Remington 878 Automaster

TMD · May 11, 2013, 07:13 AM

I picked up one of these a few weeks ago for $150. The gun overall is in great shape other then the bluing being a bit worn on the barrel. Surprisingly its a pretty good shooter. I put a few boxes of #7 1/2 field loads through it without issues.
My question is what is this shotgun worth? From what little I could find surfing the net there seems to only have been about 65,000 made from 1959-1964. Mine doesn't have a serial number so I'm assuming its one of the earlier production ones.

Hillshooter · May 11, 2013, 09:45 AM

I've never personally heard of an 878 (or any shotgun for that matter) that is missing the serial number. I own shotguns that are over 100 years old that have serial numbers, including Remington shotguns. It should be stamped directly under the "Remington" brand name on the left side of the action. IF it truly is missing a serial number, that might explain why you got it so cheap....

DasGuy · May 11, 2013, 10:10 AM

Guns weren't required to have serial numbers until 1968. I know there's a lot of serial numberless Mossberg 500s from back then.

CurlyQ.Howard · May 11, 2013, 10:14 AM

Not to be a wise guy, but I'd say it is worth $150.00, and until you sell it for a greater sum, that is all it is worth.

Hillshooter · May 11, 2013, 10:32 AM

I own a lot of Remington shotguns (including an 878 and its Westernfield counterpart the 600A ERI, Model 48's, 58's, and even a Model 3 and 9). They all have serial numbers. I didn't realize some of the older Mossbergs don't have serial numbers. I learned something today. I agree with the poster above--it's only as valuable as what you can get out of it. That may be $150 at one place, and it may be $500 somewhere else. I always just check places like gunbroker, etc. and see what they're going for.

TMD · May 11, 2013, 01:36 PM

Quote:

I've never personally heard of an 878 (or any shotgun for that matter) that is missing the serial number. I own shotguns that are over 100 years old that have serial numbers, including Remington shotguns. It should be stamped directly under the "Remington" brand name on the left side of the action. IF it truly is missing a serial number, that might explain why you got it so cheap....

Lots of guns manufactured before 1968 that don't have serial numbers bucause it wasn't required back them. Its not like this gun has had it filed off.

I didn't think it had much collector value but but for $150 how could you go wrong.

Virginian · May 11, 2013, 03:29 PM

There were not a lot of Remingtons manufactured without serial numbers before 1968. I don't know of any since at least the 1940s. I have seen an 1100 without a serial #, and in my opinion it was removed since it was manufactured.

May 11, 2013, 07:13 AM	#1
TMD Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,293	Remington 878 Automaster I picked up one of these a few weeks ago for $150. The gun overall is in great shape other then the bluing being a bit worn on the barrel. Surprisingly its a pretty good shooter. I put a few boxes of #7 1/2 field loads through it without issues. My question is what is this shotgun worth? From what little I could find surfing the net there seems to only have been about 65,000 made from 1959-1964. Mine doesn't have a serial number so I'm assuming its one of the earlier production ones.

May 11, 2013, 09:45 AM	#2
Hillshooter Member Join Date: February 14, 2009 Posts: 24	I've never personally heard of an 878 (or any shotgun for that matter) that is missing the serial number. I own shotguns that are over 100 years old that have serial numbers, including Remington shotguns. It should be stamped directly under the "Remington" brand name on the left side of the action. IF it truly is missing a serial number, that might explain why you got it so cheap....

May 11, 2013, 10:10 AM	#3
DasGuy Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Posts: 318	Guns weren't required to have serial numbers until 1968. I know there's a lot of serial numberless Mossberg 500s from back then.

May 11, 2013, 10:14 AM	#4
CurlyQ.Howard Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2012 Posts: 280	Not to be a wise guy, but I'd say it is worth $150.00, and until you sell it for a greater sum, that is all it is worth.

May 11, 2013, 10:32 AM	#5
Hillshooter Member Join Date: February 14, 2009 Posts: 24	I own a lot of Remington shotguns (including an 878 and its Westernfield counterpart the 600A ERI, Model 48's, 58's, and even a Model 3 and 9). They all have serial numbers. I didn't realize some of the older Mossbergs don't have serial numbers. I learned something today. I agree with the poster above--it's only as valuable as what you can get out of it. That may be $150 at one place, and it may be $500 somewhere else. I always just check places like gunbroker, etc. and see what they're going for.

May 11, 2013, 03:29 PM	#7
Virginian Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2012 Location: Williamsburg, Va. Posts: 1,528	There were not a lot of Remingtons manufactured without serial numbers before 1968. I don't know of any since at least the 1940s. I have seen an 1100 without a serial #, and in my opinion it was removed since it was manufactured.