Howdy fellow grillers,
I'm up in Portland (OR) for a few days watching the grandkids baby (a yippy doggie) and I just happened to swing by the local Portland Barbeque shop (yeah, just happened). I wanted to show my wife the actual size of the Weber Ranch ;). They didn't have a floor model, but I noticed that every floor model they did have for the 2015 model year was unstamped with a model year code? I've been reading this forum for a month or two now and hadn't heard that the latest model(s) were sans a datecode.
I also asked about the ability of a major 'Weber BBQ dealer' to 'talk' Weber HQ into drop shipping some of the non-US color kettles this way. There response was an emphatic "They tell us that this is what we offer in the US, and this is what you get".
Yesterday, I also picked up a nearly new Roti mounting bracket in town here. A 22 black OTG for $50. The original owner said he'd only used it two or three times (like I've heard that before), but when I saw it I had to agree. It has the 'AH' date Code as expected. Once I get it home I'll re-clean it, mount my black Roti, and burn it in.
Larry T (aka Smoke'n Joe)
Hey there, Larry ... nice deal on that 2014, last of the "OTG" (now called OKP)!
With the 2015 model year they went to serial numbers (I think) but don't ask me where they'd be located.
And yes, they of course won't sell other models here as an exception. If they aren't included in a region's list it won't happen.
The serial numbers are on the lid vents like the date codes.
Thanks for the feedback. I'll definitely look for a S/N next time I get into a BBQ shop.
Smoke'n Joe
The letters are smaller than the previous vent codes, and mine begin with CU, and then like 5 or 6 numbers.
CN####### = 2013
CS####### = 2014
CU####### = 2015
It should be printed (not stamped) in smaller print and is usually about the same spot as the old date codes.
;)