Help interpreting TOZ markings

[Sejer]

I’ve got a TOZ-34 and I am not quite sure about the choke markings and would also like to know what the other markings mean. I have an idea but would like to be sure before trying to sell it.

Pictures

It’s a TOZ-34, 12-guage O/U, 2 ¾” chamber and fixed chokes, no ejectors. 28” barrel, 14 ½” pull.

Can the serial number be used to tell when it was made?

Thanks in advance.

 

[gunsaholic]

There are some who say the first couple of numbers in the serial number are the year but others say that is not the case. Your gun is marked 18.5 which is indicating the bore size of .728. If choke is not marked somewhere you will have to measure the muzzles and subtract those readings from the bore size of .728. However, the bores should really be measured about 9" in front of the chambers to make sure they are still .728. If the chokes haven't been opened up, those guns were usually full and maybe extra full. You will have to measure to know or try it on a pattern board and count the pellets in a 30" circle at I think roughly 30 yards but I could be off on the distance. If you don't want to hang onto it forever, such guns sell for around $300.00 give or take depending on condition, originality or if there are any issues. It would be worth a bit more to most if it had ejectors and single trigger.

 

[rasputin]

The right side of the barrels has the numbers 1.0 and 0.6 which are your barrel constrictions in mm. By following a simple Wikipedia chart you can find out that it's a Full/X-Full barrel on top and an Improved Modified barrel on the bottom. Your pressure rating is 65 MPA, which precludes shooting magnum cartridges.

 

[rasputin]

The year of manufacture is supposed to be a letter right before the N serial number abbreviation. They have quit that system though in 1984 and for 2 years marked a year with 2 digits before the aforementioned N serial. The table of years prior to 1984 goes as follows:
А -1965
В -1967
Г -1968
Д -1969
Е -1970
К -1971
М -1972
Н -1973
Р -1974
С -1975
Т -1976
И -1977
Ф -1978
Х -1979
Я -1980
АА -1981
АБ -1982
АВ -1983

 

[rasputin]

If you have a shotgun made after 1986, the first two digits of the serial number are going to be your year of manufacture

 

[Sejer]

Thanks for the replies.

As for the serial number, there’s a Y in front of a 7 digit serial number, the first of which are 92, so probably 1992?

 

[rasputin]

In that case, its most likely 1992, the "Y" stands for "improved"- usually meant higher grade stocks,ornamental engraving, etc