Model 510 date code help.

[Grasshack]

My son received his grandfathers model 510 and we're trying to figure out the manufacturing date. The code is not real clear so I posted some pics hoping for some help. It also has the numbers 478 stamped into the barrel lower left in front of the stock forearm. Thanks in advance for the help

[John Gyde]

The 478 is in the serial # location Rem stamped on the M/510 through 1941. Your date code might be LH. The L would mean February. The H would stand for 1939. It looks like you have a very early M/510. It was introduced in March 1939. Rem usually started production a few months before the introduction so they would have rifles on hand when the were introduced. The offset location of the serial # was done so the same stamping process could be used on barrels for the M/512 that had a magazine tube that prevent seeing the serial # if it was stamped on the bottom of the barrel.

[Grasshack]

Thanks John. That's pretty exciting. I had previously seen pictures of date codes with 2 letters followed by a number which threw me off since this one didn't have the number following the letters. I also read a lot about no serial numbers pre 1968 so I didn't know what that was either. THis is a great forum and my son and I are appreciating learning more about the Remington history.

[John Gyde]

The date code can be followed by inspector/testing/etc numbers or stamps. If there is an additional date code is followed by a 3 the gun has been returned to the factory for repair.