PLEASE NOTE: Griffin and Howe long time Archivist and Historian has retired. At this point in time we are not able to produce research or archive letters. When a replacement has been found, we will attempt to get back in touch with all inquiries for letters. We appreciate your understanding during this transition.

1. Shotgun Serial Number

Griffin & Howe is pleased to make available the sales records of Von Lengerke & Detmold and Abercrombie & Fitch, two legendary purveyors of sporting arms in the 20th century. The records exist in over sixty very large ledger books recording sales and inventory between 1900 and 1977. The sales between 1900 and 1929 represent the sales of Von Lengerke & Detmold which was purchased by Abercrombie & Fitch in 1929. The Abercrombie & Fitch sales and inventory records begin in 1929 and continue through the closing of Abercrombie & Fitch in 1977. Most of the entries are for ‘new’ sales, although several thousand used and consigned sporting firearms passed through their inventory as well. Most of the ‘new’ sales are grouped by Make and Model and an inventory of sporting firearms began on February 1st of each year. Griffin & Howe is involved in an ongoing project to digitally record each page in the record books and index the Makes, Models and Serial Numbers.

These are the second letter of the serial number. The first letter designates either a H&R (H) model or a NEF (N) model. K=1996 L=1997 M=1998 N=1999 P=2000 R=2001 S=2002 T=2003 U=2004 V=2005 HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON SERIALIZATION 1940-1982 Year starting S.N. Prefix 1940 A 1941 B 1942 C 1943 D 1944 E 1945 F 1946 G. REMINGTON SHOTGUN SERIAL NUMBER STRUCTURE (This has nothing to do with the barrel code & the barrel code has nothing to do with the serial numbers) Model 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 Model 870 LETTER SUFFIX (DESIGNATES GAUGE) V 12 GA. Shotguns: BPS Pump: Automatic Five (A-5) B-2000 Semi-Automatic: B-80 Semi-Automatic: BT Single Barrel Trap: Citori Over-Under: Superposed: BSS Double: Leige. To find your serial number, you will need to refer to your owner's manual. We have most owner's manuals online. We are getting together a Mossberg serial number data base. I know there are a lot of members wanting to know the date of their Mossberg's without the hassle of calling Mossberg or Havlin. We need member input for this to work. We are asking for the first few digits of you serial #, (A123xxx)and any info you have on the gun.(box label,date bought). A serial number can be a crucial bit of information in determining the value of a shotgun. It's common for a shotgun to have a serial number but no information about the brand name of the weapon.

To find the year of proof of your (Post 1975) Browning or Miroku shotgun you’ll need to find the Serial Number. On most over and under shotguns this should be situated under the top lever and on Semi-Autos somewhere on the receiver In the Serial number there are two letters together – This is your date code.

To discover if your sporting firearm is listed in the records, click on the Make of the sporting firearm in the list below. Then enter your serial number and model if needed or search the list of complete serial numbers for each Make. Additional Makes and serial numbers will be added as the project progresses. If you discover that your sporting firearm is in the records, Griffin & Howe will be happy to verify the model, if applicable, and the date when the sporting firearm was first entered into inventory. Please send an email request to research@griffinhowe.com or call Griffin & Howe at +1.908.766.2287.

Griffin & Howe will also provide a Certificate of Inventory and Disposition and a photograph of the original page(s) on which your sporting firearm appears. The information on the certificate will vary depending on the year in which the sporting firearm was in inventory. The cost of this service is $100 per sporting firearm but may be more or less depending upon the amount of information in the record. For a more detailed description of the records and to see sample pages please click here – Sample Pages.

MAKES

NEWS

G&H in the Two River Times

Click here to read the latest feature on G&H at Hudson Farm! read more

The production of the Auto-5 began in 1902. Produced by F.N., John M. Browning ordered 10,000 of these shotguns in his first order. In 1999 Browning issued the 'Final Tribute' version featuring engraved scenes of John M. Browning, the F.N. Factory and the Browning Brothers first store. Only 1,000 of these were produced in a high-grade wood. Production of the famous 'A-5' ceased after this final tribute.

To find your serial number, you will need to refer to your owner's manual. We have most owner's manuals online.

Shotgun Serial Number