In addition to the Belgian Browning serialization listed in the back of this text, the following codes will determine the year and origin of those guns made from 1975 to date. The 2 letters in the middle of the serial number are the code designations for year of manufacture. They represent the following: RV - 1975, RT - 1976, RR - 1977, RP - 1978, RN - 1979, PM - 1980, PZ - 1981, PY - 1982, PX - 1983, PW - 1984, PV - 1985, PT -1986, PR - 1987, PP - 1988, PN - 1989, NM - 1990, NZ - 1991, NY - 1992, NX - 1993, NW - 1994, NV - 1995, NT - 1996, NR - 1997, NP - 1998, NN - 1999, MM - 2000, MZ - 2001, MY - 2002, MX - 2003, MW - 2004, MV - 2005, MU - 2006, MT - 2007, MS - 2008, MN - 2009, ZM - 2010, ZZ - 2011, ZY-2012, ZX-2013, ZW-2014, ZV-2015, ZT-2016, ZR-2017, ZP-2018, ZN-2019, ZM-2020, YZ-2021, YY-2022, YX-2023.
Since most recently manufactured Browning's use a 3-digit model identification code with the two-letter year code in the serial number (appearing before the year code on European and U.S. mfg. guns, and after the year code on Japanese mfg.) the configuration of a model can also be determined. For example, S/N 611RP2785 would be a Model B-2000 made in 1978 with 2785 being the shotgun's number. S/N 01001NY873 would be the first production example of a Citori Grade III 28 gauge Lightning Model shotgun manufactured in 1992. Refer to Browning Serialization in the back of this text for additional information on Browning model codes.
Since most recently manufactured Browning's use a 3-digit model identification code with the two-letter year code in the serial number (appearing before the year code on European and U.S. mfg. guns, and after the year code on Japanese mfg.) the configuration of a model can also be determined. For example, S/N 611RP2785 would be a Model B-2000 made in 1978 with 2785 being the shotgun's number. S/N 01001NY873 would be the first production example of a Citori Grade III 28 gauge Lightning Model shotgun manufactured in 1992. Refer to Browning Serialization in the back of this text for additional information on Browning model codes.