I thought I was a browning A-5 expert....
but I cant figure this one out...
this is an FN Belgian made Browning A-5 manufactured in 1936. it has the straight grip stock, the serial numbers on the wood, match the receiver. When I bought it, it had a later model light 12 barrel.
So here is the wierd part, the stock (and nowhere else) is stamped with springfield arsenal crossed cannons plus a rack number as if it was a military gun. I never knew of any foriegn made gun that was used for our military from that vintage? I can find no information online about this...
Anyone have a clue? was it a special weapon, prototype or did someone get creative with a arsenal cartouche?
there is evidence of a military satyle sling swivel holes and the mag cap has one as well. it looks like a military gun someone sporterized. I know the military used Remington model 11's as trench guns in both wars could they have gotten Brownings too?
this is an FN Belgian made Browning A-5 manufactured in 1936. it has the straight grip stock, the serial numbers on the wood, match the receiver. When I bought it, it had a later model light 12 barrel.
So here is the wierd part, the stock (and nowhere else) is stamped with springfield arsenal crossed cannons plus a rack number as if it was a military gun. I never knew of any foriegn made gun that was used for our military from that vintage? I can find no information online about this...
Anyone have a clue? was it a special weapon, prototype or did someone get creative with a arsenal cartouche?
there is evidence of a military satyle sling swivel holes and the mag cap has one as well. it looks like a military gun someone sporterized. I know the military used Remington model 11's as trench guns in both wars could they have gotten Brownings too?
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could this be a stock off of one of the American made A5 clones[?]. In My opinion it is very easy to fake serial numbers on wood . Much harder to fake them on metal. 0 -
I have personally never seen an A-5 with an English straight stock and grip lower tang. That would be the start of the marvel. I have seen what would appear to be a nice supperposed 20 ga that had the pistolgrip scalloped off, and looked very factory, other than being THIN in the wrist area.
Thats what what it would appear to me as, as I have never seen a straight stocked A-5. Someone who was very good with wood working, done an excellent job with an old military stock of some sort. Yes...the wrist looks thin, and the checkering does not look like FN factory. Triple border on one side, and double border on the other.
That was somebody's hard huntin' gun.
Best0 -
quote:Originally posted by tsr1965
I have personally never seen an A-5 with an English straight stock and grip lower tang. That would be the start of the marvel. I have seen what would appear to be a nice supperposed 20 ga that had the pistolgrip scalloped off, and looked very factory, other than being THIN in the wrist area.
Thats what what it would appear to me as, as I have never seen a straight stocked A-5. Someone who was very good with wood working, done an excellent job with an old military stock of some sort. Yes...the wrist looks thin, and the checkering does not look like FN factory. Triple border on one side, and double border on the other.
That was somebody's hard huntin' gun.
Best
Many early Brownings had a straight grip stock and they were always checkered (this stock and forearm are numbered to the gun so they are original) the lower tang on a straight grip gun is different (straight) vs the pistol grip stock where the tang bends slightly down to accomodate the knob.
One will not fit the other although the whole thing can be changed from one Browning a-5 of the same guage to another.
The lower tang is part of the trigger guard but the Remington tang will not fit a Browning receiver (and vise versa). Remington also never used the forward safety this gun has (It is a Browning part). It really comes down to whether someone stamped this stock on their own or if the military used some limited amount of them in trials or tests, but if that was so, it seems the barrel and receiver along with many other parts) would also be arsenal marked.0 -
Just a good "put together" 0 -
Does Browning have a historical service where your question could be answered? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by mrs102
Does Browning have a historical service where your question could be answered?
yes, I used to have the historian saved in my favorites but when my computer crashed, I lost all my contacts...0 -
quote:Originally posted by mrs102
Does Browning have a historical service where your question could be answered?Yes, although there is a cost, but they should be able to tell the caller if data is available for the model and vintage in question. Instructions and pricing are available at the following link; where it says Historical Letters Available, click on Click here and it describes the services, pricing, and provides the contact information.
http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/index.asp0 -
Numrich..GUN PARTS CORP.... Is currently selling all the steel stamps that one would need to "RESTORE" (translate..Counterfeit) the military markings for both metal and wood......
JIM....................0
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