Dating a Baikal shotgun

[One6one]

Does anyone know about Baikal serial numbers and how to determine date of manufacture?
I’m hoping to figure out what year my shotgun was made.
I have a IJ18 singleshot 12ga serial number: r19215

[Xbolt7mm]

Sorry. Read thread title. Expected something kinky, i got nothing

[Buckwheat]

Originally Posted by Xbolt7mm

Sorry. Read thread title. Expected something kinky, i got nothing

X2 lol

[6.5 shooter]

If it is USSR manufacture then that helps a bit.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union occurred on 26 December 1991, officially granting self-governing independence to the Republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

So if your shotgun is marked USSR you know it was made before 1991.

[One6one]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

If it is USSR manufacture then that helps a bit.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union occurred on 26 December 1991, officially granting self-governing independence to the Republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)

So if your shotgun is marked USSR you know it was made before 1991.

It is marked USSR , it also has the letter first in the serial number which I found on google means it pre-dates 1986 (apparently) , after ‘86 they went to numbers first then letters in the serial number sequence. Mostly what I could find said basically it’s pre-‘86 and that’s about all I could find.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by One6one

Does anyone know about Baikal serial numbers and how to determine date of manufacture?
I’m hoping to figure out what year my shotgun was made.
I have a IJ18 singleshot 12ga serial number: r19215

The IJ18 became the MP18/IZH18 sometime in the early 1990s. It is the same gun. The IJ started production in 1971 if I remember right, so the gun is no older that that and that model designation was built between 1971 and 1991. It should say Made in USSR and based on the serial number I would guess it was made in 1988.

[One6one]

Originally Posted by Dean2

The IJ18 became the MP18/IZH18 sometime in the early 1990s. It is the same gun. The IJ started production in 1971 if I remember right, so the gun is no older that that and that model designation was built between 1971 and 1991. It should say Made in USSR and based on the serial number I would guess it was made in 1988.

Right on thanks for the info !

[Savage Bacon]

I misunderstood your post. Thought you were dating your shotgun. Didn't seem too strange I guess as I am in love with my colt revolver. Sorry for my confusion.