how do you tell the age or date?

[soldierof4cheese]

I just bought an Investment Arms .50 cal hawken from a friends store and i was wondering how old it may be. the serial number is 201277 and it looks like it may have been around awhile even though its in very good shape. It has a very short barrel and walnut stock.

 

[Stubert]

Does it have a rubber butpad and a real short barrel? If so, it probably has a fast twist barrel. I can't help with the age, They look the same from the mid 80's until present.

 

[necchi]

Tuff call,
Investarms SPC, the Italian maker is notorious for not answering email questions like that.

My last knowledge of those being made new with just the Investarms marking,,
(cause they make'm for Lyman AND Cabelas)
,,Is about 15-16 years ago. With a 6 digit SN# I'll stick my neck out and say your rifle is closer too 20yrs old.
Good gun if cared for, any parts needed are easy to get because they are still the same as Lyman and Cabelas models.

Ya know, I take that back, Dustin will soon be 18, so I'd go even 25yrs ago,,
,,Man, time moves fast don't it?

 

[soldierof4cheese]

It has a very short barrel and a brass buttplate.

 

[soldierof4cheese]

Thanks for the help, I am glad to have the little canon, was gonna go shoot it today but house hold duties are calling instead.

 

[soldierof4cheese]

 

[necchi]

Looks like the "Carbine" model,
,faster twist rate. Might wanna check that, http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/239243/

 

[Trot]

The Italian guns all have a date code,it should be on the barrel. I believe it should be two letters or if an earlier gun Roman numerals.

 

[Dave K]

Trot, you are right. There is a code on the barrel and it is 2 letters. If we had those letters, we could date it.

 

[deseeb2001]

Going along with what others have said, what you're looking for on the barrel should look something like this - two letters inside a box

(Sorry its not a very clear picture)

This here will show you what the letters mean. Hope that helps :thumbsup:

 

[soldierof4cheese]

 

[soldierof4cheese]

Looks like these may the letters you mentioned.. Thanks for all the help guy's.

 

[Zonie]

The shield and *PN are Italian proof marks.
The "AN" is the year the gun was proofed, in this case, 1985.

Follow this link to see other year dates for Italian proofs. http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/236956/

 

[soldierof4cheese]

Thanks for the info, I am used to WW2 weapons even though i have been shooting black powder since the 80's just never gave it much thought til now.