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Browning A-5

Northtidesix
I have a Belgium Browning A-5 with serial number 7xxx. According to the Browning site this gun was part of the ORIGINAL 10,000 ordered by Browning in 1903. I can believe it. I have never seen one even close to it. Unfortunately time and various owners have not been good to the old girl. The wood is NOT original and some of the internal parts are missing. I have 30 yrs experience restoring doubles but "0" with the Autos. Where can I find early era parts for this piece of history? Failing in that where can I get the spec. drawings for the parts so I can make them in my shop. Any ideas will help. Even pictures of the prewar, World War I models would help. The upper and lower tang appear to have been on a straight grip stock!! I'll make the stock if I can see what one looks like. Some of you collectors PLEASE HELP me.
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10 comments

Date Votes
  • Northtidesix
    Can anyone tell me more about this 12ga?
    Top of the barrel marked Bbowning Automatic Arms Co Ogden Utah USA.
    Receiver marked Fabrique-Nationale-Herstal-Liege.Belgium-Browning's-Patents. Oct9 1900- Dec17 1901-Sept30 1902-June 16 1903
    4 digit SN# 23xx
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  • Winchester 1912
    Sounds like you have an interesting project. Just out of curiosity, where is the safety located on that particular A5 and what is the chamber length?
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  • Northtidesix
    quote:Originally posted by Winchester 1912
    Sounds like you have an interesting project. Just out of curiosity, where is the safety located on that particular A5 and what is the chamber length?
    The chamber is 12 ga. 2 3/4" and the safety is "Inside" the trigger guard forward of the trigger extending down from the receiver. Also there isn't any engraving on the receiver or barrel. The only vestige of engraving in on top of the receiver along the sight line. I have never seen an A-5 with any of these characteristics.
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  • Winchester 1912
    Who was the manufacturer? Remington? Fabrique National'?
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  • Grasshopper
    I had one similiar to yours with "no engraving." I believe it was a Euro gun for export,,if I remember correctly. Had a slimmer wood tang, also low serial number..No idea about parts, but other than the wood it seemed like regular a-5 parts would work...I know its no help..but..nambu
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  • Northtidesix
    quote:Originally posted by mm8nambu
    I had one similiar to yours with "no engraving." I believe it was a Euro gun for export,,if I remember correctly. Had a slimmer wood tang, also low serial number..No idea about parts, but other than the wood it seemed like regular a-5 parts would work...I know its no help..but..nambu
    This one is a Browning that much I'm sure about. The gun was made before Remington took over. The barrel "Roll Marks" are Browning Ogden, Utah. The first 10,000 guns ordered by John Browning were made in Belgium in from 1903 according to the Browning archives. This gun has all the correct Browning markings and stamps and a 7XXX serial number. Just none of the later engraving and the safety was moved to the rear outside of the trigger guard. I am a stock maker and will be able to replicate the stock and fore end IF I can get a picture.
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  • robert smith
    does your shotgun have a magazine cutoff? most of the old brownings ive seen dont have one and do not have locking screws for the large screws that hold the trigger assembly in. what internal parts are missing? i have some old A5 parts.
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  • Northtidesix
    quote:Originally posted by robert smith
    does your shotgun have a magazine cutoff? most of the old brownings ive seen dont have one and do not have locking screws for the large screws that hold the trigger assembly in. what internal parts are missing? i have some old A5 parts.
    This old girl doesn't have locking screws. It has a large screw and one pin (missing) holding the trigger assembly in the receiver. I need a firing pin, the entire action spring assembly including the tube housing, everything aft end of the top tang is missing, magazine cap, recoil spring, magazine spring,hammer pin. As I stated earlier I have taken on more difficult projects in my time. But that still don't make this one easy. If I could find a receiver that has been burned and lost it's temper I could salvage the recoil assembly or at least use it as a template to make the missing parts.
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    I found severl pix of similar shotguns in 'MODERN GUNS', REVISED FIFTH EDITION (1985, P.-23). If you like I can try to scan and send you a copy. As to parts, most of the one you are looking for are intrerchangable with any of the 'pre-war' brownings (spring, spring tube, ect.)
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  • Northtidesix
    quote:Originally posted by MIKE WISKEY
    I found severl pix of similar shotguns in 'MODERN GUNS', REVISED FIFTH EDITION (1985, P.-23). If you like I can try to scan and send you a copy. As to parts, most of the one you are looking for are intrerchangable with any of the 'pre-war' brownings (spring, spring tube, ect.)
    Mike,
    I would really appreciate the pictures. I located the parts at Mid West Gun's. They handle the factory repairs for Browning in the mid west. The stock is going to be the bugger. If I can see a picture of if I can make it. I have some really high grade walnut in stock. I have a Browning fore end from a much later model that will work.
    My email address is Northtidesix@gmail.com
    Thanks for the information.
    Roy
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