serial numbers on long arms, when did that start?

[Bigugly]

I have a rifle I am thinking of selling it might be C&R status but it never had a serial number, so from the dates it was manufactured it may or may not be.

I was thinking if serial numbers were not required before 1960 it would be C&R.

[MKfan]

1968

[Peter W Bush]

what kind of rifle is it?

[Bigugly]

It's a Springfield 87A .22 short, long and long rifle tube-fed bolt/semi-auto.

Actually it is a Springfield/J. Stevens 87A, which from from some info I found dates it to be 1938-1948 after that they dropped the Springfield name.

Thank you for your replies, Michael