1980 Lyman Great Plains Rifle - Serial Number Question

[Eyesgood]

Greetings. I recently purchased a Lyman GPR with a maker's stamp of AF, meaning it was made in 1980 if I looked it up correctly. However, the serial number on the gun is 107xxx. I have two questions. First, I have read that Lyman came out with their GPR and began production in 1980. Can anyone confirm that for me? Second, did they really produce over 100,000 kits and completed guns in the first year? It seems like a very high number to me, but I don't know how popular they were back then.

Thanks,
Eyesgood

 

[Eyesgood]

The plot thickens. When I received the rifle, the stamp was not AF (hard to read). Under a light and magnifier (getting old is tough), it was AE, which means 1979. But I thought the GPR came out in 1980? Now I am confused. Does anyone know the first year of production for Lyman's Great Plains Rifle?

 

[Kansas Jake]

Don’t know first year but may have been produced prior to official introduction.

 

[64Springer]

AF is Midway Island.

Everyone knows that.

 

[Eyesgood]

AF is Midway Island.

Everyone knows that.

I was in the USAF and I didn't know that.