FIREARMS INFORMATION
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 |
*2000 = U | 2006 = D | 2012 = J | 2018 = P |
*2001 = V | 2007 = E | 2013 = K | 2019 = Q |
2002 = W | 2008 = F | 2014 = L | 2020 = R |
2003 = A | 2009 = G | 2015 = M | 2021 = S |
2004 = B | 2010 = H | 2016 = N | 2022 = T |
2005 = C | 2011 = I | 2017 = O | 2023 = U |
Confounding 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.
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 us 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 [email protected] or call their historian at 1-800-243-9700 Mon-Fri 9-5 EST.
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A was slightly better wood than standard WMs. The barrels were 28 or 30' and either Full or Modified.
Monte Carlo stocks were an option thorugh the series, and so was a Sun Ray variant with blond wood for a while.
B grade was better wood yet, and along with A grade had the impressed checkering we all know.
C grade upped the wood again, and used cut checkering in several patterns that varied over time.
D had engraving over 50% of the receiver and was a Custom Shop offering.
F had 100% coverage. D and F both had exhibition grade wood and often custom fit stocks.
Besides the T grades, an All American model was offered in the 60s,IIRC, with a gold badge on the receiver like the Classic Trap models sold today.
Letter grades I've seen have ALL had a letter grade suffix after the serial number on the receiver with a V as the last part of the number.
Example,XXXXX V TB.
Forearm length varied from long to extra long and checkering patterns also.
NOTE:
Since 870s are easy to take apart, often parts get swapped. I ran across a Magnum receiver 870 that had a high rib barrel and M/C stock at a reputable shop with a trap grade price on it.
Trap hustlers used to buy both a TB and TC, swap the wood and sell the TC off with the lesser wood at a TC price.
Still, a letter grade 870 of any grade is a fine shotgun and oft a joy to see.
Enjoy.....