If you find a number, try:
Finding the exact date of manufacture for a Cooey shotgun, however, is a common challenge. , particularly for the Model 840. 1. Where to Find the Serial Number (and Markings)
If your shotgun does not have a serial number, you can still narrow down its manufacturing date by examining the stamped markings on the barrel and the receiver.
Unlike modern firearms that use digital databases, older Winchester-Cooey records are notoriously fragmented. Winchester closed the Cobourg plant in 1979, and many factory logs were lost or incomplete. However, you can estimate the date using these serial number characteristics: 1. No Serial Number (Late 1960s)
Post-1968 Cooey shotguns often utilize Winchester’s standardized serialization format. Look for a letter prefix followed by a string of numbers (e.g., or NW00000 ). Proof Marks and Barrel Stamps Cooey Model 840 Serial Number Lookup
: Sometimes stamped directly into the wood under the buttplate to match the receiver during assembly. Deciphering Common Markings Cooey 840 | Winchester Shotguns | Forum
Because records are non-existent, "matching numbers" are irrelevant for most Cooeys. Value is determined by .
To help you narrow down the age, does your Cooey 840 say or just "H.W. Cooey" on the receiver? Share public link
Transition period after Winchester bought the company; still usually labeled "Model 84". 1967–1979 Labeled "Model 840" on the barrel or receiver. The final evolution of the design before the Cobourg factory closed in 1979. Collector’s Tips If you find a number, try: Finding the
The results were a mess of conflicting data. He clicked on a sticky thread titled "The Great Cooey Database Project."
Original finish and un-cracked wooden stocks preserve the value best.
Stamped or chalked on the wood underneath the butt plate or shoulder stock. 2. Identifying Your Model 840’s Age
A stylized letter stamp indicates Winchester-Cooey factory inspection. Where to Find the Serial Number (and Markings)
Note: If the number is short (3-4 digits), it is almost certainly an assembly number, not a date-able serial number. Summary of Model 840 Information H.W. Cooey Co. Ltd. / Winchester Canada Production Years 1967–1979 (840) Action Single-shot, break-action Gauges 12, 16, 20, .410 Serial Numbers Often none; rarely sequential
Therefore, if your gun is stamped "Cooey Model 840," it was almost certainly made . 3. Cooey Model 84 vs. Model 840
: This stamp confirms the gun was made during the height of Winchester's ownership (late 1960s to 1979). Letter Prefixes
"Maybe," Elias muttered, unzipping the canvas. Inside lay a pump-action shotgun. It was utilitarian, lacking the high-gloss finish of modern firearms, but it had a certain rugged charm. The wood was dark with age, the bluing on the barrel worn to a soft grey.
Do you own a Cooey 840? Check the receiver and barrel stamps. If you find a serial number where none should logically exist, you might have a rare transitional model worth preserving.