Age and/or worth of Browning Auto-5
Hello all,
Was wondering if you could offer some assistance on the date of manufacture and approx. worth of a great Browning Auto-5 recently aquired by my father in-law after his uncle passed away. It's a 16 gauge with lots of scrollwork on the reciever and made in Belgium on the barrel. I e-mailed him for the details and this was his reply.. "Under the receiver--X54360
Barrel makes no sense--0kg 844 and then a bunch of squiggles and flags and fishes or blimps. Last blimp has 16-70 in it." I forgot to take pictures of it when I saw it, but it was in perfect condition. Looked brand-new, in fact. Not a scratch or blemish in the bluing, and no marks on the stock. He thinks it was his grandfather's who died in the early 1900's, but I don't think it's that old. Any info you guys could give would be great.
Thanks,
Tom
Was wondering if you could offer some assistance on the date of manufacture and approx. worth of a great Browning Auto-5 recently aquired by my father in-law after his uncle passed away. It's a 16 gauge with lots of scrollwork on the reciever and made in Belgium on the barrel. I e-mailed him for the details and this was his reply.. "Under the receiver--X54360
Barrel makes no sense--0kg 844 and then a bunch of squiggles and flags and fishes or blimps. Last blimp has 16-70 in it." I forgot to take pictures of it when I saw it, but it was in perfect condition. Looked brand-new, in fact. Not a scratch or blemish in the bluing, and no marks on the stock. He thinks it was his grandfather's who died in the early 1900's, but I don't think it's that old. Any info you guys could give would be great.
Thanks,
Tom
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The 24th edition of the Blue Book shows 1951 production of the 16ga Auto 5 to be X42501 - X58300. Does the receiver say "Sweet Sixteen"? The serial number didn't show the difference between the Standard model and the Sweet Sixteen(lightweight model) until 1953. This would affect value as well as if the safety is in front of the trigger or behind it. Also the type of barrel - vent rib, solid rib, or not ribbed.
dcj100 -
A "Sweet Sixteen" should have an "S" versus and "X" preceeding the serial number, so what you apparently have is a standard 16 ga. A-5. Is there a single digit number preceding the "X"? If not, then I believe that your A-5 may have been manufactured in 1928.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
I have a 1951 Belgium Browning Sweet Sixteen X431XX. On Browning's web page I found their dates confusing and called them. They said my Sweet Sixteen was a 1951. The 24th edition blue book also shows 1951. The X prefix started in 1947 and in 1953 the std 16 was a R prefix with the Sweet sixteen the S prefix. I also have a 1933 Belgium Browning Std 16 #676XX.
dcj100 -
Well,
I checked back with my father in-law, and the safety is behind the trigger and the barrel is not ribbed. Says Browning automatic on the buttplate with FN in the center. Also has the letters PV in two places in the engraving, (maybe the craftsman's initials?) The serial is exactly as noted in previous post, with just the X followed by numbers, nothing else.
Thx,
Tom0 -
I have a Browning 16 ga. A-5 serial number X21527 with FN stamped above it; lots of scroll-work all over. On the left side it has Browning Arms Company St Louis MO with Browning in large letters below it. The safety is in front of the trigger and the barrel is not ribbed.
Can you tell me it's date of manufacture?
Thanks, Jim.
quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
A "Sweet Sixteen" should have an "S" versus and "X" preceeding the serial number, so what you apparently have is a standard 16 ga. A-5. Is there a single digit number preceding the "X"? If not, then I believe that your A-5 may have been manufactured in 1928.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
The 24th Blue Book shows 1948 production to be X13701 - X22600 for the A-5 16ga.
dcj100
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