Shotgun Serial Number Search

Gun Values By Serial Number

• Serial Number: Model: Product Description: Approximate Manufacture Date: Parts Listing: Owners Manual: Product Brochure or Literature: Choke System: NOT APPLICABLE Barrel: Call Beretta Stock: Back to Search Page.
• Well while browsing the web in random searching I found a website that is a database of serial numbers for most firearms. It will show in a spread sheet of say xxxx-xxxxx = year of production.

Unique serial number sequences were established for special edition and commemorative Model 37 and Model 87 guns. Much of the data presented for the Model 37 guns came from microfilm copies of Ithaca shipping records on file at the National Tracing Offices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and from microfiche copies of invoices from the 1980 era that were found at the Ithaca factory.

Below is the download link for a special resource for dating Winchester firearms. These pages were scanned from documents compiled over the years by the customer service department of Winchester Repeating Arms. None of the page scans are of original documents but are simply transcribed information typed into a word processing program. In general, this information is the same that you would get if you called our customer service department and asked them for the information. They use these documents as a reference and the documents should be limited to that use.

Browning Shotgun Serial Number Search

Click the image below to download the PDF document containing the serial number date-range information on many Winchester firearms. You will need the Adobe Reader program to open this file. Adobe Reader is available free from Adobe.

THE HISTORY OF WINCHESTER HISTORIC SERIAL NUMBER RECORDS.
There are many “legends” about why the historic serial number records for Winchester rifles and shotguns are not complete or why they are not always verifiable. A few reasons cited are:

1. A fire at the factory
2. Inadvertent destruction (during office cleaning)
3. Records simply lost in filing
4. Records misplaced between ownership transitions
5. Documents borrowed but not returned

There is probably some kernel of truth to all of them. But the fact remains; there is no original, single, totally accurate database of serial numbers from 1866 forward that we are aware of. But perhaps these pages can help you somewhat in your research.

Please keep the following points in mind as you explore these pages:

• Many of the Winchester brand firearms produced over the years are included, but not all. If your firearm is not listed, we probably do not have any additional information.
• Before the 1990s the Winchester Repeating Arms firearms brand transferred ownership several times. Any information before the 1990s is always difficult to verify.
• In general, only serial number ranges with an approximate year are provided in this document. There is no other detail beyond this that we can provide.
• Since this information was provided through old documents (both official and otherwise), no representation is made that all serial number and year combinations are totally accurate.
• In some exceptional cases, a more detailed, accurate determination can be made by calling the Winchester Repeating Arms Historian at the Morgan, Utah office. 800-333-3288. Ask for the Winchester Repeating Arms Historian.
• For any other questions: 800.333.3288 or 801.876.2711. For Parts and Service call: 800.322.4626
• For questions related to Ammunition don’t call us. Contact Winchester Ammunition directly.
• No attempt has been made to determine the value of any guns listed.
• The Cody Firearms Museum has more information on Winchesters produced before 1900.
• This late historian George Madis compiled extensive histories on Winchester firearms. www.georgemadis.com

There are other outside resources – including the Cody Firearm Museum -- which can be excellent for determining date of manufacture and value: Click here to go to our gun values resource links.

Click below to download a PDF overview of Cody Museum serial number resources.

(Please remember that this information is a compilation over time -- collected from secondhand information. No confidentail records were used. We reserve the right to make changes at any time and make no claims as to accuracy. No attempt has been made to determine the value of any Winchester products.)

© Winchester Repeating Arms, 2012, 2015, R. Stitt

Check a gun's history by asking the local police department to run a gun serial number search using the national ATF eTrace database.

Unless you buy a gun brand new, there is a risk that the weapon may have been stolen or used in a crime. The easiest way to check a gun's history is to obtain the serial number from the body of the gun and then ask a gun professional to run a stolen weapons search. Some websites also have searchable public databases of stolen registered weapons.

Browning Shotgun Serial Number Search

Locate the Serial Number

Every registered gun has a serial number associated with it. You can find this listed in the owner's manual and plainly printed on the body of the gun, usually on the handle, trigger guard, slide or receiver. Licensed firearms dealers such as gun stores and pawn shops are obligated to keep records of the firearms they sell. You could also contact the dealer and see if it has a record of the serial number. If the dealer has gone out of business, contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The ATF keeps the firearms sales records of licensed dealers who have gone bust.

Run a Police Search

The local police department or sheriff's office can run a gun serial number search for you using the national ATF eTrace database. Police records will indicate whether the gun was reported lost or stolen or was used in a crime. Some law enforcement departments – for example, the Florida Crime Information Center – provide a free online search tool for stolen property within the state. Visit the law enforcement website of your state to see if it offers this service.

Ask the Internet

The HotGunz Stolen Firearms Database maintains a free, searchable database of stolen firearms (see Resources). Enter the gun's serial number without spaces, dashes or other special characters in the 'Search the Stolen Gun Database' box. HotGunz is a user-submitted database, which means that gun owners self-report the information that their firearms were lost or stolen. Searching the database is quick and easy, but it isn't a substitute for an official police check.

Vintage Guns

Vintage guns may not have serial numbers printed on their bodies. Identify the gun's make and model by visiting the manufacturer's website; there may also be tips there as to where to find the serial number. For a fee, an antique gun dealer or gun shop might also be able to run a basic search on the history of the gun. Sometimes a lineage of previous owners can be composed, and you should be able to figure out the age and primary use of the gun.

Winchester Shotgun Serial Number Search Engine

What to Do With a Bad Weapon History

Remington Shotgun Serial Number Search

It is illegal for dealers to sell guns that were stolen or lost or are wanted by law enforcement. If you discover that a firearm has a suspicious history, report it to the police. As a responsible gun owner, you might also add the serial number to the HotGunz database. You should also report any gun that doesn't have a serial number printed on its body. A filed-off or worn serial number is a strong indicator of a stolen gun.