Rangr44, thank you for the prompt response. The left side of the receiver says 'Sweet Sixteen' in script, and the serial number (822xx) is on the bottom of the receiver just in front of the loading port. There also an 'S' just above the serial number. Are there other identification marks I should look for?
I bought this gun in the mid to early sixties from a co-worker and it was old then, but it is in very good condition.
Thanks much.
Is there a number preceding the "S" that is above your serial number?
In 1954, they started with the letters above the serial numbers. H - Standard 12, G - Light 12, S - Sixteen, T - Twenty, and so forth. Although, the website only lists the letters for 12 gauge, the other gauges just used different letters. "S" was used for 16 ga.
In 1958, the year of production preceded the letter. For example, every Sweet Sixteen produced in 1958 would have had an "8S" above its serial number (like mine does
).
In 1968, they started using 2 digits for the date of production.
From Brownings website (
http://www.browning.com/services/dategun/detail.asp?id=13): with just an "S" above your serial number, and a serial number starting with 822xx...it's listed as 1954-55. Your near the end since the numbers are listed 1-83000. At 822xx, you can figure, more than likely 1955.
