After Z (2010), the sequence restarted at A (2011), B (2012), etc.
| Model | Typical Format | Date Code Position | |--------|----------------|---------------------| | | 123XYabcd | Letters 4 & 5 (after model number) | | BLR (Lever Rifle) | 12345XYabcd | Letters 5 & 6 (after serial prefix) | | BPS (Pump Shotgun) | XYabcd or XYZabcd | First two letters = date | | BL-22 | XYabcd | First two letters = date | | BAR (Semi-auto rifle) | 123XYabcd | Letters 4 & 5 | | Auto-5 (Japanese) | XYabcd | First two letters = date | bc miroku serial numbers
This report covers the history, decoding structure, date of manufacture lookup, and important notes for collectors and owners of Browning firearms manufactured by Miroku in Japan. 1. Introduction Browning Arms Company has a long-standing partnership with Miroku Corp. of Kochi, Japan, beginning in the mid-1960s. Firearms manufactured by Miroku for Browning are highly regarded for their fit, finish, and reliability. To correctly identify the age and specifications of these firearms, one must understand the specific serial number conventions used for "BC" (Browning - Miroku) products. After Z (2010), the sequence restarted at A