Need help finding serial numbers!

[Taggerun]

My cousin and her family just had their gun collection stolen. However, those guns had serial numbers. My cousins husband just got two new 20g shutguns. One a Steven Savage pump and a Mossberg bolt action. All they have are model numbers and a couple small stamps/markings that I can only imagine are factory markings. Is it possible that serial numbers weren't around when these were made, or are the model numbers the serials? I have no knowledge of this and they are wanting to get as much information on them as possible in light of the recent break-in. Any help is appreciated. I thought of ya'll first Apaches!

Stevens Savage 20g
Model 77D (cousin cannot find this model on internet)
has small stamps, each one is circled: 18L and SP


Mossberg 20g
Model 185D B

[Sixx]

Sad to hear about the theft Taggerun. That blows.

Never been around those models before, but
I found this....maybe it'll help.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_is_the_serial_number_on_Stevens_shotguns
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-494812.html

[Taggerun]

Thanks Pzycho, those did help. Both these shotguns were made in the 60's, Mossberg possibly 50's, so it makes sense now that I know when the Gun Control Act was passed. Good news though, the punk was caught and the feds believe they found two of the guns. This asshole was feeding some undergound firearms dealer in Washington and they got busted. Thanks again!

[serpa6]

This might give you some anserws on the steven savage gun http://www.gundigest.com/gun-collecting-firearm-collecting/sqa-stevens-letter-prefix-serial-numbers

I also looked for mossberg shotguns on this site if you do some more research on the site you might find something this is the link i put in http://www.gundigest.com/?s=mossberg+shotguns&x=0&y=0

gun digest has been around for years Hope it helps

[veritas44]

You did not say what year the guns were made, but yes there was a time when some guns did not have serial numbers on them. I have a mossburg bolt action 410 shotgun ordered from sears and robuck catalog back in the days and it does not have a serial number.