Henry Rifle Forums

Just wondering if anybody might be able to tell me what these markings signify. They're on a Remington Model 514 that's been in my family for many decades. It has no serial number – it came off the line in Ilion sometime between 1947 and 1953, which was before such numbers were required.

That big mark appears to be a "Z", which doesn't correspond to any of the year codes for the 514. The one next to it looks like a "7" with a short tail. Then there are the three slash marks that increase in length as they go to the right. I have no clue what that little mark in front of the Z might be.

On the opposite side of the barrel, there's a "4" just in front of the receiver.

I sent an email to the Remington historian, but haven't heard back yet.

Some of those marks that don't correspond to year marks signify a date of repair and/or the inspector or serviceman.

The first letter is the month and the second is the year. Being that the 514's were made from '48-'68 the Z doesn't fall in the range any where. The first letter for the month comes from using the 12 letters to make the word "blackpowderx" to come up with 12 letters. The letters you show look big for the letters normally used. Have you made them larger? Another thing that could be is that the letters are down below the wood line and need to pull it out of the stock to see them. I am familiar with the old Remington's and I don't have one I can not date the manufacture time. My wife and I have quite a few and was able to date every one of them. Some had to use a magnifier to see the letters.

I just found my card I carry with the dates on it. Yours is probably a March 1953 built gun. I say this because '53 was ZZ and the one at the end of yours that looks to be a 7 is a poorly struck Z. It is not uncommon at all to have letters that were struck very poor and makes them hard to determine. I really feel '53 is correct. A for March and ZZ for '53.

bandit1250 wrote:I just found my card I carry with the dates on it. Yours is probably a March 1953 built gun. I say this because '53 was ZZ and the one at the end of yours that looks to be a 7 is a poorly struck Z. It is not uncommon at all to have letters that were struck very poor and makes them hard to determine. I really feel '53 is correct. A for March and ZZ for '53.

Good Lord, Bandit! That's a phenomenal collection!

Thanks much for the analysis. Upon further examination, it definitely looks like a bad Z, as the top and middle parts are the same as on the other Z.

Can you take a guess at the three tally marks shown right near the receiver in the photo and the "4" that I described as being on the opposite side of the barrel? One guy told me they used to use a 4 as the prefix to the date code for a gun that had been returned to the factory as either fire-damaged or blown up, then they'd know to never work on it again. This 4 isn't a prefix to anything, though – it stands all by itself on the other side.