I haven't looked it up on the browning site yet, but that is my next move. It also has a circle with FN in the center of it, just before the serial number. I was going to redo the stocks on it, but from everything that I have been told, it would be better to just leave it, as they are not in bad condition. I'm just curious as to what all these other markings mean. However, I can't find what all these other markings mean. I did find the choke markings guide, to find out what choke it has.
I know you can "age" your gun from the serial number on their site, not sure about the other markings. What else is there on it? You might look on Browning's website and see if they post all those markings. You might see *- which indicates Imp Modified (tight Mod) but probably not on a 16. IIRC, that is for full, modified or IC choke.
You might have to remove the fore end to see it. On the barrel, left side I think, just forward of the chamber and above the fore end you'll probably see some marks. What kind of shape is it in? Many of the markings will be proof marks which mean little to us except that it passed the test. So is there something similar for Brownings? I know they have sites where you can find out what all the markings on an SKS mean. But I would still like to find a website or something that tells me what all of those markings mean. Ok, I've found out that it is a Browning A-5 (Auto-5) shotgun in 16 gauge.