.410 Made by F.I.E.

Question
I recently bought a .410 shotgun from a Gun Show for my daughter. Only paid $50.00. Cheap little gun, but is in great shape.  Gun is made by Firearms Import and Export Co.  Serial number 907397 Model SB.  Just wondering how to tell the date of manufacture by the serial number.

Answer
Bill,

F.I.E. was a firearms importer in Hialeah, FL.  They imported a variety of inexpensive firearms until they closed in 1990.  Most of the shotguns they imported were from Brazil.  Mostly they came from a company named Boito.  KMart and Western Auto also imported quite a few Boitos.  The guns were private labeled by the manufacturer.  These are utilitarian shotguns and have little in the way of collector value.  I do think you probably got a pretty good deal as some of these shotguns have been seen going for $200 or more if they are in really good shape.  One in average condition is probably worth just under $100.

In terms of the age of the shotgun, there is really no telling.  With F.I.E. out of business, their records are who knows where.  The fact that it has a serial number most likely means it was manufactured after 1968.  Prior to that year, long guns were not required to have a serial number by law and many lower cost guns didn't have one.  I'd estimate that based on the serial number, you are probably looking at a manufacture date in the late 1980's.  I have seen serial numbers in the 780,000 range that were made in the late 70's.  I don't know what Boito's manufacturing or numbering scheme was, but it's as good a guess as any...

I wish I could give you more info, but there is just not a lot of data out there about these guns...

Best regards,

Doug Little