Help Identify Age/Value of Stevens 311E Double Barrel 20ga

Recently my grandfather gave me a Stevens 311E double barrel 20 gauge shotgun from his collection. The sentimental value of the gun outweighs any dollar figure I could assign to it. Plus I just like it. I plan to hold onto it. Still, I am curious the age and value.

Overall condition is very good. There is some slight marring of the wood stock where the break over lever action is located.

I understand the markings on the barrel where it breaks open is key to identifying year of manufacture. One barrel appears to have a circle with a W in it. The other barrel has a circle with an 18W or 19W; it's hard for me to tell for certain. Serial is either A398*** or A388*** as the bottom part of that second digit isn't readable to me.

Any help is much appreciated.

Strange, the date codes say 1969 yet the serial number is saying 1970, either way it's real close.

Value, maybe $350-$400 on your description.

Thanks Mad Dog!

The entire serial looks lightly pressed so it's tough to read. But I feel reasonably confident in all but the second number. I see a loop which I presumed was part of an 8 or 9, but it might have been a 6 too. I will look again tonight when I get home.

Would a serial of A368*** make better sense with the markings on the barrel?

If it helps, the barrel isn't very long. Maybe 8" or so past the wood stock. I haven't put a tape to it to verify exact length yet.

Were these 69/70 models fairly common or unique?

Fairly common, it's the old Ansley Fox shotguns that were worth the big dollars.

Your shotgun should have a 28" bbl.