Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Above, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Photo by Paul Hermans.

Ever wondered if the antique gun you possess is in its original configuration? Ever wondered about its manufacturing year?

These and other questions can be answered on firearms of several manufacturers by the Cody Firearms Records Office in Cody, Wyoming. It is located at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. I plan on visiting there this month.

From the Cody Firearms Records website:

The Cody Firearms Records Office currently provides manufacturing dates and configuration data on Winchester, Marlin, L.C. Smith, Ithaca, Savage, and A.H. Fox firearms using the original factory records held by the Center.

Factory letters are available to all individuals for a fee based on membership status and are typically mailed four to six weeks from payment receipt. Quick serial number searches are a Center Firearms Member benefit and are typically e-mailed within 2 to 5 business days of request. Learn more about membership.

Will your firearm letter? Take a look at this list of Available Serial Numbers for these manufacturers.

For more detail on our records, and a factory letter order form, click on your manufacturer below.

To read more, go here. 

How To Determine A Gun's Year of Manufacture

Above, the Winchester 1894 made in 1962. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever wonder when your gun, that was purchased new or used, was made?

Fortunately, with today's Internet, many gun manufacturers have online databases what will give you that information. Mostly, all one has to do is to enter the model number and serial number. 

To date, I have used such sites to date my Winchester 1894 and 62A rifles and my Ruger 10/22 carbine. I first looked up the Winchester 1894's year of manufacture while at the gun shop before purchasing. The price tag said it was a pre-1964 rifle made in 1962. I looked it up with my cell phone and verified it. I bought the rifle. I did the same with the Winchester 62A rifle I inherited from my grandfather and found that it was made in 1947. Their site can be reached by going here.

On the Ruger 10/22, I knew I bought it new in the 1980s, but couldn't remember the year. I looked it up through Ruger's website and found it was made in 1983. I had to have bought it within a year or so of that. Ruger's site can be reached here.

Most likely, other gun manufacturers have similar databases for gun owners to use.