Dating Brownings

[kuch]

OK, I did a search and found some good info but still confused.
I have a Safari 54" serial 5C110.....1965?

56" Explorer I  serial 4D686-1  (black and white  overlays), the search info said Explorers made 67-71...so what year?

Thanks,

Chad

[kuch]

I  also heard the Explorers with "piano key" overlays were the "later ones" but which year...70,71 ,etc.

[kuch]

these bows both shoot very well.

[Horney Toad]

The info I have shows the 54" Safari bows made from 1963 to 1965.

The Explorer I and II made 1967-71.

The plain Explorer 62" made 1963-66.

[kuch]

thanks Jeff, but how do you nail down the year on the Explorer I ? With the hidden DaVinci codes in the serial number?

[Horney Toad]

I think that Browning may have serialized bows in the late 1960s like Bear did, i.e. the first number of the serial number corresponding with the year, 1967 = 7, etc.

I can't confirm this, I just really don't know for sure. I have seen a lot of Browning bows with serial numbers beginning with 7 or 8 of that time period.

[kuch]

Jeff, that's kinda what I thought .so '65 for the safari , but what on the Explorer ( 4D686-1)... 69, 70, 71 ? "cause the black and white overlays are later ....

[Horney Toad]

I have 2 explorer II bows, both of them start with a 4 also. They are the late model ones with the black and white overlays. As far the specific year of manufacture, I really don't know.