Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

1958 Belgium Browning A-5 Gold Engraving

rk3224
I own a 1958 Belgium Browning A-5 12 ga. I bought the gun 30 years ago. The engraving has been done with gold inlay. The gold inlay appears to have been done quite well with all engraving detail having the fine gold inlay. QUESTION: Does anyone know if Browning did this gold inlay engraving? The S/N 8G-35160. For some reason, I was unable to attach a photo. Have not attached a photo in this forum before.
Thanks for your kind assistance,
Roland
Austin, Texas

Roland Kinney
0

Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • bobski
    i have the 1958 browning catalog in front of me. nowhere does it show the A5 in any grade other than #1 with simple rose patterns. in the 1958 custom shop flyer, it shows costs of upgrades. rule of thumb...guns ordered from the factory in high grades will be made before the gun is finished with a rose pattern. meaning, if you send your gun to them, they will grind it down to work on a clean slate. look for signs of the receiver being ground down to get rid of the existing rose pattern. this will indicate it started out as a grade one and was upgraded, not ordered from the factory as a higher grade. all indications show that A5's were all sold as grade ones with upgrades available. a pic will help. as soon as you can get one, we'll look at it!
    0
  • Bert H.
    Hello Roland...

    Are you absolutely sure that you have a 1958 vintage A-5 and not a 1968 mad gun (round knob pistol grip versus flat knob)[?] I don't know if it will make any difference in what was offered by Browning or not, but it might.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
    0
  • bobski
    i have the 19(6)8 catalog open here too. no sign of fancy engraving either, bert. the only fancy A5's seem to be the comemeratives.
    0
  • springer1
    they made a midas grade pre 1940 that had gold inlay
    and some later mid 80s short runs
    If your gun is a 58 I don't think its factory inlay
    0
  • bobski
    the 1940 midas grade is an example of an A5 starting out as a gold inlay from the factory. springer1, thanks for the input on the more common years the inlays would be found. my catalogs only go back to 57.[^] in 84, browning began the 1 of 5000 limited run known as the gold classics. the metal was 'in the white' with gold inlays. if our friends gun is blued, then we will know it isnt an 80's circa 1 of 5000. lets see what he says! but...my records indicate that a gun serialized as an 8G makes it a 1968 lightwieght A5. i think bert is on to something here. we need to know if its a round grip or a flat grip. odds are its a newer gun. are we right?
    0
  • rk3224
    Thanks Bobski & Bert for being so kind as to reply to my recent forum question. My question concerned: 1958 Belgium Browning A-5 Gold Engraving.

    I am unsure of the manufacture date. I have been told conflicting dates. I was told by the gun shop appraiser that the gun was manufactured in 1968. However, I have been told by Browning collectors on gunbroker inquiring about the gun, that the gun was definitely made in 1958. The S/N 8G-35160 is the key buy I do not know how to read the Browning codes.

    Technical question, I have pictures of the gun but do not know how to attach on the forum. I click on icon but no browser appears where by I could attach a picture file. Would you be so kind as to inform me on how to attach photo to the forum. I was able to attach the shotgun photos on gunbroker but could not on the forum. I appreciate your generous time.
    Roland
    Austin, Texas


    Roland Kinney
    0
  • bobski
    i have the browning code book in front of me. 8G is seriously 1968. again, the pistol grip....round or flat on the bottom?[?]
    0
  • rk3224
    The pistol grip has a round bottom. Thanks for your time.

    Roland Kinney
    0
  • bobski
    well then, its official...you have a 1958 lightweight A5. does the bbl have any engraving on it anywhere?
    0
  • bobski
    based on the pics you sent me, you have a standard grade A5. that is known as the rose pattern and it has gold wash in the engraving. all early A5's had that pattern to include the corners. it is NOT gold inlays. glad we could help!
    0
  • rk3224
    Thanks so much for your time, gentlemen.

    Roland Kinney
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity