760 with sparse date code stampings

[petemacmahon]

So I just got done getting an old lefty 760 refurbed for my brother, who inherited it from his FIL. As a gift to him, I put a on a scope and sighted it in. Now, I am on Uncle Mike's web site to get one of those sling mounts that goes in the end of the pump handle. I am not a fan of putting pressure on the barrel when wrapping the sling, and this arrangement lets you work the action with the sling wrapped.

But that bolt arrangement changed in 1969. So you have to know pre-69 or post-68. The barrel stamp on this thing is very hard to read because the roll stamp was only applied hard on the upside of the stamping, cutting off the bottom of the letters somewhat, but it reads unlike any other one I have seen:

inspector mark, what appears to be a B or an R (cut off on the bottom), then a 7, followed by the numbers 82 farther off to the right and up. This 82 is over on the part of the barrel that flattens out as it goes into the receiver.

There is nothing on the date chart that matches. It does not appear to have enough letters stamped?! There is no number year code and no letter that could look like the number 7. I am befuddled. Gunsmith that refurbed it says its he thinks there is a P in there for June and 82 is the year.....but I'm not so sure!

Serial number starts with A696 and is 8 long. Marked Gamemaster Model 760. It is has the classic pressed in checkering in on the pump handle and on the grip sides of the stock. It has the black ebony front tip on the pump handle.

[petemacmahon]

hmm...just had an epiphany, What if that 7 is really a Z or a z.

Capital Z is 1954 but that doesn't fit. BUT lower case z is 1975. That fits. That would mean Jan or Nov, 1975. That makes much more sense.

Thoughts, anyone else ?