The Remington Model 870 is one of the landmark American pump-action shotguns. Introduced in January 1950, it replaced the older Model 31 in Remington's sporting line and quickly became the pump shotgun many American shooters knew best. Its importance to collectors comes from scale and variety: more than a single field gun, the 870 became a family of hunting, police, military, trap, skeet, slug, youth, special-edition, and small-gauge shotguns.

The Word document called for added collector sections covering production years, variants, serial-number ranges, collector notes, known issues, and value trends. Those sections have been merged below while keeping the page's original emphasis on practical collector identification.

The 870 is collectible precisely because it was so useful. A common field-worn Express is still a working shotgun, but early Wingmasters, scarce gauges, Police and Marine configurations, boxed commemoratives, and documented special-purpose guns deserve a much closer look.

Design and Mechanical Layout

The Model 870 uses a bottom-loading, side-ejecting receiver with a tubular magazine under the barrel. Its dual action bars help reduce binding during the pump stroke, and the bolt locks into a hardened barrel extension rather than depending on the receiver alone. That layout helped make the 870 durable, economical to manufacture, and adaptable across many gauges and barrel configurations.

The design also connects the 870 to Remington's larger postwar modernization program. Development began after the Model 31 had earned respect but proved expensive to build. The 870 borrowed modern production thinking, shared some engineering concepts with the Model 11-48 autoloader era, and gave Remington a shotgun that could compete with the Winchester Model 12 while selling at a more accessible price.

Feature Collector Significance
Wingmaster finish Polished blue and walnut examples have the classic 870 collector look, especially on early and mid-century guns.
Dual action bars A defining mechanical feature that supports the model's reputation for smooth cycling and durable service.
Barrel-extension lockup A postwar design choice that helped make multiple barrels and configurations practical across the 870 family.
Gauge and chambering variety 12 gauge is most common, but 16, 20, 28 gauge, and .410 bore examples can draw added interest in the right configuration.
Original barrel and stock Swapped barrels and replacement furniture are common, so originality should be checked before assigning collector value.

Production Years

The Remington 870 is a post-World War II design. There is no pre-war 870; the meaningful comparison is between the pre-870 Model 31 era and the postwar 870 era. Remington announced the Model 870 Wingmaster in January 1950, and modern Remington/RemArms history still lists the model as currently in production. Official RemArms history credits L. Ray Crittendon, Phillip Haskell, Ellis Hailston, and G. E. Pinckney as designers and lists 12, 16, 20, 28 gauge, and .410 bore production.

Early production is especially important to collectors because Remington introduced the shotgun in a wide range of grades right away. In 1950 the line included field, deluxe, trap, skeet, premier, and riot grades in 12, 16, and 20 gauge. By 1955, 12-gauge 3-inch Magnum versions had been added. In 1966, Remington marked the one-millionth 870, and in 1973 it announced the two-millionth. Those production milestones help explain why the model is both common and collectible: there are many ordinary 870s, but the early and unusual ones still stand apart.

Several transition years deserve attention. The 1969 introduction of 28-gauge and .410-bore models on scaled-down receivers expanded the small-gauge collecting field. The 1972 Lightweight 20-gauge models created another desirable subcategory. The mid-1970s brought stock-material changes tied to walnut availability. In 1986 the Rem Choke system and Wingmaster restyling changed barrel and choke identification, and in 1987 the lower-cost Express line arrived with matte metal finish and low-luster hardwood. In 1992 the Marine Magnum Security model appeared with electroless nickel plating, and in 2000 Remington offered the 50th Anniversary Classic Trap and Wingmaster Super Magnum. The post-2020 RemArms period is another transition point: production was disrupted after Remington's bankruptcy, restarted under new ownership, and the Fieldmaster later replaced the Express as the mainstream field version.

Year / Period Collector Importance
1950 Model 870 Wingmaster introduced; early 12, 16, and 20 gauge grades are central to collector research.
1955 12-gauge 3-inch Magnum models added, creating an important chambering distinction.
1966 One-millionth 870 announced; 150th Anniversary Edition appears in the same general era.
1969-1972 Small-gauge 28/.410 models and 20-gauge Lightweight models create desirable scaled-receiver variants.
1974-1978 Ducks Unlimited, Bicentennial, and All American Trap context; limited editions and high-grade target guns matter.
1986-1987 Rem Choke and Express transitions; fixed-choke vs Rem Choke barrels become a key inspection point.
1992-2000 Marine Magnum, Super Magnum, 50th Anniversary, deer/turkey/cantilever, and special-purpose variants expand the line.
2020-2022 Bankruptcy/restart and Fieldmaster transition; collector attention often favors older Wingmasters and pre-transition examples.

Variants

The 870 family is broad enough that variant identification can make or break a collector evaluation. The most familiar collector split is Wingmaster versus Express. Wingmaster examples generally carry the more traditional polished blue and walnut look, while Express guns were built as lower-cost working shotguns with matte finish and less refined wood. That does not make an Express unimportant, but it does mean condition, era, and configuration need to do more of the value work.

Barrel lengths and choke systems are major clues. Common field guns often wear 26- or 28-inch vent-rib barrels. Trap and target versions can have 30- or 31-inch barrels, while Special Field, deer, turkey, riot, Police, and home-defense models may use 18-, 20-, 21-, or 23-inch barrels depending on period and purpose. Fixed-choke barrels are common on earlier guns; Rem Choke barrels appear later and should be judged by the date, markings, and whether the barrel seems original to the receiver.

Finishes also separate the variants. Traditional Wingmasters are known for blue and walnut. Police guns may show blued, parkerized, or utilitarian finishes and sometimes carry department history, rack wear, or special furniture. Marine Magnum models are set apart by electroless nickel plating and synthetic furniture. Special Purpose, turkey, deer, and later Express models may show matte, synthetic, or camouflage treatments. Collectors should be careful with aftermarket tactical furniture because an added stock or magazine extension can make a shotgun look interesting while reducing originality.

Special editions are a separate collecting lane. Examples include the 1966 150th Anniversary Edition, 1974 Ducks Unlimited guns, 1976 Bicentennial commemoratives, the All American Trap gun, 2000 50th Anniversary Classic Trap, Marine Magnum, NRA Edition, Dale Earnhardt editions, and various small-gauge and matched-pair packages. Military and law-enforcement interest centers on Police models and the U.S. Marine Corps Mk-1 contract guns, with the Mk-1 configuration especially notable because it combined extended magazine capacity and bayonet-attachment hardware in military-service context.

Variant Family What Collectors Check
Wingmaster Blue/walnut finish, early stocks, fixed chokes, correct barrel date, original buttplate or pad, and high-condition metal.
Express Era, matte-finish condition, rough-chamber complaints, stock originality, and whether it is pre- or post-RemArms transition.
Police / Police Magnum Barrel length, sights, finish, agency markings, rack wear, metal trigger group on older examples, and documentation.
Marine Magnum Electroless nickel finish, synthetic furniture, seven-shot configuration, corrosion/polish condition, and originality.
Trap / Skeet / Competition High-grade wood, target barrels, Monte Carlo or straight-comb stocks, engraving or grade markings, and case/papers.
Small Gauge / LW 20-gauge Lightweight, 28-gauge, and .410 bore scaled-receiver guns; desirable when original and high condition.
Deer / Slug / Turkey Rifle sights, cantilever mounts, fully rifled barrels, camo finishes, short barrels, and whether barrel/receiver dates align.

Serial Number Ranges

Remington 870 serial-number research requires caution. Official RemArms history lists the 870's serial-number blocks as not available, and Remington shotguns are especially difficult because barrels are easily changed. The Remington Society's barrel-code guidance is still useful, but it specifically warns that shotgun barrel date codes are unreliable unless the barrel is original to the gun. A correct-looking barrel code can date the barrel, not necessarily the receiver.

For collector work, use three pieces of evidence together: receiver serial prefix or suffix, barrel date code, and physical features. A no-prefix receiver generally suggests early production before the late-1960s prefix period. Collector-observed receiver-prefix tables commonly use no prefix for 1950 to about 1967, then S for roughly 1968-1973, T for 1974-1977, V for 1978-1983, W for 1984-1989, X for 1990, A for 1991-1993, B for 1994-1996, C for 1997-2000, D around 2001, and AB around 2005. Treat those as ranges, not factory-letter proof.

Marking Area Collector Use Caution
Receiver prefix Helps group production into broad year clusters. Not a substitute for factory confirmation; later prefixes and corporate-era records can be confusing.
Receiver suffix Often helps identify gauge or shell-length family, such as V for 12-gauge 2 3/4-inch, M for 12-gauge Magnum, and A for Super Magnum in collector tables. Always confirm with barrel markings and professional inspection before relying on shell-length assumptions.
Barrel date code Month/year code on the left side of the barrel near the receiver can date the barrel. Shotgun barrels are frequently swapped, so the code may not date the receiver.
Model and grade markings Wingmaster, Express, Police, Magnum, Marine, and special-edition markings help identify configuration. Furniture, barrels, and extensions can be changed after sale.
Box, manual, hang tag, sales receipt Best support for originality, especially on commemoratives and unfired guns. Verify that serial numbers and configuration match the gun.

For site research, compare the gun against a dedicated serial-number guide , then verify markings, barrel date, receiver suffix, choke type, and stock configuration before assigning collector value.

Collector Notes

Fit and finish are the first things many collectors notice. Early and mid-century Wingmasters often show a level of blue, wood finish, and handling feel that later economy guns do not. Look closely at screw slots, muzzle wear, magazine-cap wear, receiver edges, stock finish, pad or buttplate originality, checkering, and whether the fore-end style fits the year. A shotgun can function perfectly and still lose collector value if the barrel, stock, pad, or finish has been changed.

Collector note: Originality matters more than the model name alone. A plain 12-gauge field gun with a swapped barrel is a different collector proposition than a high-condition, original-barrel Wingmaster, a documented Police gun, a Marine Magnum, or a special-edition 870 with box and paperwork.

Desirable years depend on the collector's goal. For classic finish and early-production appeal, 1950s and 1960s Wingmasters are strong candidates. For small-gauge interest, 1969-1970 28-gauge and .410 context matters, as do 1972-and-later Lightweight 20-gauge models. For target collectors, high-grade Trap, Skeet, All American, and Competition models can be more appealing than field guns. For service-gun collectors, Police and Mk-1 history matters, but condition and documentation are essential because many law-enforcement guns show rack wear or later modifications.

Rare markings and packaging can make a difference. Ducks Unlimited suffixes or decorated receivers, commemorative markings, Marine Magnum finish, Police markings, matched-pair cases, special target grades, original boxes, manuals, choke tubes, hang tags, and factory paperwork all add context. Box and papers dramatically increase value on high-condition special editions because they help separate a collector-grade example from a shooter-grade gun that happens to wear a desirable name.

Collector Insight

The 870's greatness is partly its ordinariness.

It became famous because it worked everywhere: duck blinds, deer woods, trap fields, police cruisers, farm trucks, and home closets. That broad use is exactly why original, high-condition examples deserve a closer look. Most 870s were used hard; the well-preserved ones are the survivors collectors notice.

Known Issues

Known issues are mostly inspection issues rather than mysteries. The most common collector problem is not mechanical failure; it is originality confusion. Barrels, choke tubes, stocks, recoil pads, magazine caps, and sights were often changed because the 870 was a working shotgun. Before paying a premium, confirm that the barrel date, choke system, wood, finish, and markings fit the claimed year and grade.

Finish wear patterns vary by model. Older Wingmasters often show honest blue wear at the receiver edges, muzzle, magazine cap, and carry points. Police guns may show rack wear even when lightly fired. Some late Express-era guns developed a reputation for rougher finish, more surface-rust sensitivity, and extraction complaints compared with older Wingmasters. Modern Fieldmaster coverage emphasizes improved metal prep, smoother action bars, and better rust resistance, which is one reason the Fieldmaster transition matters to buyers comparing post-2020 guns with older examples.

Mechanical inspection should include the chamber, extractor, ejector, action bars, magazine tube, shell stops, safety function, and trigger group. The ejector is riveted/staked into the receiver, so damage there is more involved than swapping a simple exterior part. A rough or pitted chamber, damaged extractor, broken ejector, bent action component, or mismatched shell-length/barrel combination should be evaluated by a qualified gunsmith rather than treated as a casual collector fix.

No broad, model-wide Remington 870 recall was identified in the sources consulted for this update. Do not confuse 870 research with recalls involving other Remington models or ammunition lots. For any current safety notice, use RemArms/Remington's active safety and contact channels rather than relying on older forum discussions.

Remington 870 values are broad because the model ranges from heavily used field guns to scarce high-grade collectibles. Ordinary 12-gauge hunting guns usually trade as useful sporting arms. Early Wingmasters, high-condition small gauges, Police variants with documentation, Marine Magnums, special editions, and boxed target guns are stronger collector candidates. In general, values have been helped by renewed interest in older Remington quality and by the contrast between pre-Express, Express, and post-RemArms production eras.

Recent market data shows why configuration matters. A current TrueGunValue snapshot for Remington 870 Wingmasters lists an average around the mid-$500s used and roughly the low-$1,100s to low-$1,200s new, while individual recent sales range widely based on gauge, barrel, condition, and presentation. A vintage 12-gauge Wingmaster may sell in the ordinary used-shotgun range, while a clean 20-gauge LW, special target gun, new-in-box Wingmaster, or documented special edition can move higher.

The strongest value factors are originality, condition, gauge, barrel configuration, documentation, and finish. Early models can command a premium when they remain correct. Small gauges and scarce barrel lengths can outperform common 12-gauge field guns. Box, papers, hang tags, original choke tubes, and matching accessories can dramatically improve value. Heavy refinish, non-original tactical furniture, mismatched barrel dates, missing commemorative packaging, or undocumented claims usually hold value back.

Value Driver Effect on Collector Interest
High-condition early Wingmaster Usually stronger than an ordinary field-worn 870 because finish and originality are harder to find.
Small gauges 20-gauge LW, 28-gauge, and .410 bore examples can be more interesting than common 12-gauge guns.
Police / Marine / Mk-1 context Can add interest when configuration and documentation support the story.
Commemoratives and special editions Value depends heavily on condition, originality, box, paperwork, and whether the edition has a strong collector following.
Swapped parts or refinishing Usually lowers collector value, even when the shotgun remains mechanically useful.
Greg Cook

About Greg Cook

Greg Cook writes about firearms collecting, personal history, and the stories behind interesting guns. His Army MOS was 76Y, Unit Armorer, and he brings that practical background to his collector articles.

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Research Sources Consulted