You are correct. It's 1961. I have a 721 in .264 Win Mag with a "D H" date code and it doesn't have the barrel "hump" either.shooter12 wrote:Hello.
I'm new here but not at all new to firearms. Recently I acquired a Rem mod 721 (.270) from a friend after his 98 year old father died. Apparently his father bought this rifle new. From what I have scoured up on it, it is all original. Fortunately there have been no amateurish alterations to this rifle. in fact, it has never even had a scope mounted on it. The chamber and throat are clean with very little wear, and the barrel and crown are the same. I believe this rifle has been carried a lot more than it has been shot.
I had entertained thoughts of robbing the action and making a custom shooter from it but I must admit that I have a soft spot for a "classic" rifle, And this thing has history. So I will give it a respectful restoration.
I am curious however of the date of manufacture. Based on the barrel stamping and internet searching I have come to believe it is a 1961 production. The last year of production I believe. But it is the only one I have seen that does not have the barrel swell below the rear sight. Am I correct in my deduction?
Barrel stamp reads:
0H 32
Other than cleaning some crud out of the bolt, having the trigger lightened by a qualified gunsmith (it was about 6 lbs. when I got it) and adding bases and scope, I haven't altered mine. I wanted to keep it "as close to original" as possible. It had been used, but not abused. I've had a couple of other 721s and 722s that were so "butt ugly" that I felt some "enhancements" weren't going to hurt their value, but otherwise, I've tried to keep mine as close to original as possible......even though I don't plan on selling them in my lifetime.
Den
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