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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 Roman numeral X.



Thanks to Worc for help in posting the image!

Are these date codes on the 686 onyx too? Where exactly might it be located,

Thanks
Lucky

It would be on the bottom or low on the side of the barrels, not on the receiver. Look for two capital letters in a small rectangle.

My A303 has quite a few markings on the underside of the barrel and I had difficulty figuring out what was what. So, I called Beretta Customer Service (800-237-3882). After being on hold for about 5 minutes, the rep advised me that, based on serial number, they have records of year/month of manufacture - mine was built April, 1992.

Mine starts with "FP" and then the number.... Doesn't look like that is on the chart anywhere...

Joe, you must be looking at the serial number. Like the big red note near the top of the page says, the date code is not part of the serial number, it is completely separate.

I understand that the manufacture year is marked with 2 letters before the serial number. I want to buy in an auction a beretta shotgun but they do not refer the manufacture day or that marks, they refer only the serial number. Is there any possibility to find the gun type or the manufacture day through the serial number? ex.F11824E. Thank you in advance!

No,no,no! It says near the top of this post, the code for year of manufacture is not part of the serial number. The two-letter code that tells year of manufacture is not related to the serial number at all.

Beretta may have records that make it possible to determine the exact date of manufacture from the serial number, but as far as I know that information is not available to the public. If they do have such records, you would have to contact them, give them the serial number, and ask them to look it up. I don't know whether they will do that or not.

Here is an example of the year of manufacture:
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e82/h ... G_0337.jpg

It is in the box at bottom from the proof marks: PB and crown, after the B.

The Lone Canadian,
Henry
BTW, my 391 Optima Gold has not been cleanned since 1997! It still works like a charm.

Thanks Seamus, 1999 DT10

2009 .... " CD "

If you think you should be posting on a shotgun enthusiast site to garner advice about which nail gun to purchase, I suggest you forget about even touching a nail gun. In fact, you might not even be qualified to use a hammer. If you do buy a hammer, be sure to read the instructions first, but most importantly, keep your palm on the handle and your eyes on the nail.

Bruce

Okay maybe someone will read this and help me out.....being a curious sort of cat I drug out my 16ga PB 409.....well there ain't nothin like a Roman numeral anywhere.....but there is 1952 on the watertable (quite clear but very fine line)......okay
....sos I drag out my 12ga 410E and again there ain't no Roman numerals anywhere....but there is 1949 (fine line) on the watertable....okay

....so I'm thinkin either youse guys is nuts or my ol Gardone special garlic eaters got past the proof dater....ain't it?.......

So I pull another newer 12ga 409E out and lo and behold there they are.... slicker n snot on a doorknob XVI (1960 according to you guys) and no fine line "might be a date" numerals....okay

.....but wheres' that leave my two orphink side by twixtes?......they could'nt be decsribed as pistols......
Are the Arabic numerals dates?......and does it all mean these guns are just Junior Varsity wannabes?..
....hurry up guys I'm going hunting monday and I'm trying to decide if I'm gonna bench these bums for deceiving me and take the Japs and the Germans out on the field off their normal schedule.... .....or just fine the Itieys for conduct unbecomming .....Art

The original post says: "In some cases, especially on older pistols, the actual date in Arabic numerals may be used..." Note that it does not say only on pistols. I don't doubt that the Arabic numerals on your guns are in fact the years of manufacture.

Well thank you Seamus for the quick response (it's just what I wanted to hear).......I was'nt being compleatly honest.....actually not anything like compleately.......I'm not going anywhere tomorrow....I'm actually sick as a dog.....but I really really wanted to know anyway ain't much to do when yer sick in bed.....Thanks.....Art

I was guessing mine was somewhere around 1973, I see an XX9, is that the XXIX (1973) date code??

Smitty

Yes, that is the date code. Sometimes they used XX9, and sometimes XXIX.

Seamus,do you know the time frame when the 686 Essential's were made? i have a Silver Essential and the bottom of the bbl is pretty scratched up and can't really read much on it.

thanks for your help.

Jerry, the Blue Book says the Silver Essential was imported only during 1997-98. I would expect the date code to be BI or BL, but it could be BH (made in '96, imported in '97).

thanks Seamus i thought it was somewhere around the mid to late 90's. do you know if a person could find out any of a gun's history?

if not i'll keep on shooting and enjoying it.