Subsidiary | |
Founded | 1973; 47 years ago |
---|---|
Headquarters | Madison, North Carolina, U.S. |
Key people | Jim Marcotuli (CEO) |
Owner | Franklin Armory Holdings Inc. |
Website | https://www.bushmaster.com/ |
- REMINGTON MANUFACTURING DATE CODE. Stamped on LH top rear of barrel, 2 or 3 digit, (month first, year after) these will normally only be the last letters as seen below, with the whole list shown here ONLY if it had been returned for repairs The anchor shown here with the date code is just a symbol, as many different inspector marks will be seen.
- Enter the serial number, without spaces or dashes, to search the database. If multiple models appear for your serial number simply match the date with the appropriate model, as certain vintage firearms can share serial numbers between different models.
Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC, based in Madison, North Carolina, United States, is an American manufacturer and distributor of firearms. The company's product line revolves around semi-automatic pistol and rifle variants of the M4 / AR-15 design.
History[edit]
Bushmaster Firearms was a company in Bangor, Maine, that went bankrupt and was purchased by Richard Dyke in 1976 and moved to Windham, Maine.[1] According to a Maine newspaper, it was later sold by Dyke to Cerberus while Krause Publications says it was first acquired by Quality Products Company, in 1990.[2]
In 2002, Bushmaster and a Bushmaster dealer were the subject of a civil lawsuit brought by two survivors and six families of victims of the October 2002 D.C. sniper attacks which resulted in the deaths of ten and injures to three people. On September 8, 2004 Bushmaster agreed to pay $550,000 of a $2.5 million settlement in the lawsuit and Bull's Eye Shooter Supply of Tacoma, Washington, the Bushmaster dealer from whom one of the perpetrators said he had shoplifted the rifle, paid $2 million. [3][4] The company cited mounting legal fees and compassion for the victims and their families as the reason for settling.[5]
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Dyke sold the business in 2006 for 70 million dollars to Cerberus Capital Management. The company became part of the Freedom Group, owned by Cerberus Capital Management, in April 2006.[6] In December 2010, Freedom Group announced that operations at the Windham, Maine, facility would cease as of March 2011.[7]Windham Weaponry was founded by the former Bushmaster owners in 2011 in Windham, ME in order 'to put Maine people back to work who lost their jobs' when Bushmaster moved out of state in March 2011.[8]
In December 2012, Cerberus Capital Management announced its intention to sell Bushmaster's parent company, Freedom Group.[9] In a press release, Cerberus stated that they would 'retain a financial advisor to design and execute a process to sell [their] interests in Freedom Group' (Freedom includes the former Bushmaster company).[10] Cerberus indicated that the decision to sell the company stemmed from publicity surrounding the use of a Bushmaster rifle in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. According to the company: 'It is apparent that the Sandy Hook tragedy was a watershed event that has raised the national debate on gun control to an unprecedented level.'[9][11]
Cerberus announced in late 2013 that it had failed to deliver on its promise to divest itself of the Freedom Arms group and has come up with a plan to buy out some Cerberus investors. Those who chose to give up their shares would get paid off by an unidentified lender.[12]
In January 2020, parent entity, Remington Outdoor Company, announced that it would be focusing operations on its core hunting and shooting brands: AAC, Barnes, Remington, and Marlin. It also announced that as a result, Bushmaster, TAPCO, DPMS, and StormLake Barrels would no longer be produced.[13]
In September 2020, in the bankruptcy auction of Remington Outdoor Company the Bushmaster trademarks were sold to Crotalus Holdings Inc.[14]
Products[edit]
Bushmaster's firearms, such as the XM-15 line, are typically offered in a 5.56 NATO chambering with forged aircraft-grade (7075-T6) aluminum receivers. Most Bushmaster barrels are 4150 steel, offered in 1:9 twist rate, and chrome-lined to increase durability. Some barrels are available with 1:7 rifling, on special order. Stainless steel or chrome molybdenum barrels are available on certain models. Their name is not related to the Bushmaster autocannon. Bushmaster Firearms originally produced their 'First Generation' rifle using an aluminum lower receiver paired to a stamped steel upper receiver. This first generation model used the AK-47 gas system and the recoil spring is located within the upper barrel gas system as compared to the AR-15/M-16, where the recoil spring is located within the butt stock. Originally marketed for police and the military, Bushmaster later changed its unique hybrid version AR-15/M-16 to the standard Colt/Armalite design. The First Generation rifles were chambered for the 5.56mm round. Bushmaster First Generation rifles are very rare and are collectables.
In late January 2008, it was announced that Bushmaster had signed a licensing deal with Magpul, granting Bushmaster the rights to produce and distribute Magpul's Masada rifle, renamed the Bushmaster ACR. According to the company in 2010, Bushmaster began making the ACR available to the civilian market, posting it on its website.[15]
Carbon 15 is a lightweight AR15 available as rifles or pistols. It saves weight by using polymer instead of the traditional steel or aluminum in the upper and lower receivers. Some models also remove the forward assist and the dust cover, and use a thinner barrel design to save additional weight.
The Bushmaster Dissipator combines a longer sight radius with a shorter barrel to allow more effective use of the iron sights. Similar modifications sometimes suffer from reliability problems due to the close proximity of the gas port to the muzzle, which throws the timing of the weapon's gas system off and makes it more sensitive to gas port diameter and port pressure variables introduced by the ammunition. Bushmaster's solution was to use a low-profile gas block in the normal position for carbine-length barrels and fit the front sight tower/gas block, which is not connected to the gas system, further forward to create the longer sight radius.
Discontinued[edit]
The Bushmaster Arm Pistol was produced from 1977 to 1990. The Bushmaster M17S is a semi-automaticbullpuprifle that was manufactured by Bushmaster from 1992 until 2005. The BAR-10 was meant to compete in the .308 market against Armalite's AR-10 series rifles and Springfield Armory's M1A Rifle by offering a .308 rifle that could accept the relatively inexpensive metric and inch pattern FN FAL magazines. In 2005 Bushmaster discontinued the BAR-10 line of rifles.[citation needed]
Gallery[edit]
Bushmaster XM15 E2S A2 16in Dissipator Model
Bushmaster Carbon-15 SBR (shorter barrel)
Bushmaster Dissipator barrel with M16A2 handguard
Bushmaster ACR
Bushmaster M17S
Bushmaster XM15-E2S M4 Style Carbine
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Singer, Natasha (November 26, 2011). 'How Freedom Group Became the Big Shot'. The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
- ^John Walter (25 March 2006). Rifles of the World. Krause Publications. pp. 76–. ISBN978-0-89689-241-5. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
- ^Butterfield, Fox (September 10, 2004). 'Sniper Victims in Settlement With Gun Maker and Dealer'. The New York Times. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ^Jackman, Tom (September 10, 2004). 'Gunmaker, Store Agree To Payout in Sniper Case'. The Washington Post. p. 1. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
- ^Manning, Stephen (September 10, 2004). 'Families of sniper victims reach settlement'. The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved April 18, 2007.
- ^Balentine, John (April 21, 2006). 'Dyke sells Bushmaster Firearms'. Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^'Bushmaster closing facility in Windham'. Wlbz2.com. 2010-12-10. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ^Hall, Jessica. 'Owner seeks to sell rifle maker Bushmaster'Portland Press Herald December 18, 2012.
- ^ ab'Cerberus to sell gunmaker after massacre'. CNN. December 18, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ^'Cerberus Capital Management Statement Regarding Freedom Group, Inc'. Prnewswire.com. 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ^Reaction to Newtown Shootings Spreads to Corporate AmericaThe New York Times - December 18, 2012.
- ^Foley, Stephen (2013-12-09). 'Cerberus offers investors way out of gunmaker Freedom Group'. FT.com. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
- ^https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/is-remington-leaving-the-msr-market-dpms-bushamster-and-tapco-sites-are-shuttered/
- ^[1]
- ^'Bushmaster Firearms: Press release'. Bushmaster.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
FIREARMS INFORMATION
Remington never (*) (**) used serial numbers to identify the date of manufacture of it's firearms, they however stamped a date code (spelled out below) by the first letter meaning the month and the last letter the yearof manufacture.
BARREL DATE CODE - stamped exposed on LH top rear of barrel after 1920
the following will only be stamped where applicable
#2 Part order barrel (not originally assembled to firearm)
#3 Service section received
#4 Return as received
#5 Employee sale
R.E.P. On the RH side of the barrel will be a Magnaflux, Remington proof & a test mark
If a gun is returned to the factory as a fire damaged, or blown up firearm, the factory will stamp it as a prefix to their date code with a #4 on the barrel and return it un-repaired. Then if the gun is ever subsequently returned to a warranty center or the factory by ANYONE, they will refuse to work on it as an unsafe firearm.
REMINGTON MANUFACTURING DATE CODE
stamped on LH top rear of barrel, 2 or 3 digit, (month first, year after) these will normally only be the last letters as seen below,
with the whole list shown here ONLY if it had been returned for repairs
The anchor shown here with the date code is just a symbol, as many different inspector marks will be seen
The above information was taken from Remington's own information sheet, so if your gun may not conform, then I am also at a loss in explaining.
The factory says all barrels are date code stamped, well I have found some that are not, or if they are, are so erratic stamping that trying to decipher them is impossible.
The photos below may help a bit. Both were taken off Remington 760s, with the one on the left, a 30-06 that I bought new October 10, 1954. This has been rebored to a 35 Whelen Improved. The one on the right again a 30-06, but with a shorter barrel that I made into a knock around quad rifle with pivot mounts.
Here the R represents November, & the ZZ would be 1953. The fourth digit being a 3 is inconsequential being an assembly number. There is no inspector mark on this side. | Here the first (LH) mark is the final inspector mark, the O represents July, the R would be 1968. And the F again being an assembly number. |
JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
B | L | A | C | K | P | O | W | D | E | R | X |
1920 = L | 1930 = Y | 1940 = J | 1950 = WW |
1921 = M | 1931 = Z | 1941 = K | 1951 = XX |
1922 = N | 1932 = A | 1942 = L | 1952 = YY |
1923 = P | 1933 = B | 1943 = MM | 1953 = ZZ |
1924 = R | 1934 = C | 1944 = NN | 1954 = A (JAN. AA) |
1925 = S | 1935 = D | 1945 = PP | 1955 = B |
1926 = T | 1936 = E | 1946 = RR | 1956 = C |
1927 = V | 1937 = F | 1947 = SS | 1957 = D |
1928 = W | 1938 = G | 1948 = TT | 1958 = E |
1929 = X | 1939 = H | 1949 = UU | 1959 = F |
1960 = G | 1970 = T | 1980 = A | 1990 = K |
1961 = H | 1971 = U | 1981 = B | 1991 = L |
1962 = J | 1972 = W | 1982 = C | 1992 = M |
1963 = K | 1973 = X | 1983 = D | 1993 = N |
1964 = L | 1974 = Y | 1984 = E | 1994 = O |
1965 = M | 1975 = Z | 1985 = F | 1995 = P |
1966 = N | 1976 = I | 1986 = G | 1996 = Q |
1967 = P | 1977 = O | 1987 = H | 1997 = R |
1968 = R | 1978 = Q | 1988 = I | 1998 = S |
1969 = S | 1979 = V | 1989 = J | *1999 = T |
(*) Typically from the beginning, they NEVER used serial numbers to DATE their long firearms, but date codes. That does not preclude them from also assigning serial numbers. However for factory purposes, serial numbers were not the primary method of dating a firearm. Long guns made before 1941 (WWII) were serial numbered, even the 22 calibers. After the war with numerous new 22 caliber models being introduced, serial numbers were not assigned to ALL GUNS until the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968.
(**) On 8/9/99, they stopped stamping the barrels with the date code. They however continued to mark the date code on the end flap of the shipping box for shotgun barrels however. They planned on using just the serial numbers to tell when the gun was manufactured. So there was a 2 year gap in rifle date coded barrels and the normal consumer, or gunsmith would have to contact the factory for this information. They then saw the error of their ways apparently because of being inundated by phone calls and resumed stamping the date code on the barrel on 10/1/01.
*2000 = U | 2006 = A | 2012 = G | 2018 = M |
*2001 = V | 2007 = B | 2013 = H | 2019 = N |
2002 = W | 2008 = C | 2014 = I | 2020 = O |
2003 = X | 2009 = D | 2015 = J | 2021 = P |
2004 = Y | 2010 = E | 2016 = K | 2022 = Q |
2005 = Z | 2011 = F | 2017 = L | 2023 = R |
You will notice the year code repeats itself, but over 20 years difference. in this instance, you will need to know when each model was manufactured. To find general manufacturing dates it may be best to go to the Blue Book of Gun Values, which does give manufacturing dates of most models. So even if it (the code stamping) was used on the same model that could have been production over MANY years, in all likelihood sights or stocks would be different which would indicate the different date.
FIREARMS INFORMATION
Remington never (*) (**) used serial numbers to identify the date of manufacture of it's firearms, they however stamped a date code (spelled out below) by the first letter meaning the month and the last letter the yearof manufacture.
BARREL DATE CODE - stamped exposed on LH top rear of barrel after 1920
the following will only be stamped where applicable
#2 Part order barrel (not originally assembled to firearm)
#3 Service section received
#4 Return as received
#5 Employee sale
R.E.P. On the RH side of the barrel will be a Magnaflux, Remington proof & a test mark
If a gun is returned to the factory as a fire damaged, or blown up firearm, the factory will stamp it as a prefix to their date code with a #4 on the barrel and return it un-repaired. Then if the gun is ever subsequently returned to a warranty center or the factory by ANYONE, they will refuse to work on it as an unsafe firearm.
REMINGTON MANUFACTURING DATE CODE
stamped on LH top rear of barrel, 2 or 3 digit, (month first, year after) these will normally only be the last letters as seen below,
with the whole list shown here ONLY if it had been returned for repairs
The anchor shown here with the date code is just a symbol, as many different inspector marks will be seen
The above information was taken from Remington's own information sheet, so if your gun may not conform, then I am also at a loss in explaining.
The factory says all barrels are date code stamped, well I have found some that are not, or if they are, are so erratic stamping that trying to decipher them is impossible.
The photos below may help a bit. Both were taken off Remington 760s, with the one on the left, a 30-06 that I bought new October 10, 1954. This has been rebored to a 35 Whelen Improved. The one on the right again a 30-06, but with a shorter barrel that I made into a knock around quad rifle with pivot mounts.
Here the R represents November, & the ZZ would be 1953. The fourth digit being a 3 is inconsequential being an assembly number. There is no inspector mark on this side. | Here the first (LH) mark is the final inspector mark, the O represents July, the R would be 1968. And the F again being an assembly number. |
JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
B | L | A | C | K | P | O | W | D | E | R | X |
1920 = L | 1930 = Y | 1940 = J | 1950 = WW |
1921 = M | 1931 = Z | 1941 = K | 1951 = XX |
1922 = N | 1932 = A | 1942 = L | 1952 = YY |
1923 = P | 1933 = B | 1943 = MM | 1953 = ZZ |
1924 = R | 1934 = C | 1944 = NN | 1954 = A (JAN. AA) |
1925 = S | 1935 = D | 1945 = PP | 1955 = B |
1926 = T | 1936 = E | 1946 = RR | 1956 = C |
1927 = V | 1937 = F | 1947 = SS | 1957 = D |
1928 = W | 1938 = G | 1948 = TT | 1958 = E |
1929 = X | 1939 = H | 1949 = UU | 1959 = F |
1960 = G | 1970 = T | 1980 = A | 1990 = K |
1961 = H | 1971 = U | 1981 = B | 1991 = L |
1962 = J | 1972 = W | 1982 = C | 1992 = M |
1963 = K | 1973 = X | 1983 = D | 1993 = N |
1964 = L | 1974 = Y | 1984 = E | 1994 = O |
1965 = M | 1975 = Z | 1985 = F | 1995 = P |
1966 = N | 1976 = I | 1986 = G | 1996 = Q |
1967 = P | 1977 = O | 1987 = H | 1997 = R |
1968 = R | 1978 = Q | 1988 = I | 1998 = S |
1969 = S | 1979 = V | 1989 = J | *1999 = T |
(*) Typically from the beginning, they NEVER used serial numbers to DATE their long firearms, but date codes. That does not preclude them from also assigning serial numbers. However for factory purposes, serial numbers were not the primary method of dating a firearm. Long guns made before 1941 (WWII) were serial numbered, even the 22 calibers. After the war with numerous new 22 caliber models being introduced, serial numbers were not assigned to ALL GUNS until the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968.
(**) On 8/9/99, they stopped stamping the barrels with the date code. They however continued to mark the date code on the end flap of the shipping box for shotgun barrels however. They planned on using just the serial numbers to tell when the gun was manufactured. So there was a 2 year gap in rifle date coded barrels and the normal consumer, or gunsmith would have to contact the factory for this information. They then saw the error of their ways apparently because of being inundated by phone calls and resumed stamping the date code on the barrel on 10/1/01.
*2000 = U | 2006 = A | 2012 = G | 2018 = M |
*2001 = V | 2007 = B | 2013 = H | 2019 = N |
2002 = W | 2008 = C | 2014 = I | 2020 = O |
2003 = X | 2009 = D | 2015 = J | 2021 = P |
2004 = Y | 2010 = E | 2016 = K | 2022 = Q |
2005 = Z | 2011 = F | 2017 = L | 2023 = R |
You will notice the year code repeats itself, but over 20 years difference. in this instance, you will need to know when each model was manufactured. To find general manufacturing dates it may be best to go to the Blue Book of Gun Values, which does give manufacturing dates of most models. So even if it (the code stamping) was used on the same model that could have been production over MANY years, in all likelihood sights or stocks would be different which would indicate the different date.
You will also notice the month code spelling out BLACKPOWDERX, this is a common code in the firearms industry. Also some letters were left out if there was a chance of misidentifying a date. Also they jockeyed year letters to a new starting point in 1980.
Also for the 870 and 1100 series shotguns there was a code to identify caliber/size of the actions.
M/870 LETTER PREFIX
1950 TO APPROX 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE) S-68, T-74, V-78, W-84, X-90, A-91, B-94, C-97, D-01, AB-05
LETTER SUFFIX (DESIGNATES GAUGE)
V 12 GA. (2 3/4')
M 12 GA. MAGNUM (3')
A 12 GA. 'SUPER' MAGNUM (3 ½')
W 16 GA. ( 2 ¾' )
X 20 GA. 'HEAVY FRAME' (DISCONTINUED)
N 20 GA. 'HEAVY FRAME MAGNUM' (DISCONTINUED)
K 20 GA. 'LIGHT WEIGHT' ('LW') (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 'LT')
U 20 GA. LW MAGNUM (ALSO INCLUDES M/1100 'LT')
J 28 GA.
H .410 BORE (2 ½' OR 3')
MODEL 1100 LETTER PREFIX
1964 TO APPROX. 1968: NO SERIAL NUMBER PREFIX
1968 TO PRESENT: LETTERS USED (IN SEQUENCE) L-68, M-74, N-78, P-85, R-90
LETTER SUFFIX
SAME STRUCTURE AS THE M/870
If you find marks on the underside of the barrel, they will more than likely be fitters or assembly marks, which mean nothing as to dating the firearm.
I have seen one EARLY 740 S/N 54,9XX that has a barrel date coded May of 1969, which apparently had been sent back to the factory and rebarreled with a original 740 barrel instead of a 742 which was in production at that time.
An issue that people need to be aware of, is that many Remington firearms such as the 870 series of shotguns can have their barrels easily changed or replaced. So, if the barrel is not original to the specific firearm in question the barrel date code may be meaningless. Also if there is a custom or aftermarket barrel installed it will not have these factory codes.
Compunding the issue a bit may be the fact that Remington Arms stamps their final inspector stamps and assembly (product) codes in the immediate area of the date codes. So it may be difficult at times to determine exactly what is what. With that in mind, and considering a lot of variables. If a specific Remington firearm has a serial number, Remington Customer Service is always the first source which should be checked for date of manufacture as they would be the definitive source. There are no publically accessible databases for Remington serial numbers.
With the hundreds of different Remington models produced over the past 200 years, it can sometimes be difficult to determine the age of your firearm.
Overview
Since serial numbers were not required until 1968, your firearm may not have a serial number. For models without a serial number, we may be able to determine the age by the 2-3 letters that are stamped on the barrel. If your firearm does have a serial number, if you will call or email to the address below, the serial number and model number we can determine the approximate age of your firearm.
Contact Remington through their Help Center by e-mail at info@remington.com or call their historian at 1-800-243-9700 Mon-Fri 9-5 EST. (this number may not be operationa since Remington moved to the deep south).
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Bushmaster Date Of Manufacture Companies
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Originated 01-29-2007, Last updated 10-26-2020
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