Value of FIRST YEAR Remington 870 Wingmaster ? ?

Saw a very early Remington 870 Wingmaster last weekend. I have no idea of its real value.

It has a barrel numbered to the frame. (First one I have seen.) Plain barrel marked KWW (May 1950) First Year of production..
Has the corn cob fore end. Has chromed shell lifter (silver tongue ?). Low serial number 19xxx.

Bad news is that it has been re-blued. Know that the re-blue ended its desirability to collectors.

Local price for a plain barrel common 870 in similar condition would be $200 - $225.

Should this one bring any premium price because of its vintage??

Bekeart

Do people collect Wingmasters???

I doubt it would bring any extra, unless in 98% or better condition, at least I wouldn't.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

You can "date" it by checking the ser. # at this website.. Remington Dates of Manufacture.

At a family funeral last year, an older cousin who I rarely see offered me his and my uncle's (Deceased) hunting guns. There wasn't anything rare or valuable but there was a Rem 870 20 gauge, much like the one you describe. It was made in 51. About a week or so after he gave me the gun, the manual arrived in the mail! The neat thing about the older 870s is that they were all made on the same reciever...all the modern accesories for the 12 ga will fit my gun. I've been toying with the idea of setting it up for 3-gun matches.

Edit: Ooops...I see that you already have the date correct....maybe that site may be of interest to others. My gun ends in "XX" = 1951

Is your barrel serial numbered.

This was the first one I have seen with a serial number on the barrel.

Might get the 870 to keep with my FIRST Year Bekeart 22.

Bekeart

Remington's are not worth much now that they have taken over the Marlin rifles and destroyed both names in the firearms industry

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No ser. # on the barrel...just the date code. Reciever is numbered 100931X

Hey Now, Don't be bad mouthin Wingmasters. LOL

Around here it wouldn't bring any more than any other used Wingmaster. I do think it would be cool though.

Wingmaster

19,000 serial numbers would not be the first year, or 1950 production. That would be 1951, so second year production. Only 6,000 were made in 1950.

I'm primarily an over/under shooter but I have a soft-spot for Wingmasters. Counting home defense type guns, I own nine of them. There is one that I had on my rack when I owned a pawnshop that I've always regretted selling. It was a first or second year (don't recall) with the earliest corn cob forearm (like off a Model 31) and a 26 inch IC choked barrel. That gun was so light and slick. It was like the ballet dancer version of the 12 gauge Wingmaster. I'd buy another one if I could find one . . . I wouldn't pay more than $250 for it, though.

Don't judge Remington by the EXPRESS versions. The quality of current production Wingmasters remains high. Nothing wrong with them at all.

...okay...if everyone quits buying Remington and Marlin...gonna take a big bite out of what's available...

...my early 70's 870 Wingmaster is absolutely beautifully finished...

...and I have no complaints about my new 1894 Marlin either...works fine and has a very nice piece of wood on it...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

Those Wingmaster 870s and the 1100 line seemed like a really decent gun for the money. Nice wood and steel receivers. Used models can often be had for reasonable money on the used gun market.

A re-blued plain 870? $200 is the top of what I'd pay and I don't care if it's the first year. I'd haggle for even less - if I was looking for one.

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Thread Killer.

I paid for and sold a Wingmaster for $50.00 while stationed in Idaho in 1970. Should have kept it. Kick myself whenever I read about the Wingmaster.

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

I like the older 870 Wingmasters. Especially this one, an 870 SC, from 1968. Picked it up in 2000 for $285.

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