Tim,
I just got off the phone with H&R (Steve) concerning an incorrect fore end they sent with my synthetic stock set. (They sent the old style forend with the new MC checkered stock). I think he's just sending me the correct one, he didn't say anything about the old one I have. We'll see.
When we got done, I asked him if I could speak to someone about serial numbers and DOM. When I asked about the new S/N format and it relation to DOM he said there was, "no ryhme or reason" and that there is, "no way to tell".
If this really is the case I think it's a shame. Knowing the DOM of each receiver is one of the things I liked about our Handis.
thanks,
-Kyle