Assistance with a few Model 870 questions

[Wulfman]

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Here's my take on it.
When Remington introduced their "Model 870", they trademarked the name "Wingmaster" to distinguish it in the market. Over the years those two names were used interchangeably and pretty synonymously. However, as time went on, other variations came out, with other names to differentiate those "sub-categories" of basically the same model. It's kind of like the Model 700 rifles.......there have been so many variations and names for the same basic gun. At some point, the "Wingmaster" designation seemed to become reserved for the better, highly-finished guns. Just because it doesn't necessarily have "Wingmaster" on the receiver, it's STILL a "Model 870".

Here are some links if you haven't already found/read them.

Den


http://www.remingtonsociety.com/rsa/journals/870

http://www.remington.com/products/archi ... aster.aspx

REMINGTON SHOTGUN SERIAL NUMBER STRUCTURE


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”)

M/1100

LETTER PREFIX

1963 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

M/1187

LETTER PREFIX

1987 TO PRESENT: “PC” 12 GA., 1999 “TL“ 20 GA.,
2000 “SM” SUPER MAG.

LETTER SUFFIX

NO LETTER SUFFIX ON THIS MODEL


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[Wulfman]

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Glad to hear you got an answer.
One thing about Remingtons is that it's not hard to find limited editions or rarities. As a manufacturer, they have had many variations and models over the years and some of them for very short periods of time. Sometimes there are "transitional specimens" that get out their doors before they realize what has happened.

Enjoy shooting it and pass it on to another generation.


Den

[Virginian]

You must be too young when it was a big deal when the new cars were unveiled in September of the preceding year. Gunmakers did the same. What you have isn't all that unusual, and barrels and gun years often overlap. But, before the Sportsman and later Express models, all 870s except police or military models were Wingmasters whether they had it rollmarked on them or not.