How can you tell the year of manufactering by the serial number?

Answer 1

For the vast number of Winchester Models, the serial number can be used to determine the year of manufacture. There are a number of good references sources (depending upon the specific model) that have tables that cross reference the serial number to a year of manufacture. For the older models, the Cody Firearms Museum has the original factory ledgers that list the exact date the gun was received in the warehouse from the assembly room.