Early Model 12 date of mfg?

[GopherPlinker]

Hi,

Recently inherited an older M12 rimfire 22. Chambered for .22 short, long, and long rifle. No Model12 stamped on the receiver as many have...last patent listed is April 1912. Stamped on left side of the barrel is "C D2" and SN stamped in front of the trigger guard is 322104. Possibly early to mid teens, I think? Can anyone verify this please? Thank you!

The Plinker

[remington600]

If what your giving is a barrel code the barrel dates 1935. The serial no. dates 1915. Is it a round or octagon barrel?

[GopherPlinker]

Thank you very much.

1915 Makes sense to me. The gun first belonged to my Great-Uncle who served in WWI in 1917 and 1918. He returned home from the war only to die of the Spanish Flu before the end of 1918. So the 1935 barrel makes no sense...

After his death, the gun went to his brother, whose daughter just bequeathed it to me. If the barrel was from a younger model, it would have the later patent dates on it, no? These stop at 1912, so the "C D2" mark must mean something else...C model, perhaps, August 2 mfg date? I don't know...just kind of guessing there. Barrel is round, btw.

Thanks again for the info.

[shot1too]

If the CD2 is a date code, the number 2 stands for " Part Order Bbls" I have to wonder if Remington might have had an old barrel laying around. If the "C" was a grade, and I don't think it is, it would have fancy wood and checkering. If you could post a picture it might help solve the mystery. I agree the receiver was made in 1915.

[remington600]

Yeah I think the barrel has maybe been replaced.

[GopherPlinker]

Thank you all for the info. A replacement barrel makes sense in new light. I took a closer look at the rifle and noticed that the blueing on the receiver and trigger guard is more faded than the barrel...it would seem that somewhere along the way the old barrel was damaged or pitted.

I also found a small "1916" hand carved, but faded, on the butt. That confirms the 1915 mfg date.

Best regards,

Plinker

[John Gyde]

The #2 Parts Order Barrel was used when barrels were sent to gunsmiths for replacements. A #3 would mean work was done at the factory.

[GopherPlinker]

Good to know, and I'm not surprised that a local smith would have done the work. This gun has lived all its life in North Dakota, and it just seems more likely that it would have gone to a local smith for the work rather than ship back to the factory. I'll never know why the original barrel was replaced, but hey, I have a neat old gun, perfect for plinking!

Thanks all!

The plinker