22 Jet information New??

[PHATINJUN]

I bought a Topper Model 158 22 Rem Jet here recently have been mostly working at putting componets and load data togeather for it .Don't know why I didn't think about this earlier as far as what yr it is but just being a jet I wanted it.From what I can tell the Jet came about in or around 1961. Looking at my gun it has no visible Ser# but I just found this information in a post of the net on an old forum from 2003 I think. This is the post.
"MODEL 158 COMBO SINGLE SHOT-------------------------------1963-1984
1963-Only Production-Topper-30 & Topper Jet, Side Lever Break Action, Calibers 30-30 Winchester or 22 S&W Jet, 22 inch Barrel, Drill & Tapped for Scope Mount, Pistol Griped Walnut Stained Hardwood stock & Fore-arm, Blade Front Sight, Adjustable Folding Rear Sight, Blue Barrel & Frame Color Case Hardened, Weight 6½ Pounds, Overall Length 37 inches
1964-1967 Production- Topper 4 in 1, Standard with 4 Barrels 1 30-30, 1 22 Jet, 1 410 bore Full Choke and 1 20 gauge Modified Choke
1968-1974 Production- Topper Combo Standard with 2 barrels I 30-30 or 22 jet and 1 20 gauge, Stock is now Straight Griped
1975-Only Production- Topper Combo as above except 22 Jet caliber dropped and 22 Hornet Caliber added
1976-1984 Production- Model 158 Rifle Only, the 20 gauge shotgun barrel dropped only available in 30-30 or 22 Hornet
VALUE: Original Production of a complete set of barrels for the 4 in 1 complete set worth a 100% premium and any 22 Jet Barrel worth a 25% Premium 100%=$225 60%=$125"
 What I am trying to do is figure out the yr . Doesn't this frame have to have a ser# on it? By this discription I believe it to be a 1963 model because it is a case color frame. What is on your frames you guys that have the topper158? Also do any of you have a 158 in 22 Hornet with the recessed or contoured bbl?. My Hornet is a 157 not recessed but is the exact same twist 1-16 and bore .221

[Slufoot]

Hello PHATINJUN
Guns made before 1968 were not required to have serial numbers.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

[PHATINJUN]

Thanks Slu I just didn't know what the yr of that change was . I know by our yr of manufacture sheet in the faq's that they were using the letter A in 1940. Just thought it weird they have no ser#on this in 1963 but then again they have done some differant things before... my 157 Hornet has a BB# and that is not a prefix thats listed .I have made phone calls to H&R when they were 1871 and nobody would talk about that #as it appears to maybe of been stamped while the bankruptcy was taking place in 86. I think maybe my Hornet was put togeather from pieces that were left in the mess of the bankruptcy. Kurt

[quickdtoo]

Look on the trigger guard Kurt, that's where they put the SN in 1940.

Tim

[PHATINJUN]

Well thank you Tim even though I thought it silly they would put it on the trigger guard... this one is plastic it got me to thinking. I thought the 1940=A would be an A then a # and all that was on this gun was a
US patent # which many guns have that really mean very little to the yr of manufacture and as you can see in this picture this stamping is very small like 1/16" stamp. But if you look closer there it is a nondescript letter Z before the US patent # and you geussed it the letter Z is 1963 pretty much what I thought with that being the only yr they were case colored. So if some of you guys have these 158's with no # look for the single letter . Or maybe you guys already new that and I was just the dummy Kurt

[quickdtoo]

This old 12ga shotgun has a steel trigger guard, it's a side lever, I had always thought it had no serial number until one day I just happened to notice it, actually after a peek at it again, it's on the tang part of the frame just behind the trigger guard.

Tim