Can't find Shimano year date code on trigger shifters ?

[mezzanine]

Is there a way to tell the year on SL-M570 LX trigger shifters? I can't see any letters. I imagine this will apply to XT and XTR versions as well

 

[CrossFred1978]

Deore LX M570 groupset was out in 1999, i remember a big change in the look of the components in a sort of blueish grey colour as apposed to the jet black of the older M560/3/4/etc..
some deore LX components were available in different M numbers during the same yea,r ie they offered 7spd and 8 spd components during 1994 with the numbers as M563 & M564. and as usual shimano release their next seasons groupsets half way through the preceding year.

 

[FluffyChicken]

It could be on the lower lever metal part, might need the covers taken off.
But it's been a long time since I've had one apart.

SL-M570 was 1999 to 2006, normally it would be 2005 the last year of M570 series, but M580 didn't have an alone shifter, even then it was only replaced with a refresh M571 in 2007