Browning Light 20
Poodley, Bert, Bobski, et al - An act of contrition. Too bad the original thread was closed as I would have liked to have posted this there.
I guess one can look at something a hundred times and not really see it, or maybe only actually see what one expects to see. Poodley, there is no doubt that the gun is a Belgian "Light Twenty" - the "Z" says that. As to the wording on the receiver, I have a Belgian Mag 20 that says "Magnum Twenty" on the receiver. My son has a Japanese Light 20 that says "Light Twenty" on the receiver. A neighbor of mine has a Belgian Light 20 and it - like yours - only says "Twenty" on the receiver. One more twist that the folks at JM Browning have thrown into the mix.
I wanted all who read the initial post and the responses to it to know that I too am now aware that "Twenty" only is the Light 20 and it now seems likely that Belgian Light 20's never had anything except "Twenty" on the receiver. I suspect that is because they came out as the only 20 ga A-5 (about 1958?) and had no reason to be distinguished from the Magnum 20 which was not out until about 1967 and it was then so identified on its receiver as "Magnum Twenty" - when manufacture moved to Japan, "Magnum Twenty" and "Light Twenty" were put on the receivers.
This was not the situation with the 12ga A-5 in that when the Light 12 came out it was necessary to call it "Light Twelve" so as to distinguish it from the existing standard 12 gauge A-5 that continued in concurrent production with the Light 12 for a time.
As I have posted on this board as well as on the General Discussion board, Browning guns and the variations within models are a continuing source of interest and occasional frustration. Bert, Bobski, and others, thanks again for your knowlegable input.
As a final parting thought, there is an A-5 20ga at auction now that is identified (edit) by the seller as a standard 20, in practically divine condition, the only shortcoming of which is a "plain" barrel instead of having a ventilated rib which would thus make it a "Light Twenty". Gun identification is an on-going challenge, eh?
Best regards, Tim
"Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals."
Albert Schweitzer, 1875-1965
I guess one can look at something a hundred times and not really see it, or maybe only actually see what one expects to see. Poodley, there is no doubt that the gun is a Belgian "Light Twenty" - the "Z" says that. As to the wording on the receiver, I have a Belgian Mag 20 that says "Magnum Twenty" on the receiver. My son has a Japanese Light 20 that says "Light Twenty" on the receiver. A neighbor of mine has a Belgian Light 20 and it - like yours - only says "Twenty" on the receiver. One more twist that the folks at JM Browning have thrown into the mix.
I wanted all who read the initial post and the responses to it to know that I too am now aware that "Twenty" only is the Light 20 and it now seems likely that Belgian Light 20's never had anything except "Twenty" on the receiver. I suspect that is because they came out as the only 20 ga A-5 (about 1958?) and had no reason to be distinguished from the Magnum 20 which was not out until about 1967 and it was then so identified on its receiver as "Magnum Twenty" - when manufacture moved to Japan, "Magnum Twenty" and "Light Twenty" were put on the receivers.
This was not the situation with the 12ga A-5 in that when the Light 12 came out it was necessary to call it "Light Twelve" so as to distinguish it from the existing standard 12 gauge A-5 that continued in concurrent production with the Light 12 for a time.
As I have posted on this board as well as on the General Discussion board, Browning guns and the variations within models are a continuing source of interest and occasional frustration. Bert, Bobski, and others, thanks again for your knowlegable input.
As a final parting thought, there is an A-5 20ga at auction now that is identified (edit) by the seller as a standard 20, in practically divine condition, the only shortcoming of which is a "plain" barrel instead of having a ventilated rib which would thus make it a "Light Twenty". Gun identification is an on-going challenge, eh?
Best regards, Tim
"Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals."
Albert Schweitzer, 1875-1965
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Hello Tim...
Great follow-up information[^]. Thanks!![:D]
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
I have a roundknob 1962 "20" with a Z.. I did not know it was a light 20 because it is not marked that way. Thanks for the info. 0 -
Thanks for the great information. Poodley 0
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