Is there anyone on line who can date a Sweet 16 for me? My Blue Book is at my Office and I am home and need date of manufacture to list on Gun Broker. SN X88205. Thank you in advance. Just joined Forum. Hello from SC from ErnieSC!
The Browning "Date Your Firearm" page only addresses the 12 gauge. The serial numbers for the 16 are completely different, as it was introduced 6 years after the 12. There are other issues. It states that FN resumed production in 1952, when in fact it was 1946. They SHOW serial numbers for the missing years but don't explain the contradiction. Confusion caused by the Browning website prompted me to buy: Browning Auto-5 Shotguns, The Belgian FN Production by H.M. Shirley, Jr.& Anthony Vanderlinden. Highly reccommended. - Revised Edition -
Per the book mentioned above page 76: X77700 assembled & booked into FN warehouse 12/31/1952 X92100 assembled & booked into FN warehouse 06/30/1953 The x prefix denotes the factory change over from 65mm (2 9/16) chamber length to the now standard 70mm (2 3/4).