OK, I'll try to post as much as possible. On the 16 ga. first, then the 12.
There are no cracks inthe wood stock or forearm , that I can find. They are all original. The reciever has Browning written in the middle of the scroll work with a circle and a mans head etched in it. Higher up on the reciever it says Sweet Sixteen. The left side of the barrel says Browning Arms Company St. Louis Mo. & Montreal PQ. It has made in belgium under that. Thr right side of the barrel says special steel 16 gauge shells 2 3/4"
The barrel has the ribbed vent, and the safety is at the back of the trigger guard behind the gold trigger. The buttplate is plastic or bone or something. It's hard, not soft, and says Browning Automatic on it.
The 12 has on the left side of the reciver , up high, FAbrique Nationale D'Armes DE Guerre Herstal BelGique with Brownings Patent DEPCSE under it. The left side of the barrel has Full 12 Special Steel with OKG971 and other proof marks back towards the receiver. Top of the Barrel in front of the receiver is Browning Arms Company Ogden Utah. The right side of the barrel says made in Belgium and the ight side of the receiver is blank except for a few proof marks. The gun is all original and there are no cracks in the forearm or stock that I can find. The butt plate says browning automatic. It is either a plastic or bone or something like that. The safety isthrough thefront of the trigger guard. Above the serial# it has a circle with what looks like FN in it and under the serial # it looks like a small square with a D in it.
And the reason I believe it to be that old is this from the browning web site.
" 1903-1939
First 10,000 shipped to U.S. Marked with "BROWNING AUTOMATIC ARMS CO. OGDEN UTAH-U.S.A." Very few serial number records remain.
Beginning with Serial Number 1 to approximately 228,000. Exact production figures are not available. Year of manufacture on Pre-World War II production is strictly a guess."
But I do not know that to be a fact, I am just guessing at the age by what I have found.
Sixteen ga.
12 ga.
Hope these help.
Thanks for your help.