Remington 700 serial number question

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Got a reference for that? "Early" for a 700 would be 1920s. I have a 1967 700 Varmint Special with 6 digits on the receiver. Supposing there was a correlation netween those digits and build date, why would the number of digits increase from 4 in 1962 to 6 only five years later? We need an outside reference to explain the significance of receiver digits which Remington chooses not to publish. And Blue Book Of Gun Values (the "Bible") chooses not to mention anything other than the letter code on the barrel.
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Who knows why Remington uses whatever system they do, really. I don't think what they did prior to 1962 has anything to do with how the 700's were numbered though. I have an xp100 that is a 4 digit number so I'd assume each model, like a 722 vs a 700 does away with any relevance to the number system they made prior to 1962 and the 700s. Bottom line with 700's, we're dealing strictly with 1962 and forward. I don't think what they did on different models should be considered a factor to the numbering system.

@Dans40X might know something. He knows the 700's quite well. I know there were small differences that can somewhat date them, such as the neck of the bolt handle just above the knob itself. On earlier ones, that area was smaller and more round than later but I don't remember dates that make that little difference significant to dating them. Maybe Dan will.

 

[Brians356]

Yeah but the Rem 700 first production was 1962

Yeah, but absent evidence to the contrary, the numerals on the receiver do not reveal a clue as to the build date. A wild-ass guess is fun but useless.
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[skeeljc]

I bought my 4 digit Remington 700 in 1967 second hand. I think a 1962-1963 date of manufactruer makes sense. My serial number is 99xx.

 

[Brians356]

I bought my 4 digit Remington 700 in 1967 second hand. I think a 1962-1963 date of manufactruer makes sense. My serial number is 99xx.

It makes perfect sense for you personally. But you could not in good conscience state it was a '62-'63 gun if you were to put it on the market, not that many would be overly concerned about the build year of such a piece.
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[Eric Leonard]

Here’s a 10xxx with the bbl stamp indicating 1962

https://www.gunvaluesboard.com/i-have-a-remington-700-bdl-.222-serial-number-is-10049-can-anyone-tell-me-...-540094.html

 

[WSnyder]

I bought my 4 digit Remington 700 in 1967 second hand. I think a 1962-1963 date of manufactruer makes sense. My serial number is 99xx.

A four digit serial R700 would be a very early one indeed.

Poached from SnipersHide:

Remington 700 receiver/action factory serial numbers and dates

Remington 700 (both ADL and BDL models) receiver/actions were produced starting in 1962 with serial number 1000 and ran to serial number 387347 in November of 1968. The barrels with their own date codes told the actual date of firearm assembly or close-to date prior to shipping. These early...

www.snipershide.com

Remington 700 (both ADL and BDL models) receiver/actions were produced starting in 1962 with serial number 1000 and ran to serial number 387347 in November of 1968. The barrels with their own date codes told the actual date of firearm assembly or close-to date prior to shipping.
These early rifles had a "stripper clip" charging cut-out in the top-back of the receiver feed/ejection port, a "tombstone shaped" safety, and many if not all were bored and tapped for a peep-sight on the back left side of the receiver. Some prepped for peep-sights even had the stock cut-out for the site from the factory but were then filled back in with a glued-in-place piece of walnut. Some stocks came with blackened/checkered aluminum butt plates and I believe that the 7mm mag came with a Remington factory rubber butt plate (at some point). (Some of these hardware details are my observations from my collection rifles with action numbers of 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8-digits.) The barrels with their own date codes told the actual date of firearm assembly or close-to date prior to shipping.
In November of 1968 receiver production (minus the charger cut-out, tombstone safety, aluminum butt, and peep-sight drill and tap) started with serial number 6200000 and ran to serial number 6899999 in August of 1975. Starting in August of 1975 the letter "A" was added preceding the serial numbers and lasted until January of 1980. "B" became the first letter of the serial number starting in January of 1980 and ran until November of 1987. "C" started serial numbers from November 1987 onward. The ADL model was discontinued in 2005.
The dates and related numbers came from "The Remington 700" book by John F. Lacy, October 1, 1989, ISBN-10 0962230308 and ISBN-13 978-0962230301. These book is quite rare and sells now for over $600.
Feel free to add and/or argue, this info is hard to come-by and all of your personal experiences and observation will only help clarify the issue.-duckklr

 

[Brians356]

The dates and related numbers came from "The Remington 700" book by John F. Lacy, October 1, 1989, ISBN-10 0962230308 and ISBN-13 978-0962230301. These book is quite rare and sells now for over $600.

Thank you, sir! That's what I have been calling for, a credible reference.
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[Brians356]

Incidentally, I just stumbled on what appears to be a very active R700 forum:

Remington 700 Rifle Forums

A forum community dedicated to Remington 700 Rifle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!

www.700rifle.com

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