Picked up a 12 gauge Browning A5 its an Old one.
Made in Belgium, old style slider safety. No side engravings. excellent blueing (don’t know if its original), a few use marks on the wood (but overall good looking wood) and a 68xxx SN#… Made in Belgium, marked FN…
What’s a ballpark?
No idea on the value, but I inherited one and love it.
5 digit no letter prefix? Pre WW2
Auto 5 is the only shotgun I own, even my SBS is an auto 5. Just sent my nephews a nice 16ga to get them started.
No letters paired with numbers that I can find. The 5 digits appear on the barrel and the underside of the receiver.
To the best of my knowledge the gun was made in 1924 with that serial number and the style I see. Got a picture of the buttplate?
hmmm… but plate info doesn’t seem to line up. It says SILE with a flying bird on it and says made in Italy.
Replacement?
More then likely. The buttplate was fairly susceptible to breakage.
I was looking those up Gunbroker the other day. They don’t sell for that much. I have an engraved '47. I was a bit surprised at the prices.
Your’s must be quite old though so maybe it’s worth a lot more.
ETA: You know I think I mis-read the serial number chart. what year would you guys think for SN 23xxx ( 5 digit number ) Stamped in bottom of receiver only that I can find.
FN b-plate, engraved, Belgium
I was surprised too when I looked…they are so beautiful you’d think they would be worth a lot more. My dad had 3 of them (all Belgian) and he gave me the Light 20 when I turned 18, brand new unfired with a 1978 serial number. My next brother got a Sweet 16 made in 1954. The youngest brother has to wait until dad is gone (hopefully a loooong time). One day the Light 12 will be his. I think that one is a '72 or so. Theres nothing like the feel of an Auto-5…perfect comes to mind.
Got pictures?
If its a 12guage, that serial number puts it around 1907
As for prices, you need to realize the ridiculous number made. Also even un maintained A5s keep running. I’ve seen guns without the friction ring that still were being shot. Guns with hardened oil and grease on the internals that refuse to quit, The A5 is a hell of a shotgun.
pics in thread