Up for grabs is a a Browning Citori 425 grade 1 over-under shotgun in 12ga. Serial number- 02892NTK13. This shotgun was manufactured in 1996 in Japan and has a 2 3/4' chamber. It includes four chokes, (Full,MOD,IMP CYL, SK) and the pictured hardcase.
Browning Serial Number Online Guide. Browning A5 serial decode please - Shooters Forum shootersforum.com just aquired a 16ga round knob a5 w/ the one letter 4 digit serial number x (####) on the shell well. The matching serial number is on the barrel. From the location citori, you have a FN Browning produced in Belgium in late or early The 16 gauge 'X' series superposed with serial WESSON and citori through serial X, which was produced in A serial number on the auto of the receiver in front of the loading steel indicates Belgian manufacture, not.
| B.C. MIROKU OVER/UNDER SHOTGUNS also sold under the name, CHARLES DALY made in JAPAN |
FIREARMS INFORMATION
4 different style top leversprings are used, however in the only old parts catalog we can find, it isapparently for the type 2. They used the same part number for both thetype 1 and type 2, but differentiate only, Old Style or New Style and thegauge. Then later when the 3rd and 4th type came along, if there is anillustrated parts listing, no one has found it. The 4th type used coilsprings for the mainsprings, ejector hammers and the top lever springs. These coil springs proved quite a bit more reliable.
Here we cover mostly the O/U guns, however the single barrel trap guns are essentially an O/U with the bottom barrel missing
FOR OUR PURPOSES, UNTIL WE FIND MORE INFORMATION, WEWILL USE THEIR KNOWN PART NUMBERS ,
AS#2224 FOLLOWED BY THE FOLLOWED BY THE GAUGE AND THEN THETYPENUMBER
AS #2224-12-T1, #2224 -12-T2, #2224 -12-T3, #2224-20-T1, ETC.
To go to Chas Daly/Miroku exploded drawings pageCLICKHERE
The drawings below are full size
| TOP LEVER SPRING TYPE 1 #2224-12-T1 | SERIAL NUMBERS |
| ? - 306,367 12ga Hunter/Venture Grade 50,000? - 216,522 12ga Field Grade ? - 540,083 12ga Superior Grade ? - 355,645 20ga Field Grade ? - 213,352 20ga Superior Grade | |
| This top lever spring lays parallel to & on top of the lower tang, above & in front of the trigger & is pinned into the lower tang by a cross-pin. | we have not been able to find the starting serial numbers are on the above models, and suspect they may have actually been integrated with Miroku's existing numbers |
| The 20 ga. type 1 top lever spring is basically the came but shorter OAL & not as tall, top bottom, #2224-20-T1 | |
| TOP LEVER SPRING TYPE 2 #2224-12-T2 | SERIAL NUMBERS |
| NO Venture Grade used this style 216,523 - 371,702 12ga Field Grade 540,084 - 543,618 12ga Superior Grade NO 20ga used this style | |
| This top lever spring lays on the RH side of the receiver (inside the stock) & the anchor hole uses the cross-pin hole in the receiver at the RH hammer area | |
| TOP LEVER SPRING TYPE 3 #2224-12-T3 | SERIAL NUMBERS |
| 306,368 -to coil 12ga Venture Grade 371,703 -to coil 12ga Field Grade 543,619 -to coil 12ga Superior Grade (close to last Approx 610,000 7-1976) 355,646 -to coil 20ga Field Grade 213,353 -to coil 20ga Superior Grade | |
20, 28ga, & 410 Type 3 #2224-20-T3 is .075 shorter overall & narrower than 12 ga. | |
This top lever spring lays on top of the locking block, in front of the top lever shaft, & goes crosswise with the receiver. The short tail rests on the top lever shaft, while the longer notched tail snaps behind the RH receiver machining for the RH hammer. | |
| TOP LEVER SPRING TYPE 4 #???? | SERIAL NUMBERS #???? |
| The information we can come up with is that possibly the last 2 years of production, 1975 & 1976, used coil type mainsprings, ejector hammer springs & the top lever spring. We also have seen guns that had broken top levers that were retrofitted with later top lever springs, or even retrofitted with complete coil springs. | |
| MAINSPRING TYPE 1/2/3 #2211-12 12ga LH, TOP -- LONG END IS FLAT | MAINSPRING TYPE 1/2/ 3 #2212-12 12ga RH, BOTTOM -- LONG END IS ROUNDED |
All 20, 28, 410 Type 1/2/3 Mainsprings use the same spring& are .050 shorter than 12ga to the 'Vee', | |
| FIRING PINS #2217-O/S & #2217-N/S | SERIAL NUMBERS for New/Style |
| 313,188 & above 12ga Venture Grade 392,868 & above 12ga Field Grade 556,093 & above 12ga Superior Grade 330,741 & above 20ga Venture Grade 361,093 & above 20ga Field Grade 522,322 & above 20ga Superior Grade 350,026 & above 12ga Single Barrel Trap 300 | |
The our above parts are made off dimensions from original parts, as no factoryblueprints are available.
One thing to note is that when fitting a newmainspring, is to check to see that there is clearance between the hammer pivotboss and the mainspring behind the leg. We try to make our legs slightlylonger than originals to be sure they function, but there is a fine line here in that if the leg isoverly long it is about impossible to get the hammer into position under tensionto get the pivot screw in. It is possible to find a combination of thehammer and new mainsprings that miss-match if the mainspring tab is slightlyshort or the hammer notch is slightly deep. This will result inmisfiring, as the hammer can be slowed down right at the instant required forprimer penetration. If this is the case, a slight amount of metal can beremoved from this pinch point of the hammer.
Wisner's can not warrantee these mainsprings if you usepliers and screwdrivers, butcher and break them by trying to install them ina wrong position, then tell us we make defective parts.
Placement of RH hammerspring Illustration of placement of LH hammer spring
There HAS to be clearance here
CHARLESDALY / MIROKU O/USHOTGUNS
(Japanese made)
Miroku of Japan made the Charles Daly name of O/U shotguns from 1963 to 1976.
Not a lot is really known about this firearm, however we know that a typhoon almost destroyed the factory in 1971, because of this all the factory records were lost. And most of those US importers, persons or gunsmiths associated with those firearms who were involved, are now feeble mindedor deceased. The Charles Daly company got sold a couple of times, then went in limbo for some years and the current Charles Daly, owned by KBI since 1996 has no parts or records for these models. On their website it says 'Unfortunately there are not many parts available any longer in the US for these older Daly shotguns'. Their new line of guns imported from Spain uses the same models but with a roman numeral II after the grade.
One version of the Bluebook of Gun Values has some information under Miroku and Charles Daly,listed below as quoted. 'Shotguns marked Miroku only without anothertrademark listing represent that period of manufacture before Miroku began manufacturing shotguns for other companies (i.e. Charles Daly, SKB, Browning,and others)'. To the best of our knowledge, this information is correct EXCEPTfor the SKB, as they have their own plant separate from Miroku. As stated in the Standard Catalog ofFirearms, 13th edition. 'Miroku, B. C., is a Japanese company that not only markets under their ownname, but has made firearms for Charles Daly, Browning, Winchester and SKB(Ithaca) and others'. This is partly correct, but the Winchester 101, 96 O/U and Weatherby Olympian O/U were made by Nikko, while SKB madetheir own O/Us for Ithaca at one time.
Miroku did for a limited time sell a version of their 500 double shotgun toMontgomery Wards, which was marketed under the Western Field name. Miroku also did makeUSRA's Winchester limited run of 71, 86, 92, 95 rifles, but we are not talkingabout rifles in this article.
If you doubt our word for the above O/Us, try to install Winchester 101 parts ineither the Charles Daly or the Ithaca O/U.
Again fromthe Bluebook of Gun Values,'Most guns marked Miroku only were made on a limitedbasis and although somewhat rare, collector desirability to date has beenminimal. Since model notations were not specified in most instances (manyshotguns were made to test market demand), a model rundown is virtuallyimpossible. Values can be approx. ascertained by comparing a Mirokushotgun of similar gauge, features, engraving/wood, and condition to anequivalent Japanese Charles Daly model.'
'Inthe sixties, C. Daly guns were manufactured by the firm of B. C. Miroku inTokyo, Japan.' We have however seen some apparently early guns marked Kochi, Japan which probably came about after the typhoon. ' This Japanese gun manufacturing company was producing gunsfor many companies, Browning being the biggest current customer. Mirokuguns are high quality with excellent fit and finish. Many of them arehighly engraved and are fine examples of the gunmakers art. Some Charles DalyMiroku Guns are becoming collectable in some areas (smaller gauges withopen chokes). Their production ceased in 1976.'
The most common Charles Daly guns encountered of this era will be the over-under that was made by Miroku before Browning entered the scene to became the Miroku's prime outlet. However it is possible that after Charles Daly departed the scene and before a contract with Browning was signed, that Miroku sold guns under their ownname in the US, but still using same Miroku s/n range, as depicted by one gun we own. We know of one gun purchased at the Miroku plant that had Charles Daly's name onit.
We have alsofound a Miroku 410 Skeet O/U with an importers nameof Aero Distributors Corp, Seattle Wash - Imported stamped onthe lower barrel under the forearm after the gun was blued. This would have had to have been after the 1968 gun control actand before 1973 when Browning picked them up, as importersnames were required after 1968. It is our guess that this company pickedup some guns after Charles Daly stopped importing and before Browning gotrolling. Or that these Miroku marked guns were what was left over at thischange-over and this was a method of disposing of them.
The whole line of type 3 guns were basically similar to thelater Browning's Citori type I, (introduced in 1973) except they had 'V' mainsprings. If you read Midwest Gun Works, (who is closely associated with USRA/Browning), website, they make reference to a pre-Citori type 1, which may be close to the last one imported by Charles Daly. In 1977 FN and Miroku purchased 90% of Browning'sstock. Possibly that could have been a contributing factorfor Charles Daly Japanese shotguns being discontinued.
Miroku is still making O/U shotguns sold under their name in other countries of the world other thanNorth America, (which Browningapparently has tied up).
Model identification is very important when ordering parts for these old guns, especially the top lever springs for the Over/Under guns. Apparently initially the guns may have sold under the Miroku name, then Chas Daly started importing them using their name. However even for the Charles Daly guns, on the bottom of the receiver wasengraved, B.C. Miroku. These Chas Daly guns, (which you will see more commonly in relationship to the number of actual Miroku brand), thereappear to be 4 different MAIN grades within each gauge and the gradeapparently was assigned a different serial number block for each according tothe information we obtained. The MAIN grades were Hunter, or later the Venture, Field,Superior and Diamond. A 1968 dealer price sheet lists the Venture grade, ('formerly the Huntergrade') in 12 gauge only. So, it appears the earlier Hunter was renamed tothe Venture at about this time.
In the Superior grade there were then different trap/skeet sub-grades. It appears for all the models, the grades were intended to be rollmarked on the barrels on the same line as the manufacturers name and address. Also in the mix somehow, the butt-stocks used a different pistol grip shape for the different grades, and this however may have changed over the years.
Engraving was different for each grade, but at this point we believe it also waschanged as time went on, but possibly the Superior grade staying somewhat thesame. Our 1968 catalog and price list shows the New Superiorengraving. As you read below it may become apparent why model identification is so important because of the internal changes.
Not much has been found as to model NUMBERS except some customers have said thattheirs have markings of model 700 and 800. This appears to have been in the earlier guns for the Superior Trap/Skeet grades. If this model identification was used on the later guns, it may only have beenon the order sheets & box ends.
Chokeidentification will be found as small stars and dashes stamped on the LH sideof the rear of the barrels near the extractors, covered up by the receiver whenthe barrels are closed. This system is similar to the currentBrowning Citori firearms made by Miroku with the exception of the skeet choking.
APPARENTSHOTGUN BARREL CHOKE MARKINGS
| + | FC (full choke) | ++ | IC (improved cylinder |
| ++- | IM (improv | SS | SK (skeet) |
| +- | M(modified) | CYL (cylinder) |
Ifyou noticed that we frequently use the words 'appears','possibly', 'probably', etc. it is because we are not sure,with this being our best guess as to what may have happened in that time periodsome years ago.
THREEDIFFERENT FRAME SIZES -There were 3 different frame sizes. the 12ga, in the largesize, 20ga, 28ga, and 410 in medium size along with a limited number of the smallframe in 28ga. This small frame appears to have been made forCharles Daly and only in28ga, then apparently only to do a market sampling with less than 200 evermade.
To identify the different large and medium frame versions WE have divided them into types, distinguished by the type of top lever spring used. The small frame is covered near the end of this article.
FOUR DIFFERENT TOP LEVER SPRINGS -There were 4 different types of top lever springs within the grades as describedbelow for the large and medium frame sizes. Then a transition version has also been located.
Browning Citori Serial Number Location
It will be impossible to tell for sure which type top lever spring your gun hasuntil the buttstock is removed so you can visually identify the properspring. We can make an educated guess, but sometime in the past, IF your gun possibly had a broken top lever and was retrofitted with the thenmost current type, you will not know unless you actually look. And then know what youare looking for. That is the reason for this article.
The one part that is often broken is the Vee type top lever spring, but over the production span of this gun,we have found where the manufacturer changed it 3 times before it was finally made using a coil spring. The spare part list commonly in circulation is only for the 3rd version. The factory part numbers at this time did specify 'Old or New Style', but used the same numbers. Since we have no record of the earlier part numbers, for positive part identification, we have utilized the latest known part number and then added type 1, 2, or 3. This is based on what serial numbers we have and a common sense machine shop approach as to ease of manufacturing for the different known springs, using the harder to make, thentrying to verify serial numbers as the earliest. This information has taken years of working on them, to acquire, then assemble in some form of what we think may have happened.
Youwill have to take the buttstock off to be certain as to the type of this springused on your specific gun.
We believe it was the TYPE 1, that used a thin 'Vee' type spring about 1.33' long, that had around peg protruding downward, and a half-moon notch cut in this peg for a retainer cross-pin. This spring lays on and is pinned into the lower tang in the trigger area, and ran longitudinal with the gun. The locking block is machined out at the RH rear to accept the tails of thisspring. The picture below is of a type 1, 12ga. You can see thetrigger pivot pin in the lower tang to the right of thearrow head. The other hole farther to the right of it is to retainthe trigger guard. The top lever retainer pin hole is in the lower tang again and to the left of thearrowabove the extended trigger.
The toplever spring peg uses a cross pin as a retainer. The 12 and 20 ga. have thiscross pin to the rear part of the peg.
TYPE1 shown above
TYPE 2shown below, was a much bulkier Vee spring,& from a top view, looked somewhat like a heavy fish hook. It was about 1.92' long on the long side and had an approx. 1/8' hole in the front for a retainer pin that the cocking lever pivot pin went into as a anchor for this spring. The other shorter side of this Vee, is about .98' long, & puts tension on therear side of the lower top lever shaft.
TYPE2 shown above
TYPE 3 shown below, was a smaller 'V' spring about 1.13' long that was positioned again just above the locking block, but when in place it ran crosswise in the gun, it had a slight notch on one tail of the 'V' which snappedbehind part of the inner receiver wall, this prevented it from popping out, as the other tail was bearing on thefront of the lower top lever shaft. In the picture below, you can see just the tails of it to the right and leftof the narrow, as the Vee bend is on the LH side of the receiver. This spring seems to be the most common one.
TYPE 3 shown above
Browning Citori Serial Number
There also appears to be a Transition gun using the type 3 top lever spring but has coil springs for hammer and ejector hammers.
TYPE 4 shown below, top lever spring is a (3) piece coil type unit that uses a turned down plungered rod with a square front base that rides just above the RH side of the locking block against the rear inside of the receiver frame. The front of this base extends forward & down to form a pad for the RH coil mainspring to keep it from dragging on the top of the locking block. On the rear of this rod is the coil spring .208 diameter, just over 1' long that runs lengthwise with the gun. It utilizes a bar that is shaped somewhat like a Z, with a hole that goes over the rod and behind the spring, that the front of the Z puts tension on thelower bottom front of the top lever shaft.
Thepicture below shows a Chas Daly Venture grade Type 4, 20 ga. where you can seethe coil spring above the locking plate. Notice the lesser degree ofengraving for this grade.
Needlessto say, all the 4 top levers have a different notch cut for a pressure pad oftheir respective springs.
TYPE4 shown above
HAMMERS- The advertisement off their brochures mention thattheir patented upside down hammer design gives equal power to the firing pin nomatter whether it is for the top or bottom barrel. This is referring tocompetitors models that have both hammers pivoted at the bottom which are proneto a bottom barrel misfire problem when the hammer springs have taken a set.
HAMMERSPRINGS - Theseare sometimes referred to as mainsprings, and the most encountered problem will be thebroken Vee type mainsprings. These springs are a 'V' type with a protruding right angle tail on the short end, which puts pressure on thehammer beyond the pivot point, the other end just bears against the frame. These mainsprings are different, in that the hammer pressure pad side being the same but the other tail side has two different lengths. If you were to keep a spare, the longer top spring #2211 (LH) can be shortened if needed. Also the 20/28ga/410 are a slightly overall shortened version and you can't modify a 12ga to fit the 20ga.
The problem is when replacing the mainsprings, with the spring in position in the receiver, then the hammer on top of the spring and the hammer has to compress this spring. You then need to insert the pivot screw, while positioning the ejector operating rod so the screw goes in the hole of the rod. For bottom barrel, or RH side, the top lever assembly will have to be removed also to be able to insert the new spring. The RH side hammer can usually be assembled by prying it in position with a medium screwdriver & then lock it in a somewhat position with a tapered punch. Once it is retained by the punch, you can get a better grip with the screwdriver & then remove the punch and insert the screw.
The LH side is assembled using somewhat the same method. But you will probably need the help of an assistant as the pivot point is lower and harder to hold with just one screwdriver. Occasionally I have seen that the hammer will not go into the receiver slot with a new mainspring in position. If this is the case you may need to de-horn the inside front corner of the sear pivot pin boss. This allows the hammer to snap into the slot.
Wisner's Inc was at one time producing a mainspring installation tool that greatly helps installing the LH side mainspring.
Even though the factory literature says otherwise, this gun is one situation where the hammers should be let down on a snap cap when the gun is put away, to take tension off the otherwiseheavily compressed Vee type mainspring.
There was a prominent trap shotgun gunsmith in California by the name of Bill Nittler who about 1966 developed a coil mainspring conversion for these guns. Therefore you may encounter some of Bill's converted guns that do not match any of the serial number sequence. In 1972 he sold the patent rights for this conversion to Miroku. So after 1972 the guns coming off the factory's assembly line were coil type. Now this may have taken a while to sell off any remaining guns that in inventory that had the Vee type, especially if they were a slow seller for that choking or gauge.
BROKEN HAMMERSPRINGS -When these break, usually you simply have a misfiring gun. But we have seen on rare on occasions where the person kept on using only one barrel. What may happen is that if the spring breaks at the bend, (which is normal), the unbent end (tail) can fall down on top of the hammer lever, (commonly called the cocking lever by some), then get driven tightly enough into it that it becomes VERY HARD to open the gun. If you continue to use it you will very likely bend this cocking lever trying to open the firearm. This part is fitted to the receiver and engraved to match the gun, it therefore is not an item that can be easily replaced especially since limited spare parts are available. Even if a new or used part could be acquired, it would be hard to make the gun look original. Your only hope is that you did not ruin it beyond what an expert gunsmith could repair.
FIRING PINS - The firing pinsare the same for both the top and bottom barrels. In the time frame ofmanufacturing, the design was changed, but only to add a coil type return spring, and it appears the two styles FP will interchange if corresponding spring is also changed. If the older non coil spring type become dirty inside, the firing pins can stickforward and the action will be hard to open.Toidentify which type you have, with the action off the barrels, using a pencil orsimilar object, push the tip back into the face of the receiver, it shouldreturn to original position if spring type.
EJECTOR SPRINGS -These springs for the first 3 types are 'Vee' type, and made in RH or LH versions. They are made basically the same style as the hammer springs, but the difference is they have asmall stud on the rear that goes into a hole in the forearm iron for retention. This stud is made on either the RH or LH side depending on the application. The LH spring activates the top ejector.
In thispicture illustration of the forearm below, the type 4 is on top, you can see the coilspring for the RH side. You will also notice that this forearm has thelater finger grooves on the top edge of the wood. The bottom illustration is for the type 1 thrutype 3 and the Vee springs are buried under the forearm iron and in thewood. On the right are the forearm iron assemblies removed from the wood.
| Hammer Lever Receiving Rod, late style -------------> HammerLever Receiving Rod early, round (type 1) |
On theabove picture, the Mono Blocks and rods are different. The frames alsohave different cut outs to match the corresponding rods. The assumption isthat the type 1 top lever spring probably coincided with the early roundreceiving rod.
SMALLFRAMESIZE -This frame and internal configuration of theparts are totally different than the otherlarger sizes. The width of the frame is 1.330 s compared to the medium, orthe 20 ga frame which is 1.450 wide. Both the hammers pivot from the bottom. The distance on the standing breech between the centers of the firing pins is.772. The firing pins are 2 piece, with the front being springloaded with the rear being just a striker against the front FP. The firing pin strikers are pinned into the frame crosswiseand separately. Themainsprings lay horizontal on top of the lower tang, where they slide horizontallyas the hammer is cocked. These Vee type mainsprings are made in a RHand a LH version with a tab protruding down on the inside front tail thatrides in a slot in the lower tang that retains the spring from popping outward. The hammers appear to not be rebounding type, thecocking cam is timed close enough that just as the barrels start to open thehammers are retracted.
The top lever spring is a coil type very similar to the BrowningSuperposed. The only thing that appears to interchange with it's larger framebrothers is the firing pin bushings. The ejector trip rods layhorizontal in the lower part of the frame. Barrels are 26'long.
Thename Charles Daly 28ga, 2 3/4' is engraved on the top LH side of the topchamber. This makes sense in that if only a limited number of gunswere to be built, there was no sense of having a roll made. Also theB.C. Miroku on the bottom of the frame is also engraved in. Theserial number has a prefix of S with the numbers on the sample gun we have seenis 2300XX, indicating thatthere may be some possible serial number coding for all of the models, with thisparticular model having it's own range.
Browning Citori Serial Number Lookup
FINALCOUNT DOWN - After Chas Daly discontinued these Miroku guns in 1976 or thereabouts, Browningstepped in, and had Miroku make guns for them. This basically the same O/U was then known as theBrowning Citori model. During manufacturing under Browning's name, the types were also changed as things got improved. The type 4 Chas Daly gun appears to be basically is a Browning Citori pre-type I, which had coilmainsprings and top lever spring. However parts for the Citori type I,are now obsolete, but Western Gun Parts in Edmonton Canada purchased the last remaining parts from Browning a few years ago, does have some parts left in inventory. Bear in mind however they may not be an exact interchange with theall the Charles Daly guns.
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LISTED BELOW IS THE INFORMATION (right/wrong ?)THAT WE HAVE. It is suspected that the serialnumber information we have is incomplete, in thatusing this coding there could be duplicate serial numbers between the grades. The starting numbers could most likely not have started at zeroor maybe even anywhere close to that, (our guess would be closer to 100,000) as it seems questionable that the Superior grade guns were made in a larger quantity than the Field,Ventureand Hunter grades combined. There could have been blocks of numbers assigned with gaps in the mix. Or the first 1 or 2 numbers in the serial number could have a code to identify agauge/grade, or assembly line. Or, these Charles Daly guns came into the Miroku system at Miroku's existingserial numbers were then co-mingled then serial numbered with the Mirokuworldwide production. This last thought makes more sense to us in that we have never seen or heard ofany Charles Daly gun much lower than the 6 digit 120,000 serial number range.
With the above last thought in mind, then it would be about impossible to narrowdown year of production unless directly from Miroku, if that is possible. This would possiblyexplain why, based on thequantities of each spring we selleach year why the serial numbers above don't seem to be possible to obtain ifjust for the Charles Day guns. Also we do not know what serial numbers the type 3 ended at, which would then tell us the serial numbers when the type 4 coil springs were introduced.
SHOWNBELOW : These pictures of a gun has no manufacturers name onit but is obviously of Miroku manufacture as many parts interchange as the searsetc. Ithas the 'SKEET GUN' hand stamped on the RH top barrel, has Model OSengraved on both sides of the receiver. The serial number 60,3XX is stamped on the top flat of the RH side of the receiver which is covered up by the monoblock part of the barrels when closed. On the bottom of the receiver in the position where normally is engraved'BC Miroku', is the word JAPAN, and under that is a crown type shield with a standing bear inside. It has Japan stamped on about all the major parts, has some proof marks that arenot familiar. The firing pins are retained by a long vertical screw coming infrom the bottom of the frame. There are no firing pin bushings as the FPscome in from the rear.
The sear pivot block is screwed onto the underside of the top tang. It has a 3/16' square hole on the RH side running at an angle that is in alignment with the RH edge of the top lever that apparently was aremnant of an earlier method of placing tension on the top lever using some spring loaded plunger system. It uses the same basic top lever spring system as our type 1, except the peg is smaller (.094) & the overall length is shorter (1.015') & which we now will call the (pre type 1). The locking block retracting stud in the top lever uses a .164' square hole thru the top lever.
Browning Citori Shotgun Serial Number Lookup
The searpivot base is a separate unit that is screwed onto the upper tang from theunderside. There is a square slot with a cross pin type hole in the top LHside of the sear pivot base that is not used, indicating that it may have beenleft over from a previous version not utilized on this 'pre type 1'. The toplever coupling pin is different in that it goes into a square hole in the bottomof the lever shaft.
Barrels are 26 1/2' long which have not beencut. It alsohas the early round receiving rod in the monoblock.
We have corresponded with a gentleman who has a gun similar but marked 'OT'.
ONEMETHOD OF IDENTIFICATION : The shape of the buttstocks may generally the easiest way to tell theearlier grade other than the actual grade engraved on the barrel. Itappears from the brochures we have obtained, that Field and Venture grade guns had a rounded pistolgrip up until at least 1968. Some Venture grades had a more flared pistol grip similar to the later Brownings. But it is suspected this had more to do with the vintage of the gun than theactual grade. Trap and skeet guns could have been available in either astandard or a Monte-Marlo comb.
It appears that the Hunter/Venture grade was a lower grade than the Field fromthe pricing we find. This is rather uncommon, as most Field grade guns for other manufacturers are the lowest price. We find in 1967, they are advertising a NEW Hunter grade, with minimal engraving for $250. The information off a 1968 sales sheet, lists the Venture grade, (formerlyHunter). If this is so, then the Hunter grade only lasted one year, atleast until we gather additional information.
A 1970add mentions their newest innovation for the trap and skeet guns, callingit the 'Selexor', which is a patented selector system that gives youflexibility for manual or automatic shell ejection. Thisoptional selective ejection system was available on some Superior grade Trap guns. There was a small serrated rectangularbutton on both sides of the outside bottom rearof the receiver that can deactivate the ejectors. The RH button when moved up, pushes outward on the ejector trip rod, disengagingit from the trip stud on the hammer. This allows the shootera manual selector that disengages the ejector which used primarily for trap shooters and only available on guns appropriate to this sport.
There is a hole drilled on the bottom of each side ofthe receiver, up into the receiver at the internal edge of the recess for thebutt stock. Here a round shaft extends upward to near the ejector trip rod. A selector button, using a small rectangular peg that goes into the shaft, held in place by a 4mm screw. Also there is a spring detent that rides in a hole in the lower part of the receiver that puts tension on a plunger that detents into 2 notches in the shaft. The upper end of the shaft has a thinned tip that when pushed up, it pushes the ejector trip out, and away from the hammer activator stud, thereby disabling the ejector for that side of the gun. We have a CAD drawing of the RH unit, from s/n 59280X.
The 20, 28 ga. and 410 were made on a smaller frame size than the 12ga.
Itappears that early on, asmall frame size was used on about 500 28ga guns before the 28ga was upsized touse the 20ga frame. This change was in the height of the difference between thefiring pins which appears to only be applicable to the 28ga guns.
Wehave seen some older magazine articles written on these guns & from whatinformation we have compiled, there are a few discrepancies in at least onearticle.
CHARLES DALY O/U TOP LEVER SERIAL NUMBERS
AS SUPPLIED TO US
0?- 355645 20ga Field | TYPE 2 |
|
Wherein this numbering system do the Skeet guns fit, possibly in with the SuperiorTrap guns ??
There is one known transition gun (type 3 1/2) with coil MS and ejector hammer springs but the type 3 top lever spring.
Information has been relayed by an experienced shotgun gunsmith somewhat associated with this model who scavenged information from the old importer's (Sloans) gunsmith, that the last 2 years of production, the guns had coil springs. And that Sloan's/Charles Daly at one time offered coil spring upgrades to the older guns. We have found an owner that has a letter from Sloan's with an offer to convert his type 3 to coil springs that is dated 7-1-76. This was AFTER Charles Daly was discontinued, Sloans still may have had connections with Mirokufor parts, they were doing these conversions as a gunsmithing service, itwould not have been officially connected to the Outdoor Sports HeadquartersCharles Daly company.
Some owners have the dates recorded when they purchased their guns, but depending on inventory on hand at the distributor and dealer level, this dating may not have been close to being accurateif for a slow moving version.
Some known serial numbers have no prefix, then others with letter prefix include 'S' & 'M'. One gun does not have the serial number prefix on the upper tang, butdefinitely has it in the forearm. We have never seen a Charles Daly gunwith an M serial number prefix. It is possible the prefix 'M' was for Miroku marked guns (not sold by Charles Daly) as we do have one sample of this, but one gun is not enough to draw good conclusions. It is also highly possible that the serial numbers are mixed between both Charles Daly and Miroku, as we are sure the Miroku factory was producing guns for the rest of the worldsimultaneously.
We have heard of (2) 12 ga guns that apparently were older types 1 or 2 that are known to have had the top leversbroken. These levers were replaced with the newer type and the guns retrofitted to the type 3 styletop lever spring.
Trap O/U guns had the auto safety engage bar removed. This was a bar that was screwed onto the LH side of the locking block just rearward of the top lever coupling pin, extends up and over the LH sear, into the safety slot in the receiver which automatically resets the safety when the gun is opened.
The single barrel trap guns essentially used many of the O/U parts and were probably Superior grades with the bottom barrel removed from the forearm forward and the rear section of the monoblock not bored out. Some of these were apparently were labeled model 300.
Some Field grade guns apparently had no grade markings to identify that. Even one with Superior grade engraving has been observed with no grade on thebarrel.
Wehave encountered 4 customers guns that have 'Commander' engraved on the barrelas if that is the model. One of these had Field type engraving with theolder round Field type pistol grip stock, that also on the bottom of the framehad BC Miroku in the normal place, then in an arc below, Model 700. While another was marked model 800.
One 20ga O/U has been encountered marked Anshutz-Miroku s/n 362,60X. But the Anshutz name was machine engraved on the LH side of the top barrel AFTER the gun was buffed and blued. It appears that Anschutz probably was the importer of this gun into Europe. This gun was a type 3.
Browning Citori Serial Number Lookup Model Year Chart
Wehave one customer who purchased 4 Skeet guns AT the Miroku factory in Japan in1967 or 68, one of each gauge/caliber. All were Mirokus except the 410which was marked Chas Daly. He has sold the 2 smaller gauges but the 12gais #204,9XX & the 20ga is #217,5XX
We have another owner who has a Chas Daly 12ga Venture grade Trap gun in thetype 4. All the literature we have found indicates the trap guns were in Superiorgrade?? But in that this is a late gun, maybe they were assembled from remaining parts.??
Initially the Venture grade 20ga S/N 334,40X on the following list was thought to have been a type 3, retrofittedto coil springs. However it appears not, in that the front of the slots for thehammers are drilled from the bottom, instead of milled from the rear like the earliertypes. The insert for the RH hammer spring pad could not have been aretrofit by how it is machined. This gun has a more rounded bottom front receiver than the later guns.
Most guns were fitted with a (2) holed firing pin bushing. However one type 4 12ga we have inspected has 3 holes. This was thought to have possibly been at thechange for the spring loaded firing pin, however we find more than one gun withspring loaded firing pins with only the 2 holed bushing. Maybe thesebushings were a later, or replacement type if the firing pins were replaced?
As a final note, dating the manufacture date is about impossible unless you know for sure the model AND gauge of the gun and then it would be a (SWAG) Scientific Wild Ass Guess. THEREFORE please do not send me an e-mail wanting dating information on s/n 567,572. All the information we have is listed above, some from factory notes, others from odds and ends of information and compiled here over the years of working on them.
| This website is no longer associated in manufacturing parts for these guns Here is a business that does have some parts B&C Gunsmithing (Robert Storms) Lake Havasu City, AZ 928-854-8209 He also advertises on Gunbroker.com |
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Browning Citori Serial Number Lookup Model Year
Originated 05-17-04 Last updated 02-04-2021
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