I just acquired a #5 rolling block carbine bearing the Mexican crest on the receiver bridge. The lower tang bears a serial number, the only Remington mfr. RB with a SN I have ever seen. Comments?

My 1897 #5 has a 3 digit number, under the pin retention plate.

I failed to notice mention of serial number 1

frnkeore wrote on Sep 17^th, 2025 at 1:17pm:


Interesting. Mine has a three-digit number also, but on the receiver face, below the breech block pin.

A "real" #5, as opposed to the military models 1896 and 1902, will be marked 5-xxx. First offered  in 1898, only198 were ever sold.  Calling the military models a #5, while commonly done, is really a misnomer.

George

Regarding SNs on military RB rifles;  The vast majority of the military RBs that have visible SNs were stamped there by the contracting countries after receipt from Remington.  The most common location is the bottom of the lower tang (trigger guard).  At least one central or South American country stamped the SN on the forward portion of the right sidewall.  See Layman's book for country ID or better yet purchase his new to be released book on the Military Rolling Blocks of the Americas.  I have had a few rifles through the shop with SNs stamped on the lower front left side of the receiver and equally uncommon the top of the receiver ring.

Ken, on the top 1897 rifle, you can see the 3 digits of mine.

Is that a common place?