This is my first post on this forum. I just found out about the month/year codes on Remington rifles on this site. I have a .22 model 581 rifle that I purchased new in May of 1972. I was curious as to the actual date of manufacture, so I looked at the barrel. The serial number is 10424XX. On the left side of the barrel is 48, followed by a symbol that could be a D or an O (too poorly stamped to tell), T, and 71. On the right side of the barrel is REP in a lozenge shape (this corresponds to the proof mark shown in the barrel code location diagram on this site), followed by an F, and a symbol that looks like an Egyptian Ankh laying on its side.
I am guessing that the T indicates the year 1970. The symbol that I cannot read may indicate July (if it is an O) or September (if it is a D). Is there any other way (data base of Model 581s, by the serial number, etc.) that the month can be determined? Also, do the other symbols provide any information - or are they just inspection/proof marks? Thanks in advance.
M581 Date of Manufacture
Re: M581 Date of Manufacture
I also have a 581 that I purchased new, back in 1972.
The serial number is 11240XX and the barrel code is "O W" for July 1972.
http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/que ... arrelcodes
Based on the serial number on yours, it would have been somewhat earlier.
There's no serial number ranges listed in here:
http://www.remington.com/products/archi ... l-581.aspx
I just looked at mine and I recalled what a hard time I had (even with a magnifying glass) in determining what the second letter was (the "W"). There are only those two letters (on the left side) and something that looks like a bow-tie or an hour glass, laying on its side, to the left of them in that area ahead of the plastic shroud that holds the rear sight.
Den
The serial number is 11240XX and the barrel code is "O W" for July 1972.
http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/que ... arrelcodes
Based on the serial number on yours, it would have been somewhat earlier.
There's no serial number ranges listed in here:
http://www.remington.com/products/archi ... l-581.aspx
I just looked at mine and I recalled what a hard time I had (even with a magnifying glass) in determining what the second letter was (the "W"). There are only those two letters (on the left side) and something that looks like a bow-tie or an hour glass, laying on its side, to the left of them in that area ahead of the plastic shroud that holds the rear sight.
Den
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billdurvin
Re: M581 Date of Manufacture
Den, Thanks for the information. Your serial number and date of manufacture support my guess as to the year of manufacture of my M581. I will continue to see if i can positively determine the month, but being able to narrow down the month of manufacture to either July or September is not too bad. The symbol you describe as a bow-tie or hour glass is the same symbol I described as an Egyptian Ankh laying on its side. Perhaps someone else on this forum can shed some light on the meaning of this symbol? Again thanks for responding to my first post. Bill.