FIREARMS INFORMATION
Remington stamps a 2-letter code on their barrels (left side, just forward of the receiver) that indicates the month and year of manufacture of the barrel. Caveats: - If the barrel on your 1100 is not the original one that came with the gun, then all you'll find out is when the barrel was made. These codes seem to be accurate only up to 1994. Around 1906 Remington made the change to the floating firing pin on both guns. It was a running change so there is no exact serial number. The best way to tell the two model's apart is by the serial numbers. The model 1894 serial number's start with a (1) and the model 1900 serial number's start with a (3). All have 6 number's in the serial number. The 1100 designation for a Remington shotgun is the model number. Remington makes the 1100 model in a trap version and a field version. Can you date a Remington 1100 ser no L203439h? With the L prefix to the serial number,this would indicate that your model 1100 Remington shotgun was made in 1991. Remington 700, 870 or 1100 serial/barrel number lookup will work with Remington 700, 870 or any other Remington shotgun or rifle. It will show you date of manufacture of your firearm. It is very easy to use, it uses information from the Remington company. Remington 870, 700, 1100 Serial/Barrel Number Lookup.
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
the following will only be stamped where applicable
#2 Part order barrel (not originally assembled to firearm)
#3 Service section received
#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 10-26-2020
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FIREARMS INFORMATION
The following is an excerpt from a Remington 1902 catalog.
Remington 870 Serial Number Age
N O T I C E
For guidance of customers ordering double gun parts, we give the following information :
The Remington Double Gun has been made in six models, known as HAMMER LIFTER ACTION, LIFTER ACTION, MODEL '82, MODEL '83, MODEL '85, AND '87. AND MODEL '89,
many parts of which differ. Parties owning guns can determine their model by comparing their hammers with the following drawings:
HAMMER LIFTER ACTION - LIFTER ACTION - MODEL 1882 - MODEL 1885 AND 1887 - MODEL 1889
The above illustrations taken from an old Remington 1902 parts catalog
REMINGTON DOUBLE BARREL SHOTGUN SERIAL NUMBERS
Courtesy of Roy Gunther, William M. Furnish & Charles G. Semmer as published in THE GUN REPORT, July & August 1991
Remington never used the year of the first production as a model number, however it has since become common practice to do so. The language used here ARE the first year of production for each named type.
M1873 or 'hammer lifter model' used a lever on the tang that lifted up to open the barrels and draw the hammers back to half cock. The lockplate had 3 screws at the rear, made in 10 & 12 gauges.
M1876 or 'lifter model' had the lifter opening the barrels. Hammers were rebounding. First was the recessed hammer noses, & later flat. Four screws at the end of the lockplate, made in 10 & 12 gauges. The 1873 & 1876 were available in shotgun and rifle & shotgun combinations.
M1878 or :heavy duck gun'; lockplate had flat faced hammers, no rudimentary fence at the bottom of the bolster & used a doll's head rib
extension into the frame. First pinned forearms were used, later Deely & Edge latch was used. 10 gauge only.
Serial Numbers For Remington 1100 Shotguns Sxp
M1882, for the first time a conventional turning lever to open the barrel was used. Made in 10 & 12 gauges.
M1883 was introduced into the catalogs, but few have been observed. The hammers are different, made in 10 & 12 gauges.
M1885-87, used the same serial numbers as the 1882 model. The hammer was again different. Made in 10, 12 & 16 gauges.
M1889, the last & largest volume made of the hammer guns, & the hammer was again different & significant than all the rest. Made in 10, 12, & 16 gauges.
Other gathered information
Shotguns were evolving fairly quickly during the years E. Remington & Sons were building them with new models appearing every year or two. The early E. Remington & Sons hammer guns were based on the Whitmore designed 'lifter action' to open the guns. The first model was the 1873 also known as the 'hammer lifter' as the locks didn't automatically rebound and protrusions on the side of the slide that moved back between the hammers when the lifter was raised engaged flanges on the sides of the hammers and moved them to half-cock. The next model the 1875 did away with this and featured Hepburn's designed rebounding locks, as did all the later Remington hammer doubles.
More variations of the basic Whitworth design were the Models 1876, 1878 and 1879. The 1879 is the only lifter action Remington that got the new Deeley lever forearm.
The next E. Remington & Sons hammer double was the 1882 with a conventional top lever that pushed to the right. These evolved through the 1883, 1885 and 1887.
----
Remington made hammer double barrels from 1874 to 1910. The quick way to different between year models is by hammer shape and serial numbers.
The serial numbers run as follows:
Mode 1874 (Hammer Lifter) 001 to 1,500.
Model 1876 (Lifter Action) 1,501 to 4.125+.
Model 1882/1883 001 to 15,000.
Model 1885 15,001 to 21,000.
Model 1887 30,001 to 36,000.
Model 1889 001 to 250, 401+.
There were seven grades of Model 1889 shotguns made. They were No. 1-steel barrel, pistol grip stock, rubber butt plate and matted to rib, no engraving. No. 2 same except for twist barrel, No. 3 same except for damascus barrel. No. 4 same except for engraving. No. 5 Fine damascus and extra engraving. No. 6 Extra Fine damascus and scroll engraving and No. 7 Superior damascus and extra fine scroll engraving.
M1894, was the first hammerless, made in 10, 12, & 16 gauges. Could have been had in 'ordnance or damascus steel barrels. This model has a Purdey forend fastener (push button type)
Serial Numbers For Remington 1100 Shotguns Double Barrel
M1900, hammerless, made in 12 & 16 gauges. Could have been had in 'ordnance or damascus steel barrels. This model has the snap on Baker type forend fastener.
| MODEL | SERIAL NUMBER | YEARS |
| 1873 | 1-5600 | 1873-1878 |
| 1876 | 1-5900 | 1876-1882 |
| 1878 | 1-2200 | 1878-1882 |
| 1882 | 1000 - 2000 | 1882-1887 |
| 1883 | 14,000 - 16,000 | 1883-1884 |
| 1885/87 | 17,000 - 24,000 | 1885/87-1889 |
| 1889 | 24,000 - 265,000 (skipped most of 100,000 series) | 1889-1900 |
| 1894 | 100,000 - 140,700 | 1894-1910 |
| 1900 | 300,000 - 395,000 | 1900-1910 |
Differences in Remington model 1894 & 1900 double shotguns.
Courtesy of Terry Deem
The 1894 was more of a precision fit gun & could be had as an engraved version. The 1900 was basically an 'economy' version of the 1894.
Before 1906 both the 1894 & 1900 models had the firing pin made integral on the hammers. Around 1906 Remington made the change to the floating firing pin on both guns. It was a running change so there is no exact serial number.
The best way to tell the two model's apart is by the serial numbers. The model 1894 serial number's start with a (1) and the model 1900 serial number's start with a (3). All have 6 number's in the serial number. So if the serial number start's with a (3) it is a model 1900. Also on the 1894 especially on later gun's sometimes there is a 'P' ahead of the serial number, The 'P' signifies the 1894. On the 1900 sometimes there is a 'Q' ahead of the serial number, the 'Q' signifies the model 1900.
As far as the receiver parts go about the only difference is fit and finish between the 1894 and the 1900.
Another difference is the 1894 has a Purdey forend fastener (push button) and the 1900 has the snap on Baker type forend fastener.
Gun's with flat ribs will be earlier guns, & will usually have the firing pin's as part of the hammer. Also, if either the 1894 or 1900 model has a concave rib (not flat) and /or one screw in the trigger guard (not two) and /or a concave safety it will almost always have the floating firing pin's. The changes to the floating firing pin was around 1906.
Also on both models the 1894 and 1900, there is the 1894 patent date on the forend iron.
For the model 1900, they did away with the point on top of the buttplate and went to a cheaper straighter buttplate.
I have collected Remington model 1894 and 1900 double for over 40 years. I also do repair and restoration on them. Thanks for allowing me to explain.
Terry Deem (Terry.Deem@gepex.ge.com) (sorry, but this e-mail is no longer valid)
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Serial Numbers For Remington 1100 Shotguns
Remington Firearms Serial Numbers 1100
Serial Numbers For Remington 1100 Shotguns Shotgun
Originated 05-17-04 Last updated 01-04-2021
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