I have an 870 that doesn't have the date codes on the barrel. I think it might be 20 or so years old. It's a Wild Turkey Federation version that came with some kind of cheap looking hardwood stock and a dull black finish that will rust in about ten minutes. I bought it when the gun shop owner said that he would sell it to me about $100 cheaper than a new barrel for my Browning pump shotgun. I think he just wanted it out of his shop because it was so ugly. Probably could have gotten a better price. All I wanted was a gun I could use to hunt turkeys with. I killed a turkey the morning after I bought it. I ordered a replacement walnut butt stock and fore end, that had a subdued finish, and was made for the Remington riot gun. It has been a good gun and worth the $225.
