love the gun it beats me to death. Looks like the comb on this Remington will be a little lower and won't bruise my cheek bone as much as the wonderful old Parker does. Paid $325 for the gun. Very few scratches and almost no rust. Looks essentially new. Has sling swivels. Perfect bore. White spacers. The gun is not light. Is marked with the Remington Arms of Ilion New York address. Looks like it may have had a gold wash in the lettering. Blue throught out is bright and shinny. Follower is blued too, seems to me that they are usually in the shinny white. So how'd I do?

March 27, 2012, 07:17 PM	#6
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	1-800-243-9700 is Remington's customer service number. Work down the phone tree until you reach a real person. Give them the Serial Number and they'll give you the born on date. Barrels get swapped frequently, so the codes may be misleading. Serial numbers are forever. The V suffix on yours indicates it's a 2 3/4" gun so forgo the maggie numbs. A vintage WM is first class condition for $225 is a great deal. Enjoy......

June 2, 2016, 08:35 PM	#8
iagbarrb Member Join Date: May 31, 2015 Location: Bolivia Posts: 38	Hy folks Let me bring this thread back, cause Ive recenty got a wingmaster. Problem by dating is that I have following three letters: AJ U. Any help?

June 6, 2016, 11:56 PM	#9
supercub99 Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2012 Location: Alaska Posts: 146	I too just acquired a 410 870 wing master with enhanced engraving. I think it's one of the 999-2001 as there is no numbers on the barrel. Just has "mod" for the choke type on that side and rep on the other.