Browning Auto-5 conflicting dates of manufacture
I have a Browning 16 ga. A-5 serial number X21527 with a circled FN stamped above it; lots of scroll-work all over.On the barrel it says made in Belgium. On the left side of the reciever it has Browning Arms Company St Louis MO with Browning in large letters below it. Below that a portrait of browning.Also a lever that locks the shell tube? The safety is in front of the trigger and the barrel is not ribbed.The butt plate looks like bakelite with FN in middle and Browning Automatic encircled. I payed $190.00 for it.
Can anyone tell me it's date of manufacture? and\or worth
Thanks, Jim.
Can anyone tell me it's date of manufacture? and\or worth
Thanks, Jim.
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Suffice to say pre-WW2. Past that it won't matter. Serial records seem to be somewhat inaccurate (or we don't interpret them properly) but the "suicide safety" is a dead giveaway.
As to Sweet 16's... Every Sweet 16 that I've ever encountered is stamped as such. No stamp, not a Sweet 16.
If the gun is in 80%+ condition, then you stole it. The front safety used to be somewhat of a problem, but it's become less so over the last few years.
Hereabouts a Sweet 16 in 90%+ condition will easily turn $800.00. Anything less is a shooter, but will still command $450 - $600. A non-Sweet 16 shooter will knock things down about $50-$100.
Nord0 -
The St. Louis,M.O. Barrel address was used from 1947-1958.(Earlier ones would have Ogden,Utah.) Which would agree with the A-5 16ga. production of serial # X13701 - X22600 in 1948. To be absolutely sure I would suggest you call Browning and ask them. They were very friendly and quite helpful when I called them about my A-5s.(I have a Sweet Sixteen X431xx that they said was 1951.) Also is it chambered for 2 9/16" or 2 3/4" shells?
dcj100 -
Dcj Its chambered for 2-3/4". The St Louis MO is on the side of the reciever not the barrel. There does seem to be some confusion on the PreWW2 gun SN's. I thought that only the first 10,000 A5's Had Ogden UT on them the rest ( some 200,000 guns ) is not known.Can you tell me more about the suicide safety Nord? whats the difference between a sweet 16 and a standard 16? 0 -
"Suicide Safety" is what your gun has... In front of the trigger. Generally it can be said that this style was discontinued with the advent of World War 2, but I believe I've seen somewhat earlier examples. Probably it would be safe to say that your gun can be no later that 1939.
Sweet 16 vs. A-5 in 16 ga. - About 1/2 pound lighter. Usually somewhat nicer wood (but not always). ALWAYS STAMPED "SWEET 16".
One other possible... Your barrel may not be original. Again, whatever the true facts, you stole the gun.
Nord0 -
You sure did "steal" your a-5. I would suggest getting a japanese invector barrel if you intend to shoot steel shot.
I have noticed a big difference in the serial numbers of the 12ga.vs 16ga. A-5s. I think the list on Browning's web site is mainly for the 12ga. My 12ga. serial number was no problem.
My Sweet Sixteen doesn't have an address on the receiver. It does have "Sweet Sixteen" on it. It also has the "Suicide Safety" that might not be original but it does look it. All the other numbers-inside of stocks, barrel, ect- match the serial number. Mine is also 2 3/4". The 2 9/16" chamber was pre WWII so that would have been an indication. I was confused about the date of my 16 ga. so I called Browning and they told me 1951. I got the phone number off their web site. I recommend calling them and letting us know.
dcj100 -
Front safety is original. No question of that. The gun is NOT from the early 50's. Front safety ended more or less with the advent of WW2.
My best guess remains a late 30's product. Probably what we'd think of as a transition piece today... Some of the old features remaining, but with some of the new.
Nord0 -
Thanks for all the info.I appreciate it. I went to the browning web site and looked at their historical timeline and found some intresting facts. It says that the Auto-5 Sweet 16 was introduced in 1936. Also that the ST.Louis Distribution Center was est. in 1930. Then I called Browning and talked to their historian "Glen" (ext# 256) He said the "suicide" front safty was dicontinued in 1954. He dated the gun at 1948,asked if it had a nob Stock, which it does.I forgot to ask him what other kind of stock is there? Can you beleive I pissandmoaned when my 'Ol Lady dragged me out to the yard sales. Now I'm hooked.
B-well0 -
Best buy that lady dinner! You did good. 0 -
I won't argue with Browning, but I never saw a postwar A-5 with a forward safety. Remington made Browning A-5's during the war years and the Belgians didn't really get back into business until the late 40's or early 50's.
Which leads me to wonder... Perhaps there were leftover blanks that needed to be moved out of the FN facility. If so, then just as I suspected... A transition piece with prewar roots.
As long as the gun says SWEET 16, that's just what it is. Plain tube will be more of a demerit than anything else. Front safety is of little concern anymore and the "transition" timeframe makes it interesting.
Nice gun! I'll offer to store it for free anytime.
B.
Nord0 -
Thanks for the update! It looks like my suicide safety is original. The other kind of stocks are the flat knob. Not as nice as the round knob if you ask me.
I really like my 16ga. A-5 and I have an extra Japanese Invector Barrel for when I'm hunting wet birds.
dcj100
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