Shotgun Serial Number

[Pineywoods]

I bought an old Beretta BL-4 over and under 12 gauge today for $500. I'm trying to find out exactly what year it was made. I know it was either the late 60s or early 70s but want to narrow it down. I can't find a serial number look up link anywhere online. The number is P30007. Can anyone help me out?

[Twist]

Might need to contact Beretta directly on that one. The right side of the barrel looks to have Garcia Sporting Arms stamped on it so it could be one that was made specifically for them and not available through anyone else.

That could mean a non standard Beretta SN range, which would probably make it more difficult to track down.

[Greenheadless]

https://www.shotgunworld.com/threads/beretta-bl-4.231774/

Garcia was the importer at that time. Same happened with Sake rifles.

[Sidro]

If you remove the barrels from the stock, turn them over and under the lump, next to the proof mark there will be a two letter code. Here are the date codes to find out which year they are.

Beretta date codes



Italian guns are easily dated by a code - not in the serial numbers but next to the proof mark. Here's the list.

Roman numeral series

I=1945; II=1946; III=1947; IV=1948; V=1949, VI=1950; VII=1951; VIII=1952; IX=1953; X=1954; XI=1955; XIII=1957; XIV=1958; XV=1959; XVI=1960; XVII=1962; XIX=1963; XX=1964; XXI=1965; XXII=1966; XXIII=1967; XXIV=1968; XXV=1969; XXVI=1970; XXVII=1971; XXVIII=1972; XXIX=1973; ***=1974.

The above Roman numerals are the official version, but I have heard of some Arabic numerals creeping in as a sort of “shorthand” – for instance, XX8 for 1972 – in order to save space.

Letter series

AA=1975; AB=1976; AC=1977; AD=1978 AE=1979; AF=1980; AH=1981; AI=1982; AL=1983; AM=1984; AN=1985: AP=1986; AS=1987; AT=1988; AU=1989; AZ=1990; BA=1991; BB=1992; BC=1993; BD=1994; BF=1995; BH=1996; BI=1997; BL=1998; BM=1999; BN=2000; BP=2001; BS=2002; BT=2003; BU=2004; BZ=2005; CA=2006; CB=2007; CC=2008 CD =2009.

Examine the markings on the monobloc and frame for a date of manufacture code which may appear as two letters within a square.

[M16]

Look under the lever you use to break the barrel open. Lots of manufacturers put it there.

[Pineywoods]

If you remove the barrels from the stock, turn them over and under the lump, next to the proof mark there will be a two letter code. Here are the date codes to find out which year they are.

Beretta date codes



Italian guns are easily dated by a code - not in the serial numbers but next to the proof mark. Here's the list.

Roman numeral series

I=1945; II=1946; III=1947; IV=1948; V=1949, VI=1950; VII=1951; VIII=1952; IX=1953; X=1954; XI=1955; XIII=1957; XIV=1958; XV=1959; XVI=1960; XVII=1962; XIX=1963; XX=1964; XXI=1965; XXII=1966; XXIII=1967; XXIV=1968; XXV=1969; XXVI=1970; XXVII=1971; XXVIII=1972; XXIX=1973; ***=1974.

The above Roman numerals are the official version, but I have heard of some Arabic numerals creeping in as a sort of “shorthand” – for instance, XX8 for 1972 – in order to save space.

Letter series

AA=1975; AB=1976; AC=1977; AD=1978 AE=1979; AF=1980; AH=1981; AI=1982; AL=1983; AM=1984; AN=1985: AP=1986; AS=1987; AT=1988; AU=1989; AZ=1990; BA=1991; BB=1992; BC=1993; BD=1994; BF=1995; BH=1996; BI=1997; BL=1998; BM=1999; BN=2000; BP=2001; BS=2002; BT=2003; BU=2004; BZ=2005; CA=2006; CB=2007; CC=2008 CD =2009.

Examine the markings on the monobloc and frame for a date of manufacture code which may appear as two letters within a square.

I looked all over and can't find any markings like that. I saw this chart but just couldn't match it with any markings I see. I didn't remove the barrel to look. I thought the serial number would tell me... guess not.

[White Falcon]

Looks like a double Savage 12 ga. I have. I bought it new at Sears in 1968 for around $50.00