Howdy all and Happy Holidays to everyone!

I am blessed and happy to have a 28ga Citori “Special Skeet” that I am not-so-much interested in knowing any “value” of (I don’t see me selling it anytime soon; I bought it from a dear old friend who bought it from an even older friend! ) as much as I am trying to decipher the letter “E” that appears in the suffix portion of the serial #:

XXXX 3 P M 1 E 3

I am pretty confident the “P” and the “M” tell me the gun was mfr’ed in 1980 but, what still has me curious is: WHAT DOES THE “1 E 3” INDICATE?

(I am aware the “1” means Grade 1 which certainly matches the gun’s understated metal finishing and wood furniture but, the “E” - I’m turning up empty ...

Before posting this query, I tried to do due diligence and just finished a skim and scan of the Gun ID Archives forum, here at SGW.com but, only found the following reference which is close but, which still leaves me wondering about what the letter “E” in the last three characters - “1 E 3” - in my serial number indicate ...

“unlisted Citori Serial number grades
The serial # is XXXX4PZ1B3 = GRADE-1 SKEET MODEL”
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=6

Also, before skimming and scanning the Gun ID Archives here at SGW.com I started out my search this morning by referring to the “Date Your Citori” page of the the Browning.com website but, I can’t find any reference there (or anywhere) as to what the “E” in the “1 E 3” means ...: https://www.browning.com/support/date-y ... otgun.html

Note: While I have someone’s attention, I guess a second question I have regards the barrels are also marked “Special Steel” and I am very, VERY curious as to what “Special Steel” is!

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AFAIK, "1 E 3" = Grade 1 Special Skeet



The steel is special because you bought the gun.....

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LOL, yepper, I’m goin wit ^THAT!^

The E in 1E3 represents the 28 gauge.


1E3 is 28 ga Grade 1 skeet
1C3 is 20 ga Grade 1 skeet
1F3 is 410 Grade 1 skeet

Thanks Woodstock!