Dating a Number 2 Remington

[rudybolla]

and should we kiss on the first date? Just kidding!

Picked up a pretty nice Number 2 in .22 RF today at a show. Do not need it, but price was too good to pass up. It has the one line barrel address REMINGTON ARMS CO ILION NY USA on the top of barrel, 22 RF just forward of the forearm, buffalo horn insert in schnabel tip, and SN of 397XX. Any way to tell what year this was made? One guy at the gunshow thought it was an early model due to the "cheeks" on stock where it meets back of receiver. Thanks!

[tjack]

According to Roy Marcot's "Remington America's Oldest Gunmaker" p. 103, there were at least 42,700 No.2's made over a 37 year period. Your serial # should put it towards the later part of production. It is my understanding that No.2's with a metal insert in the schnabel tip are the earliest. I suspect someone out there has a breakdown of serial #'s and years of production but that's not me!