This guide is for the Browning A5 16 gauge only. Browning 12ga numbers began with number 1 in 1903.

Now you can date your Browning firearm. The serial number found on your gun has the answer. This area will help you read that serial number. Records on early production models such as the Auto-5 and Superposed shotguns were not included due to the complexity of numbers.

The 16ga number 1 began in 1909. The two sets of numbers are different.

A common mistake I have seen in many, many, gun shops and online sites is to assign the 12ga serial number date to a 16ga. I compiled this quick reference serial number guide for dating 16ga Browning A5s and the Auto 5-3 Shot, by serial number. I decided to share it here since this is where much of my limited knowledge came from. The serial number and dates are approximations only. These dates were gleaned primarily from Sauerfan's timeline and the Shirley/Vanderlinden book.

Details about dates, transitions, exceptions, and other nuances can be found in the Shirley/Vanderlinden book, Browning Auto 5 Shotguns. I took the liberty to use the Calandar Year Jan. 31 for the X series. FN used the Fiscal Year July-June.

Other factors need to be taken into consideration to properly date your gun. American pie 2 hindi movie. I found what I thought was a very early 1948 Sweet Sixteen based on the serial number. Browning informed me the gun left the factory in 1955. 1909 1 - 3200 1910 to 1914 There is only vague info about 16 ga SNs in SV (page 74) for the time 1910 to 1914.

SNs 3201 – 15000 were invoiced between 1st Jan. 1910 and 30th June 1913. Last shipped before the outbreak of WWI was SN 19642. 1915 to 1918 No production due to German occupation of Belgium during WWI. 1919: 19671-: 20501 -: 22238 -: 24051 – Barrel Address (US market) BROWNING ARMS COMPANY OGDEN UTAH BROWNING’S PATENT 26001 –: 28401 -: 35651 – 40010 (app.) 1926: 40011 (app.) -: 51601 -: 57901 – Ventilated barrel rib (as an option) and barrel address change to 'Ogden Utah and St Louis Mo. ' 65101 – Barrel Address (US market) BROWNING ARMS COMPANY ST LOUIS MO. New choke codes replaced the choke words stamped on the barrels.

82751 – 90501 – Introduction of the three shot Auto 3 with shorter magazine tube and shorter forearm marked “Browning 3 Shot” 94001 – 96073 – Receiver legend Now with BROWNING and John M. Browning’s bust between “TRADE” and “MARK” 96144 – 99501 - 1 The 'Sweet Sixteen' was released but limited to a test market. 103501 – 105850 *1937* Introduction of the “Sweet Sixteen” sale to the public. Barrel Rib four possibilities in 1937: none, solid (hollow) rib, ventilated rib with X posts or matted finish for Sweet Sixteen (SV page 98) Barrel Ring as before or drilled with three holes on the barrels of Sweet Sixteen Safety Gold plated (Sweet Sixteen only) Trigger Gold plated (Sweet Sixteen only) Misc. “Sweet Sixteen” not separated by SN. No serial number distinction between the Sweet 16 and the Standard 16 gauge A5s.