That depends on the manufacturer. Different brands can have different lengths of serial numbers.
There is no serial number on your shotgun. Serial numbers were not required befroe 1968.
Serial numbers were not required until 1968
The Browning website has a page enabling you to find your shotgun's age, but you have to know the type of shotgun you own. Go to the page, then click on the type of shotgun it is - there are 15 types - and then reading the page for that gun's serial numbers. Look for the series of serial numbers that includes the one you are interested in: #48162.
There were no serial numbers stamped on the original Winchester Mdl. 37, single shot shotgun.
Serial numbers were not required on rifles and shotguns until 1968.
Made in 1910.The serial numbers of the model 1901 started where the model 1887 shotgun left off.the serial number start for this model is 64856.It should be noted that some serial numbers were skipped between 1904-1920.Total production was 13,500 shotguns including the serial numbers skipped.My records indicate that your shotgun was made in 1906.
It won't have one. There may be some numbers under the barrel on the forearm, but they will not be serial numbers.
The serial number does NOT contain the date of manufacture on a Benelli (or any Italian-made firearm). You need to look for some "proof-markings," likely along the left side of the barrel beneath where it says, "Benelli Armi SPA Urbino Made in Italy." One of these markings will have two letters enclosed in a box. That is your date code. To figure out to which year your code corresponds, go to the following link: http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/IDC/idc.html
Ithaca Firearms manufactured the Lefever Nitro Special shotgun with serial numbers between 101600 and 119899 in 1922.
You will need to check your serial number again.Winchester serial numbers for the Model 1897 shotgun only go as high as 1,024,700.
It doesn't have one, these were produce before serial numbers were required. It doesn't have one, these were produce before serial numbers were required.