- Remington Model 33 Manufacture Date Codes
- Remington Model 12 Manufacture Date
- Remington 742 Woodsmaster Serial Numbers
Remington 721, 722, & 725 | |
---|---|
Type | Rifle |
Place of origin | United States |
Production history | |
Designer | Mike Walker & Homer W. Young |
Manufacturer | Remington Arms |
Produced | 1948–1962 |
No. built |
|
Variants | 722, 725 |
Specifications | |
Cartridge |
|
Action | Bolt action, rotating bolt with 2 lugs |
Feed system | Internal box magazine |
Sights | Iron Sights with scope mount holes |
Hi, I was wondering if someone could help me figure out how old my Model 8 & my Model 81 are and possibly an actual date of manufacture. The Model 8 is a.35 Remington and the serial number is in the range of 21,030-21,040. R emington model 742 Woodsmaster The Remington Model 742 Woodsmaster is a semi-automatic rifle that was produced by Remington Arms from 1960 until 1980 in numbers around 1.4 million. This hunting rifle featured a rotary breech block as well as a side ejection in conjunction with a free-floating barrel. Made date manufacture barrel remington 870 11-48 11/48 11/87 11-87 878 Sportsman make year manufactured constructed born on shish kebab plethora iconic tweet Badger Arms, May 8, 2004 #8.
The Model 721 and Model 722 along with the later Model 725 variant are bolt-action sporting rifles manufactured by Remington Arms from 1948 until 1961. The 721/722 replaced the short-lived Model 720. The Model 721/722 is considered to be one of the first modern, economically produced sporting rifles whose design largely continued with the subsequent and highly successful Model 700. Manufactured with high precision, it is known for exceptional accuracy. The bolt and receiver design, based on the Mauser action, is considered one of the strongest ever produced. Samples in excellent condition have become collectible.
History[edit]
Remington Model 721A and 722A as shown in 1948
Prior to World War II, the Remington Model 30, had been the standard Remington bolt action sporting rifle. However production had halted during World War II.
During the war, Remington gained experience manufacturing large quantities of martial firearms more efficiently. By the end of the war, manufacturing technology had advanced significantly. By these standards, older designs like the Model 30 (and the Model 720 variant) were laborious and expensive to produce and could not take advantage of manufacturing advancements.
The Mauser M 98 action was popularly recognized as being well suited to sporting rifle applications but was complex and would require design changes to better take advantage of modern production techniques.
Rather than continue manufacturing older rifles that had become expensive to produce, Remington chose to develop an altogether new and modern rifle design with Mike Walker and Homer Young playing key roles. These factors converged in the development of the Remington Model 721 / 722.
The new Model 721/722 was introduced in 1948. Deluxe versions became available in 1955. The Model 725 variant was later introduced in 1958. These models all share a common design only differing by features and may be collectively referred to within this article as the Model 721 unless otherwise noted. Model 721 production ended in 1961 with the replacement Model 700 taking over in 1962. The Model 700 was also designed by Mike Walker and largely continues the 721 design with modern aesthetic improvements.
Design details[edit]
Remington described the bolt action as the strongest ever developed when introduced with enclosed bolt head encased in barrel
When compared to the Mauser 98 action, the Remington introduced several features meant to decrease production time and cost as well as increase the accuracy potential.[1] The first was a redesign of the receiver from a billet-machined structure to a round profile. The round receiver can be produced on a lathe rather than requiring a mill. The recoil lug was a simple plate of steel sandwiched between the barrel and receiver.[2]
Remington advertised the rifle as having the 'strongest bolt action ever developed.'[3] with a new encased bolt head. The bolt was redesigned and made from multiple pieces. The large claw extractor was eliminated in favor of a small, but effective part mounted in a newly recessed bolt face. The ejector was now a plunger on the bolt face rather than a blade mounted in the receiver.
A new adjustable trigger mechanism was fitted allowing for a sharper, crisp let off. A new safety design was also introduced. The same trigger and safety were used in the subsequent Model 700 and eventually came under criticism due to safety concerns.
Standard factory features included tapered barrel, American walnut sporting stock, polished bolt and action, drilled and tapped for scope mounts, four cartridge magazine, adjustable rear site, matted ramp front site, metal butt plate. Additional options included select figured walnut stocks, hand checkering and sling swivels.
Production[edit]
Remington Manufactured the Model 721 in Ilion, New York. Production estimates are:
- Model 721 and Model 722: ~118,000[1]
- Model 725: ~17,000
Model variants[edit]
Remington Model 722A from 1955 Chambered in .244
- Model 721A Standard grade
- Model 721BDL Deluxe grade
- Model 722A Standard grade
- Model 722BDL Deluxe grade
- Model 725ADL Deluxe grade
Most rifle magazines had a capacity for 4 cartridges. The .222 Remington version could hold 5 cartridges and the larger .300 H&H Magnum and other similarly large cartridges were limited to 3 cartridges in the magazine. Barrels were tapered with lengths, depending on year and caliber, ranging from 22 to 26 inches.
Model 721[edit]
The Model 721 was the long-action version designed for longer cartridges.
The 721A Standard grade was available during all years of production. Standard grade features included American walnut sporting stock, polished bolt and action, drilled and tapped for scope mounts, four cartridge magazine, adjustable rear site, matted ramp front site, metal butt plate.
The 721BDL Deluxe grade was available from 1955 until 1957 and ultimately replaced by the 725. In addition to the standard features, the BDL version featured select figured American walnut stock, hand checkering and sling swivels.
The .300 H&H Magnum version included a rubber butt pad. The box magazine could only contain three rounds instead of the usual four.
Model 722[edit]
The Model 722 was the short-action version designed for shorter cartridges.
The 722A Standard grade was available during all years of production. Standard grade features included American walnut sporting stock, polished bolt and action, drilled and tapped for scope mounts, four cartridge magazine, adjustable rear site, matted ramp front site, metal butt plate.
The 722BDL Deluxe grade was available from 1955 until 1957 and ultimately replaced by the 725. In addition to the standard features, the BDL version featured select figured American walnut stock, hand checkering and sling swivels.
The .222 Remington version was often singled out from other 722s and marketed as a varmint rifle often featuring a 26 inch barrel.
Model 725[edit]
Remington 725ADL as shown in 1960
The Model 725ADL was introduced in 1958 replacing the 721BDL and 722BDL as the deluxe offering in the 721 line. The 725ADL was produced from 1958 until 1961. Unlike the 721/722, the 725 was only produced in a long action despite being chambered for a variety of both short and long cartridges. The 725ADL included a walnut Monte Carlo stock rather than the sporting stock of the 721/722. A hinged floor plate was included to facilitate unloading. Most of these features continued in the later Model 700, underscoring the 725ADL as a transitional model. The 725ADL did however uniquely use an older safety design rather than the safety used by the 721/722 as well as the later 700. A rare 725 Kodiak model was made in 1961 with limited availability. This variant was uniquely chambered for .375 H&H Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum.
Models by year[edit]
Year | Standard | Deluxe |
---|---|---|
1948 | 721A, 722A | |
1949 | 721A, 722A | |
1950 | 721A, 722A | |
1951 | 721A, 722A | |
1952 | 721A, 722A | |
1953 | 721A, 722A | |
1954 | 721A, 722A | |
1955 | 721A, 722A | 721BDL, 722BDL |
1956 | 721A, 722A | 721BDL, 722BDL |
1957 | 721A, 722A | 721BDL, 722BDL |
1958 | 721A, 722A | 725ADL |
1959 | 721A, 722A | 725ADL |
1960 | 721A, 722A | 725ADL |
1961 | 721A, 722A | 725ADL |
Calibers Chambered[edit]
Depending on year and model variant, Remington chambered the rifles for a variety of cartridges.
Year | Model 721 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1949 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1950 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1951 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1952 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1953 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1954 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1955 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1956 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1957 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1958 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1959 | 270 Win | 300 Mag | 30-06 | |
1960 | 270 Win | 280 Rem | 300 Mag | 30-06 |
1961 | 270 Win | 280 Rem | 300 Mag | 30-06 |
Year | Model 722 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1948 | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | |||||
1949 | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | |||||
1950 | 222 Rem | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | ||||
1951 | 222 Rem | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | ||||
1952 | 222 Rem | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | ||||
1953 | 222 Rem | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | ||||
1954 | 222 Rem | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | ||||
1955 | 222 Rem | 244 Rem | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | 308 Win | ||
1956 | 222 Rem | 244 Rem | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | 308 Win | ||
1957 | 222 Rem | 244 Rem | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | 308 Win | ||
1958 | 222 Rem | 222 Mag | 244 Rem | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | 308 Win | |
1959 | 222 Rem | 222 Mag | 244 Rem | 257 Roberts | 300 Sav | 308 Win | |
1960 | 222 Rem | 222 Mag | 243 Win | 244 Rem | 257 Roberts | 308 Win | |
1961 | 222 Rem | 222 Mag | 243 Win | 244 Rem | 257 Roberts | 308 Win |
Year | Model 725 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1958 | 270 Win | 280 Rem | 30-06 | |||||
1959 | 222 Rem | 244 Rem | 270 Win | 280 Rem | 30-06 | |||
1960 | 222 Rem | 243 Win | 244 Rem | 270 Win | 280 Rem | 30-06 | ||
1961 | 222 Rem | 243 Win | 244 Rem | 270 Win | 280 Rem | 30-06 | .375 H&H | .458 Win Mag |
Legacy[edit]
Originally offered at less than 90 USD (about 958 USD today), the rifles were affordable and well received by the public at the time of introduction. The rifles developed a reputation for accuracy unmatched by other mass produced sporting rifles of the era. While prices were affordable, the standard grade version have been criticized for plain aesthetics and stamped steel trigger guard.[4]
Remington Model 33 Manufacture Date Codes
Larry Potterfield, Founder and CEO of MidWayUSA identified the Model 721 as earning “a spot in the firearms hall of fame”. He described it as a strong, accurate, economically produced and well received rifle at the time of its introduction.[1]
Perhaps the most enduring legacy of the Model 721 is the Remington Model 700, the best selling bolt action rifle in history and considered to be one of the greatest centerfire hunting rifles ever produced.[5]The Model 700 replaced the 721 in 1962 but largely continued the 721 design while incorporating modern aesthetic improvements (many of which were previewed in the 725). Today many appreciate and collect samples from the 721 family particularly those in excellent condition or with rare features or uncommon calibers.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ abcMidway USA Model 721 History
- ^Wayne., Van Zwoll (2012). Gun Digest shooter's guide to rifles. Iola, Wis.: Krause. ISBN9781440230721. OCLC809123795.
- ^1956 Remington Catalog
- ^Rees, Clair (2001). 'After 38 years, this classic bolt action is still America's favorite rifle'. Guns Magazine. Annual 2001: 52 – via https://gunsmagazine.com/2001-articles/.
- ^'Greatest Centerfire Hunting Rifles Ever Made'. www.chuckhawks.com. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- 'Model 721 Bolt Action Centerfire Rifle' at Remington Arms web site
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Remington_Model_721&oldid=967217800'
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)
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
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
Settlers game download.
1918~40917 999
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
1938~6862 1967
1939~8872 2010
1940~12623 3751
1941~17748 5125
1942~21575 3827
Remington Model 12 Manufacture Date
1943~21579 4
1944~21694 115
1945~23809 2115
Remington 742 Woodsmaster Serial Numbers
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