Info on older Citori

[jbear6]

I inherited an older Citori over/under shotgun from my Grandfather in 1991. It's been sitting in my gun closet ever since. It appears to be almost brand new, with all the original packing material, and manual intact, inside the original box. I'm assuming it has been shot a few times, but obviously very well cared for.

I'm trying to find out what year it was manufactured, and it's approximate value. I researched the web looking for info, and the best I could find was that it was most likely manufactured in the 1970's. Does anyone have any idea how I could find more info on this gun? I tried the Browning website, but could not find any useful info there. Thanks in advance :)

I uploaded some pics here --> http://silver.noc-servers.com/~bamabull/citori/ , and I'll attach a pic of the tag on the outside of the box to this post.

[Jim Watson]

It is on Browning's website if you look for it.
http://www.browning.com/services/dategun/detail.asp?id=32
The "RT" in the serial number stands for 1976 manufacture.
But the J53 does not jibe with the chart. As a Grade I 12 ga 3" magnum, the sn suffix ought to be 153. Well, I guess either the serial number stamper was just sloppy that day or the clerk who drew up the chart was careless, the example in the table is wrong, too.

[Scoupe]

It is on Browning's website if you look for it.
http://www.browning.com/services/dategun/detail.asp?id=32
The "RT" in the serial number stands for 1976 manufacture.
But the J53 does not jibe with the chart. As a Grade I 12 ga 3" magnum, the sn suffix ought to be 153. Well, I guess either the serial number stamper was just sloppy that day or the clerk who drew up the chart was careless, the example in the table is wrong, too.

In my expereince that chart is iffy on model. For instance, my golden clays special skeet has a 1B3 suffix when this chart says it should be VB3. The date checks on mine however.

Yours looks nice! Definitely been shot some, fixed chokes tend to keep the price down a little too. Probably would go in the $850-$1000 range in my neck of the woods.

[jbear6]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info. I looked under the top lever, and the serial number stamped on the gun is the same as printed on the box label (J53, not 153). I agree on the chart being iffy, I noticed they spelled the word "one" as "on" also. Thanks again.

Jbear6

[SShooterZ]

Contact Browning, they should be able to tell you.