Remington 742 Woodsmaster Serial Numbers

When was my rifle made?

After 1921, Remington employed a “date code” system which consists of a series of letters identifying the month and year of manufacture. This date code is typically 2-3 letters hand stamped on the jacket head (refer to the photograph below for location). The first letter in the code represents the month, the second (and sometimes third) letter represents the year. It is not uncommon for these letters to be stamped sideways.

When a rifle was returned to Remington for a repair, the factory would stamp a repair code. These codes read the same as the date code, but were followed by a “3”. It is not uncommon to find the “3” stamped backwards. For those rifles manufactured prior to 1921, rifles not found with a date code, or rifles found with ONLY a repair code, these will be dated best by using the serial number list at the bottom of the page.

  1. MODEL 740-742 REMINGTON FIELD SERVICE MANUAL The Model 740 is an autoloading, high power, center fire rifle. To operate the autoloading action, a measured portion of the pro- pellent gases are exhausted from an opening at midsection of barrel as gun is fired. This gas drives action bar assembly rearward, carrying with it the bolt carrier.
  2. Manufacture Dates. If you’ve enjoyed the features on this web site, you will enjoy a membership in the Remington collectors club: The Remington Society of America. Your annual membership will bring you in contact with those who share your Remington interests. Every three months you’ll receive a colorful, 60-page all-Remington magazine.

Determining month of manufacture (FIRST LETTER)

May 22, 2016 'The Model 742 serial number sequence was changed on November 26, 1968 as a result of the 1968 Gun Control Act that required no two guns from the same manufacturer have the same serial number. The initial Model 742 serial number sequence began at 1001 and ended at 396562.

B – January

L – February

A – March

C – April

K – May

P – June

O – July

W – August

D – September

E – October

R – November

X – December

Determining year of manufacture (SECOND AND/OR THIRD LETTERS),

M – 1921 D – 1935

N – 1922 E – 1936

P– 1923 F – 1937


R – 1924 G – 1938

S – 1925 H – 1939

T – 1926 J – 1940

U – 1927 K – 1941

W – 1928 L – 1942

X – 1929 MM – 1943

Y – 1930 NN – 1944


Z – 1931 PP – 1945


A – 1932 RR – 1946


B – 1933 SS – 1947


C – 1934 TT – 1948

UU – 1949 WW – 1950

Remington 742 Woodsmaster Serial Numbers

These are the last serial numbers for each year of production for the Model 8

Year – Serial – Total

1906~2266 2266


1907~7754 5488


1908~12439 4685


1909~17168 4729


1910~21889 4721


1911~26489 4600


1912~30063 3574


1913~33041 2978


1914~35187 2146


1915~36938 1751


1916~38469 1711


1917~39918 1449


1918~40917 999


1919~42009 1092


1920~44825 2816


1921~45938 1113


1922~47297 1359


1923~48826 1529


1924~50136 1310


1925~51519 1383


1926~53160 1641


1927~55878 2718


1928~58741 2863


1929~61467 2726


1930~64024 2557


1931~65465 1441


1932~66360 895


1933~66867 507


1934~67676 809


1935~68841 1165


1936~69581 1010


1937~69485 96


1938~69488 3


1939~69490 2

* Despite these production totals, rifles as high as 69929 have been observed

These are the last serial numbers for each year of production for the Model 81

Year – Serial – Total

1936~1675 1675


1937~4895 3220

Remington Model 742 Woodsmaster Serial Numbers


1938~6862 1967


1939~8872 2010


1940~12623 3751


1941~17748 5125


1942~21575 3827


1943~21579 4


1944~21694 115


1945~23809 2115


1946~30525 6716


1947~37104 6579


1948~43778 6674


1949~51187 7409


1950~55581 4394

* Despite these production totals, rifles as high as 57949 have been observed

When was my rifle made?

After 1921, Remington employed a “date code” system which consists of a series of letters identifying the month and year of manufacture. This date code is typically 2-3 letters hand stamped on the jacket head (refer to the photograph below for location). The first letter in the code represents the month, the second (and sometimes third) letter represents the year. It is not uncommon for these letters to be stamped sideways.

When a rifle was returned to Remington for a repair, the factory would stamp a repair code. These codes read the same as the date code, but were followed by a “3”. It is not uncommon to find the “3” stamped backwards. For those rifles manufactured prior to 1921, rifles not found with a date code, or rifles found with ONLY a repair code, these will be dated best by using the serial number list at the bottom of the page.

Determining month of manufacture (FIRST LETTER)

Woodsmaster

B – January

L – February

A – March

C – April

K – May

P – June

O – July

W – August

D – September

E – October

R – November

Remington 742 woodsmaster serial number dates

X – December

Determining year of manufacture (SECOND AND/OR THIRD LETTERS),

M – 1921 D – 1935

N – 1922 E – 1936

P– 1923 F – 1937


R – 1924 G – 1938

S – 1925 H – 1939

T – 1926 J – 1940

U – 1927 K – 1941

W – 1928 L – 1942

X – 1929 MM – 1943

Y – 1930 NN – 1944


Z – 1931 PP – 1945


A – 1932 RR – 1946


B – 1933 SS – 1947

Remington 742 Woodsmaster Serial Numbers


C – 1934 TT – 1948

UU – 1949 WW – 1950

These are the last serial numbers for each year of production for the Model 8

Year – Serial – Total

1906~2266 2266


1907~7754 5488


1908~12439 4685


1909~17168 4729


1910~21889 4721


1911~26489 4600


1912~30063 3574


1913~33041 2978


1914~35187 2146


1915~36938 1751


1916~38469 1711


1917~39918 1449


1918~40917 999


1919~42009 1092


1920~44825 2816

742


1921~45938 1113


1922~47297 1359


1923~48826 1529


1924~50136 1310


1925~51519 1383

What Year Was My Remington 742 Made


1926~53160 1641


1927~55878 2718


1928~58741 2863


1929~61467 2726


1930~64024 2557


1931~65465 1441

Remington 742 Woodsmaster Dating


1932~66360 895


1933~66867 507


1934~67676 809


1935~68841 1165


1936~69581 1010


1937~69485 96


1938~69488 3


1939~69490 2

* Despite these production totals, rifles as high as 69929 have been observed

These are the last serial numbers for each year of production for the Model 81

Year – Serial – Total

1936~1675 1675


1937~4895 3220


1938~6862 1967


1939~8872 2010


1940~12623 3751

Remington 742 Woodsmaster 308 Price


1941~17748 5125


1942~21575 3827


1943~21579 4


1944~21694 115


1945~23809 2115


1946~30525 6716


1947~37104 6579


1948~43778 6674


1949~51187 7409


1950~55581 4394

* Despite these production totals, rifles as high as 57949 have been observed