Wingmaster 870 .. Trying to get an idea of age

[lucidbassist]

So I picked up a 870 Wingmaster yesterday from Cabelas. Overall great shape, some cleaning and oiling about all that is needed. Came with two barrels, a 20" with iron sights and a 28" with bead sight both smoothbore. Dont think the 28" once has ever had a round through it. Only down side was the original furniture was gone and replaced with a Speedfeed stock and pump grip.

Any how ... cleaning her up last night and striping her down to her pieces I noticed that the magazine tube was capped by a thin sheet metal split plate spring retainer without a raised lip center like Im used to seeing. In addition the magazine restrictor (guessing it was a bird hunting gun) was a piece of nicely turned wood and not plastic.

Anyone know if these are just custom pieces the original owner made, or is this a possible indication of her age? I shoot of an email to Remington but figure wont be hearing till next week sometime and just curious.

Thanks!

[Synchronizor]

I can't say for sure without a picture, but the metal spring retainer is probably a Remington part, used in guns without the magazine tube detents that are used to lock the newer plastic spring retainers in place, but which have to be drilled or knocked out to add a barrel extension. Those metal retainers are a pain in the butt to take out and put back in though, which is why I use an old magazine follower instead.

Many shotgun owners simply use a wooden dowel (or even a chunk of tree branch, bark and all, in the case of my dad's old Ithaca) cut to length as a magazine plug, instead of plastic. Plastic is obviously a better choice, but wood gets the job done, and is cheaper and easier to find for a do-it-yourself-er.

If your barrel has a manufacturing date code stamped on it, Vitaly has a lookup feature over on the main site. If there's no stamp, or you're not sure the barrels are original, you can call Remington with the serial number, and they can tell you the date of manufacture.

[lucidbassist]

Well just got a reply this morning from Remington. Turns out my Wingmaster was manufactured back in 1951 (serial #60,xxxV), which I think makes her a first model year contender.

[Synchronizor]

Very cool. SpeedFeed makes great stocks, but it would be neat to find a set of old-style Wingmaster furniture so you can doll that thing up like it was originally.

Are both the barrels you got with it the same age?

[lucidbassist]

Honestly not sure ... Tried to read the info off of them but thought I was reading them wrong. However know the age I need to re-check.