The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Browning

Drawing of houses and workshops in Ogden beneath the Wasatch Mountains.
Drawing: Ogden beneath the Wasatch Mountains.

Origins

Browning grew from John Moses Browning's work in Ogden, Utah, where the group dates its origins to 1878.1 That spring John began work on his first single-shot rifle, and in 1880 he and his brothers established an arms factory.3, 4 Winchester bought the rights to the Single Shot in 1883, beginning an alliance that lasted nineteen years.5 On 24 March 1902 FN secured worldwide rights to manufacture and sell Browning's autoloading shotgun.6

John Browning died in Liège in November 1926.7 The following September J. M. & M. S. Browning Company incorporated in Utah, with Browning Arms Company as a subsidiary.7 According to the FN group's 2024 activity report, the group acquired Browning in 1977 and has owned the brand outright since then.2 The same report places Browning North America in Morgan, Utah, and Browning International in Herstal.2

Factories and partners

Browning describes its manufacturing history as a succession of partnerships, beginning with FN in Belgium and continuing with Miroku in Japan.8 Its 1968 annual report dated formal contracts with Miroku to 1965, while Miroku's records dated the first official sales and technical agreements to 1966.9 Through the Citori project Browning supplemented the Superposed with a gun that cost less to manufacture while retaining quality.10 Production of the Superposed remained in Belgium.10

Browning runs its business functions and its principal research and development division from its Morgan offices.11 Its warehouse, distribution operation and service centre are in Arnold, Missouri.12 In 2018 Miroku made the Citori, Citori 725 and Cynergy, and Viana in Portugal made the Maxus, A5 and Silver.13, 14 Remington made Browning's Auto-5 from 1940 to 1946.15

FN's 2024 activity report places B25 production in the Herstal workshop, with hand engraving to the customer's requirements.16 It also records that Herstal makes barrels for several Browning models and ships them to Viana.16 The report dates Browning and Winchester firearm manufacture at Viana to 1973.17 It names Olin as the owner of the Winchester brand and the group as its licensee for design, manufacture and marketing.2

Drawing of the Meuse passing brick workshops and slate-roofed houses in Herstal.
Drawing: Herstal beside the Meuse.

Made by

MakerYearsRelationship
Miroku1966Sales and technical partnership9

Timeline

1878

John Browning begins work on his first single-shot rifle.3

1880

John and his brothers establish an arms factory.4

1883

Winchester buys the Single Shot rights.5

24 March 1902

FN obtains worldwide rights to manufacture and sell the autoloading shotgun.6

15 October 1923

Browning files the first of two Superposed patents.18

26 November 1926

John Moses Browning dies in Liège.7

September 1927

J. M. & M. S. Browning Company incorporates in Utah.7

1931

Browning introduces the Superposed into its line.19

1955

Browning introduces the Double Automatic shotgun.20

1964

Browning moves its headquarters to Morgan, Utah.21

1965

Formal contracts with Miroku begin, as reported in Browning's 1968 annual report.9

1968

Miroku begins shipping the BT-99 single-barrel gun to Browning.22

1972

Browning adds the B-SS to its line.23

1973

Browning introduces the Citori.24

1976

Auto-5 production moves to Japan late in the year.25

1977

FN acquires Browning.26

1978

Browning introduces Don Bailey's Buckmark in its literature and advertising.27

1986

Browning ends US distribution of the Superposed.28

1998

Browning withdraws the Auto-5 from its line.29

2002

Browning introduces the Citori 525 in its US chronology.30

2003

Browning presents the B525 in its European history.31

2004

Browning introduces the Cynergy.32

2009

Browning introduces the Maxus.33

2012

Browning launches the B725.34

2012

Browning introduces the modern A5.35

2016

Browning launches the A5 Sweet Sixteen on a smaller .35

Families and models

The B25, also called the Superposed, entered Browning's line in 1931.37, 19 Val Allen Browning completed the design after his father's death.38 The Citori joined the range in 1973.24 In 2004 the range included the Citori Lightning, Gran Lightning and White Lightning with new .32

Browning presented the B525 in 2003.31 The 725 followed in 2012 with a lower action frame.34 Browning describes the Citori 725 as an evolution of the B25, with a low-profile receiver and a mechanical .39 The separate Cynergy appeared in 2004, and Browning's 2026 range includes Citori CX versions.32, 40

Browning dates FN production of the Auto-5 to 1902.41 The Maxus entered the range in 2009.33 The modern A5, introduced in 2012, uses an .35 Browning's 2026 shotgun range includes Maxus II versions alongside A5, Citori and Cynergy models.40

Reading the names and numbers

Browning's grades distinguish the receiver engraving and the quality or figure of the and wood.42 A higher grade number generally means more valuable engraving and better wood.42 In the 2024 catalogue the B525 Sporter 1 has grade 2 Turkish wood.43, 44 The B525 Sporter 1 Adjustable has an adjustable .45 Harmon G. Williams chose the name Citori as it occurred to him and gave it no meaning.46

Marks

Browning's Buckmark shows a buck's profile facing left, with a doe's profile in the space within it.47 Don Bailey designed it in autumn 1977, and Browning introduced it in literature and advertising in 1978.27 The B525 Trap 1 carries B525 T on the action frame.48 The Citori's serial number sits beneath the .49

Early US Auto-5 shipments carried the inscription BROWNING AUTOMATIC ARMS CO. OGDEN UTAH-U.S.A.50 The Superposed carries its and maximum shell length on the right side of the upper barrel.51 Browning directs owners to the barrel inscription to establish where a gun was made.13

Drawing of the action of an over-and-under shotgun.
Drawing: Detail of an over-and-under action.

Browning serial date code

Two letters encode the last two digits of the year of manufacture. Browning gives this key for the Citori in 1976–1997 and from 1999, the Superposed in 1976–1986 and the Auto-5 in 1976–1997. The Superposed places the type code first, as in 213RT01001. The Auto-5 example 01001RT151 and the later Citori example 01001NN131 place the serial sequence first. The Superposed and Auto-5 examples denote 1976, and the Citori example denotes 1999.52, 53, 54, 55

CodeYear digit
Z152
Y252
X352
W452
V552
T652
R752
P852
N952
M052

Sources

  1. FN Browning Group Activity Report 2024, Founding dates in the group account. FN Browning Group, 2025. maker website
  2. FN Browning Group Activity Report 2024, Browning ownership and offices. FN Browning Group, 2025. maker website
  3. Browning Historic Timeline, First rifle. Browning. maker website
  4. Browning Historic Timeline, Arms factory. Browning. maker website
  5. Browning Historic Timeline, Winchester partnership. Browning. maker website
  6. Browning Historic Timeline, FN shotgun contract. Browning. maker website
  7. Browning Historic Timeline, Death and incorporation. Browning. maker website
  8. A Brief History of Browning and the Legendary Miroku Factory, Manufacturing partners. Browning. maker website
  9. A Brief History of Browning and the Legendary Miroku Factory, Formal agreements. Browning. maker website
  10. A Brief History of Browning and the Legendary Miroku Factory, Citori project. Browning. maker website
  11. Where are Browning firearms manufactured?, Morgan offices. Browning. maker website
  12. Where are Browning firearms manufactured?, Arnold service centre. Browning. maker website
  13. Where are Browning firearms manufactured?, Barrel inscriptions. Browning. maker website
  14. Where are Browning firearms manufactured?, Locations listed in 2018. Browning. maker website
  15. Auto-5 Semi-Automatic Shotgun: dating guidance, Remington. Browning. maker website
  16. FN Browning Group Activity Report 2024, Herstal B25 and barrel production. FN Browning Group, 2025. maker website
  17. FN Browning Group Activity Report 2024, Viana manufacturing. FN Browning Group, 2025. maker website
  18. Browning Historic Timeline, Superposed patent. Browning. maker website
  19. Browning Historic Timeline, Superposed introduction. Browning. maker website
  20. Browning Historic Timeline, Double Automatic. Browning. maker website
  21. Browning Historic Timeline, Morgan headquarters. Browning. maker website
  22. A Brief History of Browning and the Legendary Miroku Factory, BT-99 shipments. Browning. maker website
  23. Browning Historic Timeline, BSS. Browning. maker website
  24. Browning Historic Timeline, Citori and Liege. Browning. maker website
  25. Browning Historic Timeline, Auto-5 transfer. Browning. maker website
  26. Browning Historic Timeline, Group ownership. Browning. maker website
  27. Browning Corporate Standards September 2017, Buckmark origin. Browning, 2017. maker website
  28. Superposed Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, US distribution. Browning. maker website
  29. Browning Historic Timeline, Auto-5 withdrawal. Browning. maker website
  30. Browning Historic Timeline, Citori 525. Browning. maker website
  31. From the Browning B25 to the Browning 825: a century of genius, B525. Browning. maker website
  32. Browning Historic Timeline, Cynergy. Browning. maker website
  33. Browning Historic Timeline, Maxus. Browning. maker website
  34. From the Browning B25 to the Browning 825: a century of genius, B725. Browning. maker website
  35. American Rifleman Reviews the A5 Sweet 16, Modern A5 introduction. Browning, 2017. maker website
  36. Where are Browning firearms manufactured?, Herstal Custom Shop. Browning. maker website
  37. Superposed Owner’s Manual, B25 and B125 names. Browning. manual
  38. From the Browning B25 to the Browning 825: a century of genius, B25 design and completion. Browning. maker website
  39. Citori 725 shotguns, 725 design. Browning. maker website
  40. 2026 SHOT Show Shotguns, Listed shotgun models. Browning, 2026. maker website
  41. Auto-5 Semi-Automatic Shotgun: dating guidance, Production and Final Tribute. Browning. maker website
  42. What is the difference between Grade I, III, IV, VI & VII?, Grades. Browning. maker website
  43. Browning Magazine: Shooting catalogue, Edition. Browning, 2024. maker catalogue
  44. Browning Magazine: Shooting catalogue, B525 model and wood grades. Browning, 2024. maker catalogue
  45. Browning Magazine: Shooting catalogue, Adjustable comb. Browning, 2024. maker catalogue
  46. Citori History — An Overview, Citori name. Browning. maker website
  47. Browning Corporate Standards September 2017, Buck and doe. Browning, 2017. maker website
  48. Browning Magazine: Shooting catalogue, B525 Trap marking. Browning, 2024. maker catalogue
  49. Citori Owner’s Manual, Serial-number location. Browning. manual
  50. Auto-5 Semi-Automatic Shotgun: dating guidance, Early barrel inscription and limits. Browning. maker website
  51. Superposed Owner’s Manual, Barrel inscription. Browning. manual
  52. Citori Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, letter-key-and-scope. Browning. maker website
  53. Citori Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, later-format-and-example. Browning. maker website
  54. Superposed Over/Under Shotgun: dating guidance, letter-key-and-layout. Browning. maker website
  55. Auto-5 Semi-Automatic Shotgun: dating guidance, letter-key-and-example. Browning. maker website

Revised 2026-10-14