With a classic look that hasn't changed much since 1955, it can be difficult at first glance to determine the age of a Remington 572 BDL Fieldmaster. While the company has varied the gun slightly through the years -- such as the 150th Anniversary edition in 1966 -- the easiest way to tell its age is by decoding the serial number on the left side of the rifle barrel.
Know the Code
The rifle's serial number contains two letters that denote the month and year of manufacture. The first letter corresponds to the month. Each of the 12 months of the year correspond to a letter in the word "blackpowderx." For example, "b" represents January and "x" represents December. The second letter in the model number reveals the year of manufacture. You'll need to check the chart on Remington's website to match up the letter with the year, as the series does not always run alphabetically. You can determine from the chart that an original 1955 model has a "b" as the second letter, while the 1966 commemorative edition has an "n."