Cooey Model 840 Serial Number Lookup

If you find a number on the receiver, you likely have a late-production Model 840. There are two sub-scenarios:

Since you cannot simply type a number into a government database for a Cooey 840, you must rely on batch codes and physical features. Here is the next best thing to a serial number lookup.

Because records are non-existent, "matching numbers" are irrelevant for most Cooeys. Value is determined by condition.

Pick up your Cooey 840 and look at the left side of the receiver. Here’s what to expect:

| Feature | What it means | |---------|----------------| | No number at all | Manufactured pre-1961 (most common) | | A 5-6 digit number (e.g., 123456) | Post-1961 production under Winchester ownership | | “Cooey Model 840” stamped | Pre-1961 Canadian production | | “Winchester Model 840” with serial | Post-1964 production | Cooey Model 840 Serial Number Lookup

Because no official database exists, the lookup process is more art than science. Here’s your roadmap:

  • Check the Barrel Stamp (The Real Clue):

  • Use the "Cross-Model" Clues:

  • The Canadian Gun Forum Deep Dive:

    • Check these places:

    If you find a number, try:

    ⚠️ Reality check: Even with a number, you likely won’t find a neat database like a car VIN lookup. Production records for Cooey were often handwritten, scattered, or lost after Winchester closed the Cobourg plant.

    The Cooey 840 is sometimes called “the farmer’s gun”—it lived in barns, pickup trucks, and traplines for decades. Low serial numbers? Rare. But a well-worn 840 with no number? That’s actually more original. If you find a number on the receiver,

    Things get interesting in late 1968. New gun laws required serialization. Cooey (then owned by Winchester-Western) reluctantly complied. On these late-production Model 840s, you’ll find a serial number—usually on the left side of the receiver or the trigger guard.

    But here’s the catch: Cooey’s serial numbers were chaotic. There is no known, comprehensive factory ledger. They often used batch codes, inspector stamps, or Winchester-era numbering systems that overlap confusingly with the Cooey Model 60 and 600.

    For example, a typical late 840 serial might look like A12345. What does the "A" mean? Possibly a production shift, a subcontractor batch, or a Tuesday morning run in Cobourg. Nobody knows for sure.