Browning Auto 5 Light 12 question
I just recently acquired a Browning Auot 5 Light 12 gauge. She is in excellent condition. Serial number is 82578 w/ a "L" stamped on top. I suspect it might be a mid-50's model, but I am not sure. I am also interested in the type of choke on her. Here are some of the ID marks on the barrel (26"): A5672+ There are all sorts of marks on the barrel...not sure which ones ID the choke type. Give me an idea of where to look.
Help w/ the value would be nice too.
Thanks,
Ken
Help w/ the value would be nice too.
Thanks,
Ken
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HELLO look for " * ** **- *** **** " let us know what you find 0 -
Hello Ken...
Perry shooter has you on the right track to determine the choke (look on the left side of the barrel close to the receiver.
As for the DOM, I posted this information several months ago, and it is probably due for a repeat;
Based on the serial number you have, I would say that it was made in late 1955.
THE AUTOMATIC FIVE (A-5)
Production of the A-5 began at F.N. in 1902, with the first gun, serial number 1, shipped to the U.S. September 17, 1903. Serial number 206 was the first gun shipped to a foreign country. Twelve gauge guns only were usually offered in the U.S. until 1925, but production of the 16 gauge began in 1909.
In 1958, the 20 gauge was added to the line; 20 gauge magnums were added in 1967. The "Sweet 16" was introduced in catalogs in 1937. Lightweight 12 gauges were made as early as 1946.
John M. Browning had enough confidence in his new invention to order 10,000 Auto Fives when they were first produced. These guns were marked, "BROWNING AUTOMATIC ARMS CO. OGDEN UTAH-U.S.A."
Very few guns marked in this way will be found. In 1931 the first real Browning catalog appeared. From 1924 to 1931 letters and folders were used to list the guns.
A corporation was formed in 1927 to sell Browning guns. Headquarters were in Ogden, Utah until 1970, when offices were moved to Mountain Green, Utah with a Morgan, Utah mailing address.
Prior to 1924, few serial records remain. Browning and F.N. rcords give the following dates of manufacture for the A-5. Serial numbers began near 3000 in 1924. Figures quoted here are for Browning and F.N.sales world wide and are approximate due to missing records.
DATES OF MANUFACTURE A-5
Year Start End
1924 3000 18000
1925 18001 33000
1926 33001 48000
1927 48001 63000
1928 63001 78000
1929 78001 93000
1930 93001 108000
1931 108001 123000
1932 123001 138000
1933 138001 153000
1934 153001 168000
1935 168001 183000
1936 183001 198000
1937 198001 213000
1938 213001 228000
1939 228001 229000
1940-1946 WAR YEARS. NO PRODUCTION FOR CIVILIANS AT F.N. FROM 1946 TO 1951 PRODUCTION WAS BY REMINGTON IN THE U.S. ACCORDING TO RECORDS FROM BROWNING AND REMINGTON, APPROXIMATELY 45,000 12 GAUGE (serial number prix "B"), 25,000 16 GAUGE (serial number prefix "A") AND 20,000 20 GAUGE (serial number prefix "C") GUNS WERE PRODUCED BY REMINGTON. BY 1952, F.N. WAS AGAIN PRODUCING THE A-5.
Year Start End
1946 229000 237000
1947 237001 249000
1948 249001 270000
1949 270001 285000
1950 285001 315000
1951 315001 346000
1952 346001 387000
1953 387001 438000
BEGINNING OF NEW SERIAL NUMBER SYSTEM IN 1954
H means STANDARD WEIGHT
L means LIGHT WEIGHT
1954 - 1955 H39000 H83000
L42000 L83000
1956 H83000 H99000
1956 NEW DESIGNATIONS WITH "M" FOR STANDARD WGT. "G" FOR LIGHTWEIGHT.
1956 Gl-G23000
1957 M22000 M85000
G23000 G85000
From 1958, serial numbers are preceded by the year of manufacture code. In this system, the first numeral is the date of manufacture, the next figure is the model code. An example, 8M is the standard weight made in 1958, 8G is the lightweight model.
MODEL NUMBERS A5
M--STANDARD WEIGHT
G--LIGHT WEIGHT
V--12 GAUGE MAGNUM
S--SWEET SIXTEEN
Z--LIGHT 20 GAUGE
X--20 GAUGE
X--20 GAUGE MAGNUM
The same date code is found for 1968 as 1958, but the bottom of the grip usually has the flat knob on the 1968, the rounded knob on the 1958. From 1969, the date code has two digits, as 69M for a standard weight gun made in 1969. In 1969, the standard weight gun was dropped from production. For the product code, which was actually the model of the gun, four digits were used:
MAGNUM 12 GAUGE--1501
LIGHT 12 GAUGE--2101
SWEET 16--2201
MAGNUM 20 GAUGE--1601
LIGHT 20 GAUGE --2301
After 1975, only three digits were used:
MAGNUM 12 GAUGE-- 151
LIGHT 12 GAUGE -- 211
SWEET 16 -- 221
MAGNUM 20 -- 161
LIGHT 20 -- 231
For production dates after 1969, see the Date Index in the front of this book. Thus, a gun with number 1501RT1234 is an A-5, 12 gauge magnum, made in 1976 (see Date Index) and is serial number 1234. After 1975, the number would be 151RT1234, or an A5-12 Magnum, made in 1976, serial number 1234. Serials were to begin with number 1000 each year.
TWO MILLIONTH A-5 COMMEMORATIVE
Serials run from 2,000,000 to 2,002,500. These commemoratives were sold from 1961-1974
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Here's what I found on the left side of the barrel near the receiver:
A5672 +
Browning Arms Company St Louis Mo
** Special Steel-12 Gauge-Shells 2 3/4"
On the bottom:
x554
18.3
Only thing on the right:
Made in Belgium
She's a pretty gun. Great bluing and wood...probably 98%. It has the ribbed barrel.
Thanks for the help.
Ken0 -
Hello Ken...
** = Modified Choke
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Thanks Bert. I assumed modified...that's how it shoots, but i wanted to be sure. I appreciate your help.
Adios,
Ken0
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