1931-1939
1-17,000 Exact production figures are not available.
Year of manufacture on Pre-World War II production is strictly a guess at best.
Production of the Superposed 12 ga. began in 1931.
1939-1947
Production ceased during World War II.
1949
12 ga.: 17201-20000 • 20 ga.: 100-1700
Production of the 20ga. began. First series of numbers are for the 12 ga.
Second series of numbers are for the 20ga.
These serial numbers for each year from 1949-63 are best guess.
1950
12 ga.: 20001-21000 • 20 ga.: 1701-2800
1951
12 ga.: 21001-27000 • 20 ga.: 2801-3200
1952
12 ga.: 27001-33000 • 20 ga.: 3201-5300
1953
12 ga.: 33001-37000 • 20 ga.: 5301-6700
1954
12 ga.: 37001-43000 • 20 ga.: 6701-8400
1955
12 ga.: 43001-48000 • 20 ga.: 8401-9400
1956
12 ga.: 48001-54000 • 20 ga.: 9401-10500
1957
12 ga.: 54001-59000 • 20 ga.: 10501-11500
1958
12 ga.: 59001-68500 • 20 ga.: 11501-14180
1959
12 ga.: 68501-76500 • 20 ga.: 14181-17060
1960
12 ga.: 76501-86500 • 20 ga.: 17061-20640
1961
12 ga.: 86501-96500 • 20 ga.: 20641-23820
1962
12 ga.: 96501-99999 • 20 ga.: 23821-27300
1963-1968
S=12 gauge • V=20 gauge • F=28 gauge • J=.410 bore
From 1962 serial numbers were followed by the date of manufacture.
2S=12 gauge for the year 1962,
2V=20 gauge for the year 1962,
2F=28 gauge for the year 1962,
2J=.410 bore for the year 1962.
Example: 6556S2 = A 1962 Superposed 12 ga. shotgun with serial number 6556.
1969-1975
S=12 gauge • V=20 gauge • F=28 gauge • J=.410 bore.
1969 started using two digits for the date of manufacture:
This was then preceded by the serial number beginning with 1000.
Example: 1000S69 = A 1969 Superposed 12ga. shotgun with a serial number of 1000.
1976-1986
In 1975 Browning standardized its serial number identification which it followed until 1998.
1. Superposed Type: 213=12 gauge • 233=20 gauge • 173=28 gauge • 183=.410 bore
2. Date of Manufacture is a two digit code • Z=1 • Y=2 • X=3 • W=4 • V=5 • T=6 • R=7 • P=8 • N=9 • M=0
3. Serial Number beginning with 01001 at the start of each year.
Example: 213RT01001
This would be an Superposed 12 ga., manufactured in 1976 with the serial number 01001
