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Remington Wingmaster - Mfg Date & Style?

timbroman
Have a gently-used 20 gauge Wingmaster that I'm trying to identify. It is s/n S972562X, fine blue and deep luster stock, nice fleur-de-lis & checkering, black plastic grip cover with flying duck, Rem rubber recoil pad - I think it is original to the gun. Receiver is slick, says "Wingmaster" and "870", VR barrel, fixed full choke.

I see "Wingmaster Lightweight" in the GB auctions or barrels for sale that refer to standard and light Wingmasters and note that they do not take interchangeable barrels. I am wondering what kind of Wingmaster do I have. And how should I shop for a RemChoke or other barrel with changeable choke tubes? Thanks in advance. Tim


"If the zoo is closed, drop by the Senate. You'll get the
same feeling and you won't have to pay." Bob Dole
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • gskyhawk
    the easiest way to tell is to look at the magazine tube , the older Wingmasters where made on the same frame as the 12 gauge , so it will have about a 1 " dia. magazine tube if its a older or standard model

    if its the newer lightweight the mag tube will measure about 3/4" dia.
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  • Marlinman336
    The guns with a serial number ending in "x" were indeed the "standard" frame 20's. They were built on the 12 gauge frame. Manufacture of 20's on the large frame ended in 1972, so the only way to get barrels for these guns is through obsolete or discontinued-parts dealers. Remington's website has a listing of many of these dealers, and if you're interested, I can give you the name of a dealer I purchased a barrel from for my large-frame 870...I know a month ago he had at least 10-15 of these old barrels, but I don't think the "Rem-choke" barrels were an option at the time....

    Doug

    Remington 870 large-frame Wingmaster 20
    Marlin 39A
    Marlin 336ss 30/30
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  • timbroman
    Thanks fellas. I see by the Blue Book Remington "serialization" section in the back of the book that the "S" in the serial number indicates it was made in 1969. "S" also refers to 1998 manufacture but the "X" rules out that year. "S" also indicates 1925 but this gun is certainly of a later year than that. Even so, this fine little shotgun was well-tended to look as nice as it does for a 1969 model.
    Actually, my interpretation of the Remington Serialization Table in the Blue Book was that the gun was made in December(X) 1998(S). I will pull the forearm down and take a look at that mag tube. Thanks again.




    "If the zoo is closed, drop by the Senate. You'll get the
    same feeling and you won't have to pay." Bob Dole
    0
  • Marlinman336
    You might shoot Remington an e-mail as well....if you send your serial number to them, they'll get back to you in a day or two with a date of manufacture. In fact, it was one of their reps who told me via e-mail that a 20 ga. serial number ending in "x" or "n" designates a "large-frame" gun, the only difference between x and n being 2 3/4" vs. 3" chambering. A quick search of barrel dealers seems to corroborate this, as 870 barrel listings will almost always have a subtext saying the 20 gauge barrels will not work for 870's having serial numbers ending in x or n.

    Hope this helps.



    Remington 870 large-frame Wingmaster 20
    Marlin 39A
    Marlin 336ss 30/30
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  • timbroman
    Thanks again fellas. Remington got back to me and identified the Wingmaster as being built in 1973, on 12 gauge frame. Last "X" serial number gun produced in 1979. You men were right on. Apparently that dating scheme in the Blue Book is not so reliable. Best, Jim


    "If the zoo is closed, drop by the Senate. You'll get the
    same feeling and you won't have to pay." Bob Dole
    0

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