Browning "Sweet 16"

[AZguy1948]

Hey Guy's. I have an OLD Browning Sweet 16 that I inherited from my uncle and am trying to determine the mfg date. The only number I can find is on the bottom of the receiver just behind the trigger guard and it is numeric only: 21688. Can anyone suggest where I might go ID this gun?

Thanks

[eastman]

From Browning's website -

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.

https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/auto-5-semi-automatic-shotgun.html

A friend of mine has a 1950s Sweet 16 that he uses for bird hunting. They are fine shotguns and were produced for nearly 100 years.