Recently I got an older 870 Wingmaster for a really good price, on the trigger guard it's marked with someones initials and Oct 8th 1980, on the barrel it has "2 3/4'' or smaller" and on the barrel it has +AXX. I'm just wondering what the +AXX means, I did a couple of searches and got nothing on here or google. So anybody know of hand what that means?
870 Question
- Thread starter wgamble89
- Start date
- Location
- On a resonably direct route in NS
If yer Googlin', look for Remington Wingmaster barrel codes.
For much of production the guns were dated on the factory-supplied barrel, with nothing on the receiver. So long as the original barrel has remained with the gun, you can find the date of manufacture.
The personal engraving is not factory, surely; does the gun appear much older than that 1980 date? Does the barrel appear to match the receiver in age?
What is the serial number on the receiver? It likely has a V or M at the end, denoting a 12 gauge 2-3/4" or 3" receiver, respectively. Prior to 1968 the rest was just numbers, but after they used a prefix that helps date it. If it was ca. 1980, it will have a V at the beginning.
The chamber stamping for smaller shells than 70mm might imply a fairly early barrel, since 65mm 12ga. hasn't been common in the U.S.A. for a while.
The first letter on the barrel is the month of manufacture, following in the sequence BLACKPOWDERX. So March, in your case.
The rest is the year, which you need a date table for. There is no AX year, so if it looks like a very early barrel, we're looking at A for 1954 (plus X for something else — it's not a 20ga.?). They came back around again to A in 1980, so it could have been engraved when new. [edit: oops I meant XX year code, which is 1951 — see below.]
For much of production the guns were dated on the factory-supplied barrel, with nothing on the receiver. So long as the original barrel has remained with the gun, you can find the date of manufacture.
The personal engraving is not factory, surely; does the gun appear much older than that 1980 date? Does the barrel appear to match the receiver in age?
What is the serial number on the receiver? It likely has a V or M at the end, denoting a 12 gauge 2-3/4" or 3" receiver, respectively. Prior to 1968 the rest was just numbers, but after they used a prefix that helps date it. If it was ca. 1980, it will have a V at the beginning.
The chamber stamping for smaller shells than 70mm might imply a fairly early barrel, since 65mm 12ga. hasn't been common in the U.S.A. for a while.
The first letter on the barrel is the month of manufacture, following in the sequence BLACKPOWDERX. So March, in your case.
The rest is the year, which you need a date table for. There is no AX year, so if it looks like a very early barrel, we're looking at A for 1954 (plus X for something else — it's not a 20ga.?). They came back around again to A in 1980, so it could have been engraved when new. [edit: oops I meant XX year code, which is 1951 — see below.]
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- Location
- On a resonably direct route in NS
Oops sorry I was mis-reading your code as AAX rather than the AXX you wrote. That *would* be March of 1951, which would really make it the first production run of the then-new Model 870 Wingmaster shotgun!
Wingmasters are great shotguns, but extremely common. Most old hunting 870s are not worth any premium due to their antiquity, but this one has potential, or is at least interesting and appealing. Condition and original parts will dictate if it has any real increase in value.
Has the gun been used a lot? Is the finish worn completely off (or maybe it has been re-blued somewhere along the line). What about the condition of the wood? If it was hunted, you'll probably find ancient mud under the fore-end on dis-assembly.
Too bad it has been personalized. It was probably grandpa's gun, and engraved when it was passed down. The trigger group can easily be switched, but it won't be original.
The barrel is a Full choke that is not very desireable now, what is it, 28" long? At least it's the original barrel, matching the early receiver. No raised rib, probably just a lined rib along the top to cut glare? Is there a Poly-Choke installed (that would have been a common modification)?
I have a similar 870 from '51 with a slightly lower number than yours. (Doubtful that the numbering started at #1 — more likely 10001 or like that — so your gun isn't necessarily the 84 thousandth gun produced, but somewhere below that.) That gun is the grand-pappy of some 13 million or so other 870s!
Originally your gun would use a short ejector, which won't work with 3" shells even if you put on a barrel with the 76mm chamber. Many such guns that have visited a smith in their lives have had the later ejector installed as routine maintenance. (3,5" will never work in it.) There are other small differences that will also identify it as an older version.
Other things on the barrel are proving marks, meaning that it's been inspected and tested [more than] safe to fire.
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The old police 870s were wingmasters.
RedRabbits
Regular
- Location
- Holberg/Nanaimo BC
Yup I have a 1957 Wingmaster that "was" a police riot gun, it now wears a 30" full choked field barrel
The bluing is gone and has been replaced with a nice patina, the barrel is 30" and has the lined rib. The wood doesn't look to bad for 60+ years old, but there is some signs of cracking in the stock (I took it off and put a synthetic one on to keep the wood safe).
The serial on the barrel is the same but when ever it was stamped it would seem somebody goofed because the 0 is kinda double stamped and the V is a bit crooked.
The best part is the action is very tight and smooth for $160 I'm very happy.
Here's a picture of her, ####ty quality but only one I took before swapping stocks
- Location
- On a resonably direct route in NS
Looks just like mine, same wood, same patina (I doubt you'd find one still blue sixty years on unless it was never touched). Appears un-futzed-with and period correct (at the admittedly far distance simulated by your photograph), so you might find some collector who considers it better than the plain ol' Wingmaster price of $450 or so. But it's definitely not a pristine safe queen, or a show piece with figured wood.
I imagine the 30" Full barrel was the most common offering. Mine has a matching factory Improved Cylinder barrel, which would have been ordered because the store wanted to put on a Poly-Choke. I've debated detaching the thing and having it ready for steel shot with a relatively un-common for the period IC choke.
Happy? I'd be ecstatic tomorrow if I could buy ten complete Wingmasters at $160 apiece, even if they had faded finish and needed some springs replaced. Hell, I'd buy a hundred first-year examples at that price if I could! For a 100% reliable Wingmaster, first production so you can brag to your friends, you paid the Cooey with 10% light strikes price.
I imagine the 30" Full barrel was the most common offering. Mine has a matching factory Improved Cylinder barrel, which would have been ordered because the store wanted to put on a Poly-Choke. I've debated detaching the thing and having it ready for steel shot with a relatively un-common for the period IC choke.
Happy? I'd be ecstatic tomorrow if I could buy ten complete Wingmasters at $160 apiece, even if they had faded finish and needed some springs replaced. Hell, I'd buy a hundred first-year examples at that price if I could! For a 100% reliable Wingmaster, first production so you can brag to your friends, you paid the Cooey with 10% light strikes price.
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- Location
- On a resonably direct route in NS
My mistake: I got my 1951 AXX code 28" IC barrel out of storage, and it does have the serial number stamped to match the receiver (post edited). All other marks (2-3/4" or shorter) and proofs (R.E.P., leaf thingy) are the same as yours. So if you're looking at an early Wingmaster, check the serial on the barrel.
As far as collectibility goes, on any gun the more parts that are stamped, so long as the numbers match, the better. That way you can clearly say you have the *matching* part, rather than just a period part.
I imagine your gun is from P.E.I., and mine is from N.S. Mine is close to two thousand lower in the serial number. Speculating here, but it seems like rather a large number of a brand new model shotgun to be shipped to the Maritimes in the first year. Probably this block was imported for the Eaton's catalogue (or one of the others), for their Eastern warehouse.
As far as collectibility goes, on any gun the more parts that are stamped, so long as the numbers match, the better. That way you can clearly say you have the *matching* part, rather than just a period part.
I imagine your gun is from P.E.I., and mine is from N.S. Mine is close to two thousand lower in the serial number. Speculating here, but it seems like rather a large number of a brand new model shotgun to be shipped to the Maritimes in the first year. Probably this block was imported for the Eaton's catalogue (or one of the others), for their Eastern warehouse.
Interesting Thread...
I acquired a 1951 Wingmaster a couple of years ago from the wife of a friend who passed away...he bought it new. The bluing and wood are in excellent condition and I consider it a super deal for the three hundred bucks she asked.
PXX = June 1951
Serial = 69536V
The Barrel is stamped "Full" as well as "2 3/4 or shorter" and it is fitted with a Lyman Cutts Suppressor with screw on choke adapters. I think the Cutts system was added by the original dealer. I don't have any paperwork of origin but I do know It was originally purchased in Ontario.
The action is silky smooth and the gun is a treat to fire. I used it for skeet shooting and camp defense. It's a keeper.
(don't have a photo host thingee so no pic)
I acquired a 1951 Wingmaster a couple of years ago from the wife of a friend who passed away...he bought it new. The bluing and wood are in excellent condition and I consider it a super deal for the three hundred bucks she asked.
PXX = June 1951
Serial = 69536V
The Barrel is stamped "Full" as well as "2 3/4 or shorter" and it is fitted with a Lyman Cutts Suppressor with screw on choke adapters. I think the Cutts system was added by the original dealer. I don't have any paperwork of origin but I do know It was originally purchased in Ontario.
The action is silky smooth and the gun is a treat to fire. I used it for skeet shooting and camp defense. It's a keeper.
(don't have a photo host thingee so no pic)
