rarms Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 I have just bought a Browning and was told it is a B425. Is there anyway I can date it and see this as it doesnt have any model details on the gun that I can see. One of the proof marks says something like 11/98 is this the date it was proofed? Anyone know? Cheers Kyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 http://www.midwestgunworks.com/merchant2/m...mvc?Screen=SFNT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the last engineer Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 You may find this site helps ,good luck http://www.browning.com/services/dategun/index.asp Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Mark, where do I look on that site? Last Engineer, I cant seem to find the B425 on the american Browning site :s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Rarms I have just looked at my 425 and the only thing on it that says 425 is on the underside of the action in front of the trigger guard. I believe the only differance between the 325 and the 425 is the barrel construction, with the 425 being monoblock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Ernya, this is what I was afraid of, mine doesnt say 425 anywhere on it, what does monobloc mean? Does yours have a date next to the proofmark on the lower barrel? Cheers Kyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Kyle mine has 184 stamped on the bottom of each barrel by the proof marks. I am sure mine was made long after 1(Jan) 84 if that is the interpretation. As regards monoblock (and I am no expert and stand to be corrected) it means that instead of both barrels being seperate tubes fitted to the breech block, only one is seperate, the other being machined as part of the block. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 (edited) This is what mine says on the barrels, I am assuming 187 is some kind of proof mark: Edited May 21, 2005 by rarms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 This is the underside, note the lack of a '425' :s Engraving: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 its a 425 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 thats a browning ultra mate, same as mine. not the 425. couldnt tell you the age, but i find them better guns than the 425's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Sam, how can you tell? Paulos, what model is the browning ultra? what sort of age do you think? Thanks people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunganick Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 thought the 425 had the little semi circles missing just by where the edge of the action meets the top of the barrel thats the same action a mk70/60 is built on if im not mistaken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrie0 Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Might help with the age http://www.griffinhowe.com/proof_date_codes.cfm or here http://www.hallowellco.com/proof_date_codes.htm And here Notes on the Proof of Shotguns £5.00 from the birmingham proof house online shop . http://www.gunproof.com/shop/system/index.html " Notes on the Proof of Shotguns & Other Small Arms This booklet is issued by the Birmingham and London Proof Authorities and gives British Proof Marks and current Proof Rules, foreign Proof Marks by country, pre and post War German Markings and other useful information, 5 ¾” x 8 ¼”, 37 pages" as booklet above from another website . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Barrie So from the top link I can gather it was proofed in london in 1998, pretty obvious with LP/98 but thanks for confirming it with that link Just got to find out what model it is now :thumbs: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 my ultra is simply the "browning ultra, grade 3" same as the xs and gti ultras but with thr game scene engraving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Is that the same game scene as in my pics? Does it have vented barrels as well? Mine have vents between the top and bottom barrels. There is a grade 3 on guntrader for £945 and from the blurry pic it seems to have the same engraving as mine :s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrie0 Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Anything like these http://www.kolchuga.ru/production/12/Browning/326/index.htm or http://www.browning.co.uk/ownersclub/guntests/b425.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Barrie, it could very well be the sporter grade ones from either link, but the thing which concerns me is the lack of '425' in front of the trigger guard :s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrie0 Posted May 21, 2005 Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 I would have a browse on this site and maybe post in some of the forums on the link sites http://www.shotgunworld.com/identify.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulos Posted May 22, 2005 Report Share Posted May 22, 2005 its definately the ultra, vented ribs and between the barrels, adjustable trigger, comes with 3 triggers and invector plus chokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2005 (edited) Paulos, any chance you could let me know the format of your Ultra's serial please, i.e. is it just 12345XX Thanks Kyle Edited May 22, 2005 by rarms Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning Posted May 23, 2005 Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 Rarms, The serial numbers on both my Ultra XS and my 425 follow the same format. i.e. 12345XX Your pics are the same action as my 425, but with different engraving. That could be down to the Grade, mine is a Grade 1, with basic scrolling, but I believe the higher grades had better engraving as well as woodwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rarms Posted May 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2005 Right, a bit of development, I have found two identically engraved and vented guns on gun trader as "Browning Ultra 'S'" A chap on guntrader's forum has said that from my first pic about the 187 before the proof mark implies 18.7mm which would mean it was back bored, something which he reckons was never done on the 425 model. I have spoken to BWM Arms and he has agreed the 425's were never back bored, so it looks like it isn't a 425, and so presumably is an ultra 's' He also said Browning UK don't exist anymore, so I guess I will never know what model of Ultra it is, but he did say all of the Ultras were between grades 2 and 3. Thanks for everyones help Kyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning GTS Posted July 10, 2005 Report Share Posted July 10, 2005 This might help with dating http://www.browning.co.uk/ownersclub/newsl...r.html#numbers1 Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.