Stevens 620A Serial Number Question

[Nihonto Chicken]

I'm looking at a SG marked on the receiver as a Stevens Model 620 (but which I believe to be a 620A due to the rearward facing through-bolt sleeve to affix the butt stock). There is no serial number, which I understand was not required until the GCA of 1968, but still find it strange that such is missing, as most other 520 and 620 models I've seen have one. Where one would expect to find a serial number on the receiver and the barrel are instead stamped a circled san-serif X, a circled san-serif F, and a non-circled san-serif F. These are also stamped on the rear of the trigger housing. Might anyone be able to explain the significance of these marks in lieu of a serial number? No biggie, just curious ...

[yelohamr]

I have a Stevens and a Savage with no serial numbers. The first Mossberg 500 I owned was one that was sold with Montgomery Wards brand name and it didn't have a serial number either. It's really no big deal.

If you need something for identification purposes, use an engraving tool and put your birth date on it: xx-xx-xxxx. That's what I did when I was in the Corps and had to register it at Camp Pendleton.

[Nihonto Chicken]

Thanks for your response. I'm not worried about the lack of a serial number, just curious as to what the stamps that are there represent, perhaps assembly marks to make sure hand-fitted parts stay together? I see similar marks were used for the Model 311 double barrel shotgun to denote the year of manufacture, but they don't make sense for this Model 620(A), as circle F for the 311 indicates 1954, whereas the 620 was supposedly last made in 1953.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

It could have been assembled out of old stock parts for one of their contracts to a chain of stores. Or they could simply be proof marks from the factory, not date stamps. Or they could just be a mistake. You never know.

-Mb