Friday, November 13, 2020

How to Date your Marlin Model 60 Rifle

 When the Marlin model 60 was introduced in 1960, there was no law requiring manufacturers to put serial numbers on their guns. Many did anyway, for record keeping and warranty repairs. 

It was mostly the inexpensive guns like 22s and shotguns that didn't get the serial number. That all changed in 1968 with the passage of the '68 Gun Control Act.

Marlin did not serialize the model 60 until 1968, so if yours is older than that, you can check the date code on the barrel. The date code is located just ahead of the receiver on the left side of the rifle. This only applies to guns made between 1962 and 1968, if you have no serial number and no date code, you gun was made in 1960 or 61.

Of course all of these methods assume the parts on the gun are original.

The first letter of the barrel date code indicates the month, see the chart below:

A = Jan

B = Feb

C = March

D = April

E = May

etc..

The second letter indicates the year, again they didn't use this system until 1962 

F = 1962

G = 1963

H = 1964

I = 1965

J = 1966

K = 1967

So if your barrel code is HH your gun was made in August of 1964


Starting in 1968 Marlin used the first two digits of the serial number to indicate the year the gun was made. So a gun with serial number 703778 was made in 1970.


Then in 1973 they changed the first two digits to be subtracted from 100 indicated the year of manufacture. So a gun with serial number 210566 was made in 1979 (100 - 21 = 79).


When they got to the year 2000, they used two zeros eg: 0056772.

Beginning in 2001 the first two digits were now subtracted from 2100. Serial number 980122 was made in 2002 (2100 - 98 = 2002)

Then in 2010 they began using the MM prefix for standard models and the DLX/DL prefix for the deluxe models. The serial numbers are now sequential.


There are other ways to identify the year a model 60 was made based on the features.


If you have the older style scooped charging handle, your gun was made before 2005



Conversely if you have the newer style "spindle" charging handle, you rifle was made in 2005 or later




If your rifle has a factory 19" long barrel, it was made after 1999

If your magazine holds 15 rounds and is shorter than the barrel (see picture below) your rifle was made between 1989 and 1999




If your barrel is 22" long and the magazine is full length, your gun was made before 1989.


If your gun has the Glenfield name, your gun was made before 1983


If your gun has the last shot hold open/bolt release lever (just ahead of the trigger guard in the picture below), it was made in 1984 or after




If your gun has a checkered stock, is not a deluxe model, and it came from the factory that way, it was probably made before 1983



If your gun has two rear trigger guard screws your gun was made in 1981 or earlier



If your gun has an aluminum trigger guard it was made before 1977 (see picture above)

If your gun has the front sight and magazine band combined in one unit, your gun was made before 1975


If your rifle has no serial numbers, it was made before 1968

If your model 60 has no serial numbers and no barrel date code it was made in 1960 or 1961.

That should narrow it down for you. Of course some of the changes mentioned above may have happened mid-year or there may be some rifles made after a certain change that left the factory with the older parts as they used them up.







98 comments:

  1. my serial starts with 11, so 100-11 is 1989 but my feedtube and barrel are same length?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That could be right, the magazine was shortened in 1989, you could have an early '89 production gun

      Delete
    2. My starts 04 what’s that mean

      Delete
  2. My model 60 serial is 70161620....thats 6 digits, silver trigger, 3 screws at trigger guard body, feed tube as long as barrel and the squirrel on each side of the hand grip area and ribbed groves on the fore arm area....holds 18 shots.

    Any help dating is appreciated, Thanks in advance....James

    ReplyDelete
  3. Perhaps I could get some advice- I have a jm model 60 I got when I was a boy. The serial # is 15383897. What year is it? I'm 61.

    ReplyDelete
  4. So if Serial number starts with MM it is a 2010 model n no other year for certain? Or am I confused? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  5. I’m confused . I see charts that show 6 digit serial numbers and say that either the first 2 numbers are the year or you subtract the first 2 numbers from 100 to get the year . But my gun has an 8 digit serial number and it look like there are other that do also . So with a serial number of 26719594 is this thing a 1971 or a 1974 ? 71 is the first 2 digits of the last 6 digits so is the 26 just another code or do I subtract the 26 from 100 and call it a 1974 . Why do all these reference charts say that the serial numbers are 6 digit ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. somyakm@outlook.comMay 24, 2022 at 10:31 AM

      I am also confused. My glenfield mod 60 rifle has serial #25255194 and has a glenfield scope. Is this a 1975 model?

      Delete
    2. Lt SIXGUN here okay my first Marlin model 60 has a serial number of 06159829, my second one is 10504134 I believe they are both mid-90s

      Delete
    3. They changed to 6 digits in 1968, but they produced so many that the number of digits increased, to be sure of the year you need to look at the other identifiers I posted. Once you have the era, you can use the serial number to figure out the exact year

      Delete
  6. Thank You so much for the information! :-)
    Looks like I have an '85 and my wife has an early production '89....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lt SIXGUN okay so the number 10 equals out for 1990 and then I go down to 06 and that reads 1987 so I have two Marlins one of the 1990 is the anniversary edition they've been in business for 40 years and that is in Walnut stock and the one that was made in 1990 has a shorter capacity of only 13 rounds in the one who's made in 1987 has a capacity of 14 rounds

    ReplyDelete
  8. My Glenfield mod. 60 has a serial number 27192056. When was it made

    ReplyDelete
  9. I just bought my rifle it has the serial number of 68191987 has the 2 rear trigger guard screws, aluminum trigger and a squirrel etched into the stock on both sides. What year is mine

    ReplyDelete
  10. My model 60 serial starts with 07. What year was it manufactured?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mine is 07 as well so I assume 1993.

      Delete
  11. My guns last 3 of serial number is 666 I have images I know is from the 60s what is the value it still fires

    ReplyDelete
  12. I’m trying to figure this out I was gifted a marlin 60 with s/n 23550335 what year is this I need to buy the magazine tube, thanks in advance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1977 according to the above information

      Delete
  13. Hi my Merlin has a serial number 03258630 can you tell me what year it was made anybody

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did you ever find out, mine has an 03 as well.

      Delete
  14. My model 60 just ssys msrlon on the barrel and not msrlin /,glenfield?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marlin quit using the Glenfield name after 1983

      Delete
  15. My gun has the front sight and band in one piece the little pin that slides in the groove to hold the inner tube piece in the outer piece is worn down to where it no longer hood the inner tube in place. Any ideas on where to get the pin to replace it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. measure the diameter of the pin, then find a spring steel roll pin slightly larger to replace it.

      Delete
  16. My rifle serial reads 07435440 and has a 22” long barrel but mag is shorter than the barrel so would this make it a ‘93?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hello everyone👋. I have a Marlin “Glenfield” model 60 that I had acquired from one of my family members that recently passed away. I have wanted to find out how much the value could be or how old it can be because I’m really not the best with guns. It has an 8 digit serial number which is, 22476212. It also has the 3 screws on the trigger guard, the magazine tube is as long as the barrel, squirrels or chipmunks on the hand grips, ribbed grooves on the forearm area, and it holds 18 rounds, and has the sliver trigger but I’m not sure if the trigger guard is aluminum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your gun was made in 1978 and should have a plastic trigger guard

      Delete
    2. Bout $10,000 Man U hit the jackpot!!

      Delete
    3. That’s john Wayne personal squril gun!!!

      Delete
  18. Thanks for the info on the Model 60. I have a HJ that I picked up at a gun show. Needed some repair(cracked buffer, trigger assembly installed wrong) took it to the range and fires great after a hundred rounds or so.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Serial # 16349328 so would this be 1984?

    ReplyDelete
  20. My SN starts with 1945?

    ReplyDelete
  21. What about the serial number that starts with MM48? I haven’t been able to find anything on it. It would have to be a 2010 or later model

    ReplyDelete
  22. 22"barrel but tube is shorter that barrel by about 3-4 inches. Serial starts with 04... Is it a 96?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. most likely a 1996 manufacture, the barrels were shortened to 19" in 1999

      Delete
  23. Numbers on mine begin with 0Z0. Aluminum trigger guard with 2 screws and gold color or brass trigger. What year am I looking at?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Look at the number with a magnifying glass. It’s prob 02

      Delete
  24. That one is a mystery, are all the parts factory? When you say two screws, do you mean two total or two rear screws?
    The aluminum trigger guards were gone by 1981, as were the three trigger guard screws. That serial # doesn't match the standard, Marlin quit using the letters by 1973, long before they got to the letter Z

    ReplyDelete
  25. my serial is 11180595 what yr was it made

    ReplyDelete
  26. I have a marlin 22. The trigger guard is broken and I’m not sure which guard to buy. I guess there is more than one style. The serial number is 12402224. Do I need an old trigger guard or new style?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your gun was made in 1988, you can find a used one on ebay or buy an anodized aluminum one from DIP https://www.diproductsinc.com/Products.aspx?CAT=3603

      Delete
  27. Mine has a serial number beginning with 11, which should mean 1989. It has a 22” barrel and holds 18 rounds. If it is 1989, it shouldn’t hold that many rounds. What’s the consensus about mine?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your gun was made in 1989, they continued to use the parts from the previous design until they ran out, so they are probably quite a few 1989 vintage model 60s with the 18 round magazine

      Delete
  28. my mod 60 has a serial number starting with 203. It has squirrel inlays - what year is this gun? 18 shot tube feed

    ReplyDelete
  29. Just got my possession of my dad's gun that he's had as long as I can remember and used it as a kid. I'm confused tho.. 8 digit serial number 18372298. So naturally I figured it was a 1982. But it has Glenfield Mod 60 on the barrel. According to this post its pre 1983. Also has 2 trigger guard screws which says its a pre 1981. Any suggestions?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. probably a 1982, the dates are not hard dates, they used parts until they ran out so, their is always some overlap. The serial number is the best identifier.

      Delete
    2. Also parts have been changed in many guns.

      Delete
  30. My Glenfield model 60, serial #23388536 has 22 inch barrel, mag. tube is shorter than the barrel, one piece sight an tube holder, alum. trigger guard, squirrel on wood stock, only two screws on trigger guard. What year and which magazine tube do I need?

    ReplyDelete
  31. My comment is the one right before this one serial number 23388536. I got the rifle without a magazine tube.After research there are different lengths of tubes.I need to know the length I need for this model.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your gun was made in 1977, any of the longer inner tubes should work, if the replacement is a bit too long, trim the end with the cap to the right length, redrill for the cap and reassemble.

      Delete
  32. Inner tube only.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I have a 22" barrel, 18 rnd. mag tub and an 8 digit SN that starts with 47?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. that is a weird one, are you sure it is a model 60? no prefix?

      Delete
  34. 11244585 what year holds 18 rounds

    ReplyDelete
  35. My marlin 60, serial # 17365667 what year please?

    ReplyDelete
  36. Illinoisgunowners.comMay 10, 2023 at 6:28 PM

    No wonder Marlin died - they couldn't even develop a working numbering system! What a joke.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Works great for me. They made over 11 million. Many if them branded for other sellers.
      If your confused read this man’s explanation carefully many times
      It very clear to me. I have over 100 marlin 60’s and variants and I have been able to finger out when ALL of them were manufactured. It’s not hard.

      Delete
  37. How do i tell the year of mine its just has a k570 on it

    ReplyDelete
  38. I have a limited edition marlin 22 model 6080 serial number RTOO5895... Any idea what year it was made ❓

    ReplyDelete
  39. Tengo marlin de 18 rondas tiene grabado glenfield su s/n es 1833xxxx según yo es del 1981 será esa fecha?

    ReplyDelete
  40. My mobile 60 is 15329922 how old is it? Trying to get the right bolt .

    ReplyDelete
  41. My model 6079 has TX014638 stamped into the side of the receiver. What year is it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is a thing called “google search” use it to find out that the 6079 was made for a chain store and there is a list of them and the years made.

      Delete
  42. Model 60 , #06295138
    Barrel is 22 inches and lower tube is 18 1/4 , I believe 15 round . I’m having trouble finding the inside magazine tube (brass looking thing) . What length do I go with?

    ReplyDelete
  43. I have marlin model 60, made in 2001 it has checkered stock and a gold trigger....was this a deluxe model
    99198169 special model???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope. Nothing special. Just a regular ol 60.

      Delete
  44. My model 60’s serial number starts with 0210 what year would that be ?

    ReplyDelete
  45. Serial number starts with 104

    ReplyDelete
  46. my 60 SB STAINLESS HAS SERIAL # of MN 36796B 19” barrel & A 14 shot tube! 2010? maybe or maybe not? who knows

    ReplyDelete
  47. Can these people not read and understand??
    The author clearly tell us how to EXACTLY identify the year if a Marlin 60 from numbers, codes and design changes.
    Use your brain and stop asking the stupid question “ my gun has the number xxxxxx. What year is it?
    Learn to figure it out yourself!!!

    ReplyDelete
  48. My serial number is 934327**

    ReplyDelete
  49. My serial number is 203xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  50. Got a strange one 22" barrel, long magazine tube. Silver trigger and one rear screw aluminum trigger guard. Checkered stock, serial number is 26****** (1974) full front sight with attached magazine band. Glenfield model 60 (JM) stamped.
    Microgrooved but not marked as such.
    Looks totally unused, no powder residue or wear marks and perfect stock. I would say mint and $200 OTD!

    ReplyDelete
  51. 2340 is first 4 of my number know the year?

    ReplyDelete
  52. I just bought a Marlin 60 that has a serial number of MN14356B and it looks brand new. Also in front of the serial number is what looks like an engraved SD code but it won't read as such. Ruger site says not a gun built by them and I can't find any reference to MN serial numbers. I am confused. Help?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. your gun was most likely built when Remington owned the company (2010-2020) at the Mayfield Kentucky plant.

      Delete
  53. I also just purchased a Marlin 60 and have the same details as the anonymous poster mentioned above. The barrel on mine is stainless steel and states it was created in Huntsville, AL. I am curious to learn how many .22 LR bullets the magazine can hold, and to see how close of a year of manufacturing it may be. The Serial is MN0****B. I’d appreciate any help you might be willing to lend.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I should have mentioned this is a Marlin 60 SB

    ReplyDelete
  55. Marlin22Micro-GrooveBarrel 05161346

    ReplyDelete