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< 16ga. General Discussion ~ dating bronwning guns |
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Posted:
Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:01 pm
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Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Alaska
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Is there a web site that you know where you can determine the date of manufacture for browning guns ?
thanks forward |
_________________ Curve |
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Posted:
Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:18 pm
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Member
Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Posts: 191
Location: Western Connecticut
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There are numerous references for dating Browning guns, but I don't think anything direct online.
What are you looking to date, I might be able to help. |
_________________ .....SQUIRREL, the OTHER dark meat..... |
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Posted:
Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:44 pm
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Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Alaska
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well, I don't have them in hand yet so I can't give you serial numbers. I have two ciori's and a Belgian A-5 in 16 |
_________________ Curve |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:11 am
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Member
Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Posts: 191
Location: Western Connecticut
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There are 2 references that seem to be the best for dating Browning serial numbers.
For everyting but the Auto-5, I would recommend :
"MATT EASTMAN'S GUIDE TO BROWNING'S SPORTING FIREARMS, Serial Numbers 1903 to Present", published by, Matt Eastman, P O Box 768, Fitzgerald, GA, 311750
He shows s/n dating info on the Auto-5, but his information is outdated for guns made before 1958, and has been surpassed by another book specifically on the A-5
This is a small booklet. I don't know if it is still in print.
If you have interest in the Auto-5, and really want to know a lot about it, you need this book:
BROWNING AUTO-5 SHOTGUNS, The Belgian FN Production, by H.M. Shirley, JR. and Anthony Vanderlinden.
This is available (autographed!) for $59.95 from:
Wet Dog Publications
5603-B West Freiendly Ave.
Suite 166
Greensboro, NC 27410
336-275-0405
www.fn-browning.com
It is fun to get the books, but I can look them up for you when they come in if you like.
We can do it here, or you can e-mail or pm me instead if you like.
David |
_________________ .....SQUIRREL, the OTHER dark meat..... |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:07 am
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Member
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 446
Location: Wisconsin
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Posted:
Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:26 am
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Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Alaska
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Thanks offhand and budrichard for the offers and info. I will resurrect the post should I find I need more help. |
_________________ Curve |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:48 am
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Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2005
Posts: 6535
Location: massachusetts
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curveman and others, for some reason, browning has omitted the 16 ga citori from the gun type coding info. however, thwe date codes all apply. It just goes to show you, we don't even get respect on data banks.GeeZ 16GG |
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Posted:
Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:52 pm
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Member
Joined: 04 Feb 2005
Posts: 191
Location: Western Connecticut
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You're correct, 16gg, the current date codes will apply to Citori's.
As for the dates of manufacture for Belgian FN guns earlier than even 1967, the references that I mention are better than Browning's website.
I don't know Matt Eastman, but I do know Anthony Vanderlinden and of Mr. Shirley. I do know that a whole lot of work has been done by these 3 individuals to produce far more than what you will see at Browining's website.
Other than that, Browning, for a small fee [I think it's $50] will research a gun to produce a description of the original configuration and its original shipping date and destination from Browning.
I have four A-5's, three of them 65mm 16ga. I plan to get the letter for one of them, but I haven't decided which one yet. |
_________________ .....SQUIRREL, the OTHER dark meat..... |
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Posted:
Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:03 pm
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Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Alaska
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Okie Dokie. Thanks for the date code post link, it looks like the two new-to-me Citori's I bought are a 2003 Superlight and a 1987 Grade III. And, that's what I really wanted to know.
Now, the A-5 is another story, it doesn't gel with what I see on Brownings site. It's a Belgian A-5 in 16 with the serial X32051. Any ideas ?
Thanks again everyone. |
_________________ Curve |
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Posted:
Fri Mar 10, 2006 6:47 pm
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Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 76
Location: western canada
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Curveman
Your A-5 could be a European domestic model that was not manufactured for the overseas market. A lot of these guns were brought back by soldiers returning from WWII. The only way to know for sure is to phone Browning and ask for the historian to check the number. I have two such 16 gauge A-5s that have serial numbers not recognized by North Americian coding. Both of the serial numbers start with Y and are pre-war manufacture.
Hope this is of some help.
Regards
John |
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Posted:
Fri Mar 10, 2006 6:56 pm
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Member
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 989
Location: Las Vegas
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Posted:
Fri Mar 10, 2006 7:52 pm
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Member
Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 711
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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Curveman,
I have an Auto 5 Ser. #X659xx that was made in '52. I started out on the shotgunworld forums as CitoriFeather suggested and felt like I had it nailed down. Then I called the Browning Historian and he confirmed it. I believe I found his number on the Browning website. You have to do some looking to find it. He will tell you what year it was made but no more. As someone else stated, for $50 they will send you a certificate telling you the mfg. date, shipping date, distributor, etc. He also told me '52 was the first year Browning used the crossbolt safety, which mine has. Browning used the X prefix on the Belgium 16 ga. guns made after WWII until the mid '50's. Yours should be about a '49-'50 model.
Dennis |
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Posted:
Sun Mar 12, 2006 1:05 am
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Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Alaska
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This A-5 is in absolutely beautiful condition. I acquired it in 1998. I bought a japanese barrel with an invector for it and it is such a joy. It's a little shorter stocked and I think it fits my wife great. |
_________________ Curve |
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