All firearms made in Italy are required by law to be tested by the Government Proof House, which marks the firearm with several symbols, one of which is a code identifying the year in which the firearm was proofed. A key to the code is shown below.
Note: The date code is not a part of the serial number. Read the paragraph below to learn where to find the date code.
In recent years the two-letter code has usually been enclosed in a rectangle. On shotguns, the mark is usually found on the bottom of the barrel. It may be necessary to remove the forearm, and sometimes to remove the barrels from the receiver, in order to expose the mark. I have also seen the date code on the bottom of the frame (receiver) of a semi-automatic, but I have never seen it on the receiver of a break-action gun.
On recent pistols, the mark is usually located on the frame near the trigger guard, and for older pistols, the mark is on the slide or on the frame behind the grip area.
In some cases, the actual date in Arabic numerals may be used, or a combination of Roman and Arabic numerals. For example, 1972 is usually represented by XXVIII, but in a few cases, it may be written XX8 or as 1972. Also, during the years 1945-1953, some Berettas may be marked with Arabic numbers 1-9 rather than Roman numerals I-IX.
During the years 1935-1943, before the National code system was enacted, some Berettas were marked with the Roman numerals XIII (1935) through XXI (1943). Thus, guns bearing those Roman numerals may need additional evidence to establish the year of manufacture. Beretta used no date code in 1944.
It is not clear to me when firearms by Italian manufacturers other than Beretta began to be marked with date codes - it may have been as late as 1954, with the Roman numeral X.
Update: (This was originally posted in 2006.)
CD - 2009
CF - 2010
CH - 2011
CI - 2012
Second update - 2/10/2014
CL - 2013
CM - 2014
GUNS MADE IN THE USA: The date codes above apply only to guns made in Italy. For guns made since 1988 in the USA by Beretta USA, the date can be traced by the serial number. See: http://www.berettasupport.com/applicati ... ch_new.htm
Note: The date code is not a part of the serial number. Read the paragraph below to learn where to find the date code.
In recent years the two-letter code has usually been enclosed in a rectangle. On shotguns, the mark is usually found on the bottom of the barrel. It may be necessary to remove the forearm, and sometimes to remove the barrels from the receiver, in order to expose the mark. I have also seen the date code on the bottom of the frame (receiver) of a semi-automatic, but I have never seen it on the receiver of a break-action gun.
On recent pistols, the mark is usually located on the frame near the trigger guard, and for older pistols, the mark is on the slide or on the frame behind the grip area.
In some cases, the actual date in Arabic numerals may be used, or a combination of Roman and Arabic numerals. For example, 1972 is usually represented by XXVIII, but in a few cases, it may be written XX8 or as 1972. Also, during the years 1945-1953, some Berettas may be marked with Arabic numbers 1-9 rather than Roman numerals I-IX.
During the years 1935-1943, before the National code system was enacted, some Berettas were marked with the Roman numerals XIII (1935) through XXI (1943). Thus, guns bearing those Roman numerals may need additional evidence to establish the year of manufacture. Beretta used no date code in 1944.
It is not clear to me when firearms by Italian manufacturers other than Beretta began to be marked with date codes - it may have been as late as 1954, with the Roman numeral X.
Update: (This was originally posted in 2006.)
CD - 2009
CF - 2010
CH - 2011
CI - 2012
Second update - 2/10/2014
CL - 2013
CM - 2014
GUNS MADE IN THE USA: The date codes above apply only to guns made in Italy. For guns made since 1988 in the USA by Beretta USA, the date can be traced by the serial number. See: http://www.berettasupport.com/applicati ... ch_new.htm