Manufacturing date for Browning shotgun

fussduck · October 11, 2009, 09:01 PM

I bought a Browning 16 ga shotgun, probably an A-5 from a pawn shop in the middle 1950's and it looked as if it had never been fired. My wife has done lots of hunting with it and I would like to know more about it. There is a number under the receiver which I believe is the Serial No. and it has an "R" with 18544 under it. I have found one reference which says that in November, 1953 Browning changed the model codes and that the R was used for a standard model and an S for the sweet sixteen. But none of the lists of Serial Nos. on the Browning website or any of the other sites I have looked at has an R and the numbers don't fit either. The barrel is stamped that it was made in Belgium. I would appreciate any information.

oneounceload · October 11, 2009, 09:34 PM

See if you can find it here:

http://proofhouse.com/browning/index.html

johnbt · October 12, 2009, 07:58 AM

The list in the back of the Blue Book shows that a 16 ga. with 18544 was made in 1913. Okay, probably not it.

Standard 16 ga. marked R18544 was made in 1954. The numbers that year ran from R3100 to R20800. The Lightweight Sweet 16 had an S prefix.

jaguarxk120 · October 12, 2009, 10:55 AM

Johnbt where did you find your reference on the R prefix? The Browning site does not mention a R prefix for that model year. If there's more info out there I would like to access it. Thanks

johnbt · October 13, 2009, 07:46 AM

It's in the serialization list in the back of the Blue Book of Guns. That's all there is, a list. I assumed the R would be a prefix, but judging by your gun I guess not.

John

jaguarxk120 · October 13, 2009, 08:33 AM

Thanks, the reason I asked is that Browning on their site lists prefix letters of H,L,G,and M for the years 1954 thru 1976.

johnbt · October 13, 2009, 02:00 PM

This page requires Adobe Reader. Page 2203 on the right side under Std. 16. I think it opens on 2202, but I use odd monitor settings that will change things sometimes.

https://store.bluebookinc.com/info/P.../Serialize.pdf

What the heck, I copied the info, but lost the formatting.

In 1953 Browning changed the Ser. No. alphabetic
character to differentiate between Lightweight
(Sweet 16) & Standard weight guns.
Year Std.16 Sweet 16
1953 R1-R3100 S1-S3700
1954 R3100-R20800 S3701-S24850
1955 R20801-R48750 S24851-S49350
1956 R48751-R74700 S49350-S72300
1957 R74701-R99999 S72301-S99908
1957-58 Prefix "T" for Standardweight and Prefix "A"
for Sweet 16 numbers mixed, but range from 1-
10900.
1958-1976 Ser. No. sequence changed to include
a one or two digit numeral followed by an alpha
character.

jaguarxk120 · October 13, 2009, 03:54 PM

Thanks for the serial number info., I'll have to get a blue book for reference. Right now I'm using Standard Catalog of Firearms as a reference.

Luistc · March 30, 2014, 04:11 AM

I recently purchased a shotgun brand Browning Side Lock (BSL) model LC2 to a auction in Austria, 12 gauge and the 918CS01060 number.

I've tried to learn many searches and requests for help in various specialized forums to know what year of production and still can not.

I know that "918" sets the 12 gauge.
These weapons initiated each year with the number 1000 and so this was 60 that year.
I admit that the letters "CS" set the year of production, but I can not get this information.

Can anyone help?

If you want to enjoy can see it on my collection site: http://armasfinas.blogs.sapo.pt/ and http://armasfinas.blogs.sapo.pt/brownin ... ally-27441

Thank you,

Luistc · April 4, 2014, 06:53 AM

Despite the various contributions and clues given, I still could not determine the production date of my Browning Model BSL recorded by LC2 "Lebeau-Courally" with nr. 918CS01060 number and 12 gauge http://armasfinas.blogs.sapo.pt/brow...courally-27441

If they can some information, I really appreciate the help.

Thank you!

Luis

Luistc · April 5, 2014, 03:31 AM

Thanks for the info .

It is curious that the Browning is one of the oldest and largest producers of weapons , which has in its website a search engine to identify the date and year of their weapons Manufacturing ...

... has nothing on these fine shotguns in a special series of rare sidelocks that were recorded by " Lebeau - Courally " and whose new value is close to $ 22,729.00 ...

There is plenty of other information about the production dates below to publish , but none of them can reach this date will my shotgun that I bought at a auction in Austria .

It's a frustration but I know that with the help of many of you who are lovers of weapons and their knowledge , will achieve this date .

http://www.nramuseum.org/media/94094...anufacture.pdf

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/

http://proofhouse.com/browning/index.html

http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

http://www.browning.com/customerserv...tail.asp?id=26

http://www.browning.com/products/cat...?cat=002L&bg=x

According to some colleagues the number 918CS01060 my shotgun has the following reading :

- 918 = 12 gauge
- CS = Custom Shop
- 01060 = number of shotgun and in each year, starting with nr 01000

I will be very grateful to all the help you can give on this subject . I can not speak English, because if I did, would have already called the manufacturer and solved this issue, I hope!. Use of translation in order to write then I apologize for any difficulty in communication programs.

Thank you!
Luis

Luistc · April 10, 2014, 01:38 AM

Finally got to know that this shotgun was sold on 31.March.2004

This information was provided by specialist Browning.

Thank you all for the effort in getting this particular date to Rudolph at: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...8706&start=220

October 11, 2009, 09:01 PM	#1
fussduck Junior Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3	Manufacturing date for Browning shotgun I bought a Browning 16 ga shotgun, probably an A-5 from a pawn shop in the middle 1950's and it looked as if it had never been fired. My wife has done lots of hunting with it and I would like to know more about it. There is a number under the receiver which I believe is the Serial No. and it has an "R" with 18544 under it. I have found one reference which says that in November, 1953 Browning changed the model codes and that the R was used for a standard model and an S for the sweet sixteen. But none of the lists of Serial Nos. on the Browning website or any of the other sites I have looked at has an R and the numbers don't fit either. The barrel is stamped that it was made in Belgium. I would appreciate any information.

March 30, 2014, 04:11 AM	#9
Luistc Member Join Date: June 2, 2005 Posts: 24	Manufacturing date for Browning shotgun I recently purchased a shotgun brand Browning Side Lock (BSL) model LC2 to a auction in Austria, 12 gauge and the 918CS01060 number. I've tried to learn many searches and requests for help in various specialized forums to know what year of production and still can not. I know that "918" sets the 12 gauge. These weapons initiated each year with the number 1000 and so this was 60 that year. I admit that the letters "CS" set the year of production, but I can not get this information. Can anyone help? If you want to enjoy can see it on my collection site: http://armasfinas.blogs.sapo.pt/ and http://armasfinas.blogs.sapo.pt/brownin ... ally-27441 Thank you,

April 4, 2014, 06:53 AM	#10
Luistc Member Join Date: June 2, 2005 Posts: 24	Manufacturing date for Browning shotgun Despite the various contributions and clues given, I still could not determine the production date of my Browning Model BSL recorded by LC2 "Lebeau-Courally" with nr. 918CS01060 number and 12 gauge http://armasfinas.blogs.sapo.pt/brow...courally-27441 If they can some information, I really appreciate the help. Thank you! Luis

April 5, 2014, 03:31 AM	#11
Luistc Member Join Date: June 2, 2005 Posts: 24	Thanks for the info . It is curious that the Browning is one of the oldest and largest producers of weapons , which has in its website a search engine to identify the date and year of their weapons Manufacturing ... ... has nothing on these fine shotguns in a special series of rare sidelocks that were recorded by " Lebeau - Courally " and whose new value is close to $ 22,729.00 ... There is plenty of other information about the production dates below to publish , but none of them can reach this date will my shotgun that I bought at a auction in Austria . It's a frustration but I know that with the help of many of you who are lovers of weapons and their knowledge , will achieve this date . http://www.nramuseum.org/media/94094...anufacture.pdf http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/ http://proofhouse.com/browning/index.html http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html http://www.browning.com/customerserv...tail.asp?id=26 http://www.browning.com/products/cat...?cat=002L&bg=x According to some colleagues the number 918CS01060 my shotgun has the following reading : - 918 = 12 gauge - CS = Custom Shop - 01060 = number of shotgun and in each year, starting with nr 01000 I will be very grateful to all the help you can give on this subject . I can not speak English, because if I did, would have already called the manufacturer and solved this issue, I hope!. Use of translation in order to write then I apologize for any difficulty in communication programs. Thank you! Luis Last edited by Luistc; April 5, 2014 at 03:38 AM.

April 10, 2014, 01:38 AM	#12
Luistc Member Join Date: June 2, 2005 Posts: 24	Manufacturing date for Browning shotgun Finally got to know that this shotgun was sold on 31.March.2004 This information was provided by specialist Browning. Thank you all for the effort in getting this particular date to Rudolph at: http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...8706&start=220

October 11, 2009, 09:34 PM	#2
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	See if you can find it here: http://proofhouse.com/browning/index.html

October 12, 2009, 07:58 AM	#3
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	The list in the back of the Blue Book shows that a 16 ga. with 18544 was made in 1913. Okay, probably not it. Standard 16 ga. marked R18544 was made in 1954. The numbers that year ran from R3100 to R20800. The Lightweight Sweet 16 had an S prefix.

October 12, 2009, 10:55 AM	#4
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Johnbt where did you find your reference on the R prefix? The Browning site does not mention a R prefix for that model year. If there's more info out there I would like to access it. Thanks

October 13, 2009, 07:46 AM	#5
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	It's in the serialization list in the back of the Blue Book of Guns. That's all there is, a list. I assumed the R would be a prefix, but judging by your gun I guess not. John

October 13, 2009, 08:33 AM	#6
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Thanks, the reason I asked is that Browning on their site lists prefix letters of H,L,G,and M for the years 1954 thru 1976.

October 13, 2009, 02:00 PM	#7
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	This page requires Adobe Reader. Page 2203 on the right side under Std. 16. I think it opens on 2202, but I use odd monitor settings that will change things sometimes. https://store.bluebookinc.com/info/P.../Serialize.pdf What the heck, I copied the info, but lost the formatting. In 1953 Browning changed the Ser. No. alphabetic character to differentiate between Lightweight (Sweet 16) & Standard weight guns. Year Std.16 Sweet 16 1953 R1-R3100 S1-S3700 1954 R3100-R20800 S3701-S24850 1955 R20801-R48750 S24851-S49350 1956 R48751-R74700 S49350-S72300 1957 R74701-R99999 S72301-S99908 1957-58 Prefix "T" for Standardweight and Prefix "A" for Sweet 16 numbers mixed, but range from 1- 10900. 1958-1976 Ser. No. sequence changed to include a one or two digit numeral followed by an alpha character.

October 13, 2009, 03:54 PM	#8
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Thanks for the serial number info., I'll have to get a blue book for reference. Right now I'm using Standard Catalog of Firearms as a reference.