I just purchased a Belgium Browning 22 Takedown and can't find a serial number. Any help in locating it would be appreciated. This one has the rear wheel site and a lanyard ring at the end of the magazine tube.
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Browning experts......mystery solved. Thank you!
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Andy Griffith
Member
If I remember correctly, is it on the bottom of the barrel just in front of the forearm.
OP
Hey Andy, Thanks for your reply. I didn't find anything there or on the right side of the reciever. I just picked it up around 9 tonight. I will post pics when the weather allows.
Alk8944
US Veteran
If the rifle was made/imported before 1968 it likely won't have a serial number. Only the Browning center-fires and shotguns had serial numbers before that time as I recall. Serial numbers for all firearms were not required by U.S. law until GCA 1968 did so.
'56 was the first year of the 'Browning' import of the FN product. They were serial numbered from the start but a very very few have been found w/o any numbers.
Early rifles were #'d on the metal buttplate and in addition the front of the reciever face and sometimes the trigger assembly.
'A' prefix for .22short cal guns and a 'T' prefix for .22LR guns but again a few rifles exist with the opposite prefix of what is supposed to be correct.
In the late 50's and into 1960 the # was stamped onto the metal magazine ring plate at the rear of the stock in addition to the front of the reciver and trigger guard assembly. Some guns don't have the receiver'guard assembly # at all stamped into them. Some don't have the mag ring # but do have the receiver # stamped. Lots of variations.
The factory used to mark the ser# of the rifle onto the wood ( in chalk usually) underneath the butt plate during mfg'r for keeping track of matching parts. If the stock has been replaced or worked over, the chalk # can be missing easily enough.
In 1961 , the # '1' was added to the serial number in front of the letter prefix to denote the year of mfr. Also the .22short prefix was changed from 'A' to 'E'.
After 9T (1969) they went to 2 digit year prefix (1970),,70T, 71T, etc.
The 22short went to a 2 digit year prefix in 1969 with 69E and followed that pattern til 1974 IIRC.
Also,,GCA68 only added .22RF long guns and shotguns to the list of firearms required to be ser#'d (though many mfg'rs had done so anway).
Handguns and centerfire rifles had ser# requirements prior to GCA68.
Early rifles were #'d on the metal buttplate and in addition the front of the reciever face and sometimes the trigger assembly.
'A' prefix for .22short cal guns and a 'T' prefix for .22LR guns but again a few rifles exist with the opposite prefix of what is supposed to be correct.
In the late 50's and into 1960 the # was stamped onto the metal magazine ring plate at the rear of the stock in addition to the front of the reciver and trigger guard assembly. Some guns don't have the receiver'guard assembly # at all stamped into them. Some don't have the mag ring # but do have the receiver # stamped. Lots of variations.
The factory used to mark the ser# of the rifle onto the wood ( in chalk usually) underneath the butt plate during mfg'r for keeping track of matching parts. If the stock has been replaced or worked over, the chalk # can be missing easily enough.
In 1961 , the # '1' was added to the serial number in front of the letter prefix to denote the year of mfr. Also the .22short prefix was changed from 'A' to 'E'.
After 9T (1969) they went to 2 digit year prefix (1970),,70T, 71T, etc.
The 22short went to a 2 digit year prefix in 1969 with 69E and followed that pattern til 1974 IIRC.
Also,,GCA68 only added .22RF long guns and shotguns to the list of firearms required to be ser#'d (though many mfg'rs had done so anway).
Handguns and centerfire rifles had ser# requirements prior to GCA68.
OP
OP
cp1969....is it an iron sight issue? or............?
No, not at all. It's just that I wasted all those years without one. I could have gotten a hell of a lot of good out of it when I was still hunting rabbits.
FWIW, I would never put a scope on one, old eyes or not. The lines of the gun, to me, are destroyed when a scope is mounted. I've found that I can still hit hedge apples at 60-75 yards with it, open sights.
FWIW, I would never put a scope on one, old eyes or not. The lines of the gun, to me, are destroyed when a scope is mounted. I've found that I can still hit hedge apples at 60-75 yards with it, open sights.
OP
That "D" ring on the magazine tube IS NOT a lanyard ring! It's the way you turn and remove the magazine tube for loading. Some other manufacturers used flats or knurled knobs on the ends of the tubes for the same function.
It may be a 1956 gun,but not based on the number 50.That's just a factory number to me,not serial number.
The early guns had the number on the buttplate or lower front face of the receiver where the barrel mates(I'm not referring to the lower right marking of post-1970 guns) or none at all.
Here is a link to a previous thread about the serial numbers on the older "wheelsite" Browning ATD's
http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/141628-older-browning-atd-22-a.html
My ATD is a "shorts only" and as discussed in the above link has a 4 digit serial number (A55XX) on the collar around the magazine thumbpiece on the butt and a second serial number that does not match (A44XX) on the face of the receiver at the front of the action that can be seen after you take the barrel off. After checking with a several sources this apparently was a common thing with the early ATD's. When the buttplate is removed there is the # 84 stamped on the underside of the buttplate and a corresponding # 84 in chalk on the wooden butt-stock.
My dad bought this rifle NIB back in '57 or '58 from a local hardware store in the town I grew up in. The above description is how it came new in the box.
Apparently, back in the day, Browning was only looking to sell guns and was not cocerned as long as the parts fit properly.
Don
http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/141628-older-browning-atd-22-a.html
My ATD is a "shorts only" and as discussed in the above link has a 4 digit serial number (A55XX) on the collar around the magazine thumbpiece on the butt and a second serial number that does not match (A44XX) on the face of the receiver at the front of the action that can be seen after you take the barrel off. After checking with a several sources this apparently was a common thing with the early ATD's. When the buttplate is removed there is the # 84 stamped on the underside of the buttplate and a corresponding # 84 in chalk on the wooden butt-stock.
My dad bought this rifle NIB back in '57 or '58 from a local hardware store in the town I grew up in. The above description is how it came new in the box.
Apparently, back in the day, Browning was only looking to sell guns and was not cocerned as long as the parts fit properly.
Don
Here's another link to an older thread on Rimfire Central that may be of help to you.
A Bit on Browning ATD Serial Numbers - RimfireCentral.com Forums
Don
A Bit on Browning ATD Serial Numbers - RimfireCentral.com Forums
Don
OP
Ah ha.....1956 T 81xx
Mystery is solved. It is a 1956 T 81xx. Man, I'm really pleased with my purchase!
Thanks to all who've posted!!!
Mystery is solved. It is a 1956 T 81xx. Man, I'm really pleased with my purchase!
Thanks to all who've posted!!!
Stonehorses--Thanks for trashing-out my wallet!!!!!!!
Just great.....now I have to go make a move on the one I pm'ed you about............LOL. The one for sale near me has lighter blonde to orangish wood like my 1961 B-29 12 Ga. Superposed. Yours looks in a bit better condition than this one, but still a fair deal here in the great North. Congratulations on a fine Double-duce!! Sprefix
Just great.....now I have to go make a move on the one I pm'ed you about............LOL. The one for sale near me has lighter blonde to orangish wood like my 1961 B-29 12 Ga. Superposed. Yours looks in a bit better condition than this one, but still a fair deal here in the great North. Congratulations on a fine Double-duce!! Sprefix
OP
Sprefix.....from what I've read, you won't regret it. I was VERY lucky to get this one for what I paid. You might want to get a lesson on " hunkerin' " from Iggy before you make your deal. 
I will send you the link!!
I will send you the link!!Similar threads
