I have a Remington 870 Wingmaster left to me by my Dad. He bought it in 1955 or 56, and the barrel stamp shows it was manufactured in June of '55.

There is what appears to be a 6 digit serial number below the date stamping on the barrel.

There is no serial number on the receiver. Is this normal for that vintage? Googling shows that later on, the SN were stamped on the left side of the receiver.

Is the number on the barrel the SN? Thanks all.

Jim

Prior to 1968, serial numbers were not required.

Remington always ser#'d the Wingmaster/870.
Even though pre 1968 Fed Law didn't req mfg'rs to ser# shotguns (or 22rf cal long guns),,many mfg'rs chose to do so anyway.
(Center fire rifles and all handguns required ser#'s before '68GCA)
The 68GCA brought them all on board in the requirement.

Ser#'s on 870/Wingmasters made before the '68GCA have no prefix letter,,just a number.
Mfgr of the model started in 1950 IIRC.

Those made at the start of the 68 Law and forward used a 'S' prefix letter to the ser#,,A letter prefixed ser# for each model mfg'd was a demand of the new law in '68.

That till about '74 or so then I loose track what prefix it was changed to.
Several different Suffix letters to denote grades, magnum frame, ect were also used. None of which are to be confused with the BBl code in looking up a mfg date.

The frame ser# on the early guns may be on the front edge flat of the frame like the early Ithaca 37's, Or perhaps the lower canted edge next to the trigger group. Maybe the bottom of the frame just ahead of the carrier.
It should be ser#'d, that's the way they were mfg'd.
Model 10, Model 29, 17, 31, 11,,all their repeating shotguns were always serial numbered. That goes back to 1908.

I supposed more than a few frames & parts left the back door of the Illion Works in lunch bags and under coats.
A heavy refinish on the frame may have removed it too.

The number under the bbl code stamping is a matching ser# to what would have been the frame ser# at the time the gun was made and proofed at the factory.

No need to place a ser# on a bbl if it has no number on a frame to match it up too.