Help Dating Browning Citori Lightning Please

[Colin]

Just got my GF's father's Browning Citori Lightning O/U 12g - chambered for 2 3/4" and he asked me to figure out some info on.

So I went to the Browning website and was just trying to determine the age of the gun but couldn't find a serial number that made sense.

I found the serial number that is under the top lever. Its just a 5 digit number (84815). Seems that all the "date your gun" info from Browning serial numbers are all alphanumeric.

It does not have adjustable chokes and in order to fire the 2nd barrel the safety has to be placed back on safe and then switched to the fire position.

Any help would be appreciated!

[wildweeds]

Just looked at a browning  superposed I have it's number is 12607 and it is a 1962 silver pigeon.You dry firing or with live rounds? should go bang bang with live rounds,older models were inertia block recoil set the second firing pin up for discharge.Probably needs a good cleaning in the boilerhouse. Does it have "made in Belgium " stamped on the barrell?

[Colin]

I plan to clean it here soon before I go test it out, but at the moment it seems like it was cleaned pretty well before it was tucked away.

It does say that it was "MADE IN BELGIUM" under the patent numbers on the barrel. On the bottom of the receiver about 2" above the trigger group there is a small half dollar size engraving that says "Lightning Browning". So that's why I was looking at the Citori's.

I have very little knowledge of O/U particularly the expensive ones (so basically all of them).

So I guess if this is a Superposed and not a Citori, which would make sense by the Serial numbers, this is a 1961.

I still think its a Citori and will try and post some pics tonight.

[wildweeds]

How wide is the rib?My grandpa had a "lightning" "Broadway" bought brand new in 1958 for 400 bucks,sold it for 800  bucks in 2005,was in PRIMO shape.My grandpa didn't care one bit when I told him he'd shortchanged himself by a bunch......... they were going for 6500 bucks at an online house when he sold his.He said I doubled my money on it,shot a lot of targets with it.

So you've been dry firing?  Fire,bump the stock on the floor to simulate recoil and pull the trigger it will click.To clean the guts your going to have to remove the stock from the reciever and there are JESUS parts in there,that you could find yourself looking for.I had a gunsmith take apart a rizzinni that was doubling on me and there were springs in the air.Id say stuff two shells in it and give it a test go before removing the stock.

[Colin]

The Rib is 5/16" wide.

[wildweeds]

Not a broadway then

The Rib is 5/16" wide.

[Colin]

The "simulated" fire got the 2nd barrel to dry fire.

[wildweeds]

I'd stop with the dry fire on that thing if you ain't got snap caps in it.I've really only seen one O/U that had to be taken apart and have it's guts cleaned,was my buddys Ruger and it spent alot of time duck hunting in mud and water.Not really the right place to be using such a weapon.Get some pictures up and ask your gramps if he ever had it refinished.

The "simulated" fire got the 2nd barrel to dry fire.

[wadu1]

Keep in mind that The Browning Citori ("Citori" has no meaning and is an advertising construct) was designed and introduced in 1973 as a more affordable version of the highly successful Browning Superposed shotgun manufactured in Belgium by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN). Browning Arms Company is a wholly owned entity of FN.

I shoot a 525 Sporting 32" barrels and 2 3/4 chambers for sporting clays

[quadrafire]

Here is an interesting article on dating and serial numbers for all the browing products.
I haven't had a chance to read it all, but maybe it will help.
http://sportingarms.freeservers.com/tech/browning/browning_history.html

looks like it likely is in the 1960's

[wildweeds]

With quadrafires link your gramps gun is a 1960 according to the serial number you've provided.

[Colin]

1960! Wow that is awesome. I saw on the browning site you can get a printed history for the gun... sounds pretty cool to frame!!! I do have knock off snap caps in the tubes.

Well I'm off to keep researching, thanks all for your help!!!