Browning shotgun
I have a Browning Auto-5 semiautomatic 20 gauge shotgun. It is about 20 years old. It is still in the box, never shot and never even put together. I even have the original reciept, about $600 new.
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I am trying to gauge the value of a shotgun i received. It is a browning 16 gauge shotgun made in Belgium. It says "sweet sixteen" on the side and is very clean looking. My camera phone won't do justice in this case so i am only looking for an about or average idea of what it might be worth. serial # 52,xxx thanks 0 -
Is it a "USA", Belgian, or Japanese version? Need serial number to identify. Barrel lenght, vent rib, solid rib, plain barrel, choke? round knob butt stock or standard pistol grip? Regards Dave 0 -
It is A belgian made with the round knob butt stock and a full vented rib barrel. 0 -
The Browning is more likely a Lightweight, but should say so on the receiver. The vent rib helps, and the round knob means it is prior to 1967. The Asterisks tell the choke, but the Belgium FN choke is tighter than the American, so! If it has two stars (asterisk) it would be called Modified but would actually be near American Full. 1 star is Full, 3 stars improved.
In pristine Condition this fine shotgun should be worth $750.oo - $850.oo. Solid rib would bering a little more. Could bring as much as $900.00, but only to a Person needing to fill or upgrade their collection. A great Gun for Doves ~ with the Modified Choke. [;)]
Ronnie G. Perkins0 -
Cougar, I think they were overpriced because they were still on the rack when I left the show today, the last day of a two-day show, about 45 minutes before closing, but I saw two real nice ones today, both with full, uncut butt stocks, both modified choked barrels and both tagged at $825.00. I saw another for $700.00 that had been reblued and buffed to the point that the tiny zig-zags around the receiver edges were very faint and it had a smooth barrel with the cross-hatched sight plane. This same seller also had a NIB-looking Browning 2000 for $450 which I think was about $100 too much, so you can kinda see a trend. Before today's show I would say the gun you described (and the two I saw at the show) would sell for $600 to $650 and the reblued plain barrel at $450.00 to $500. It seems like real nice guns are bringing good prices and average, unremarkable ones are not selling. I saw a fella trying to sell a Lt 12 VR A5 Belgian with a flat knob asking $500 and I don't think he got it. I thought it was a good price - I bought a very nice one just like it a year ago and would have bought his if I didn't have one. Dealers seemed to be interested in the double-barrels walking around and nice hanguns in boxes (Colts, Smiths) My neighbor came with me to the show and bought a very nice Win Mod 12 in 12 ga from a civilian for $425. I think he made a good buy - we watched two dealers look at the gun and hand it back before Shelby asked the fella what he needed for it - the flag in the barrel said $500 but he said he'd take $450 so Shelby offered $400 and got it for $425. And prices were WAY HIGH for clean .410 pumps and autos and Belgian Browning Sw 16's are ridiculous. I have a plain barrel 16 and always check out the 16 ga VR barrels - saw one today for close to what I paid for my whole gun. I have strayed, but estimating the value of your gun is difficult. You can get a Blue Book estimate of around $650, but you are probably better off doing a GB search for "Browning Light" and see what the comparables have actually sold for. Good Luck, Jim
PS I brought a piece of US WWII "militaria" to the show that I find interesting and got a couple of wild responses when I asked opinions on it, but I'll post that later.
timbroman@aol.com0 -
After reading everyones response, I can't say I disagree with anyone. Your location has a lot to do with it. Some areas are flooded with A-5s some areas are starved. Myself I like the round knob butt stocks, and vent rib barrel, I would pay more for that. My book list the FN (Belgian) lt a-5 at $650 rated at 100%. My area you don't see very many, even at the local gun shows, so I may pay a little more. The key thing, it's USED. Just like a new car when you drive it off the lot it is now used. Used guns you can haggle over, asking price and selling price are two different things. Is this from a private party or a dealer? Do you have to pay sales tax? Is there a transfer fee? Things to consider when you add everything up. Then again if you just half to have, you'll pay, just don't pay to much! Regards Dave 0 -
Thanks for all your input, It's actually my fathers gun, he bough it from my uncle. It has only been shot maybe a dozen times total, and is in excellent condition. He wants to sell it and I just wanted to know a fair price to offer him. Thanks for all your help. 0 -
Cougar, That shotgun has become quite a family legacy so its value to you may be impossible to calculate. For whatever its worth I'm glad you guys are doing a trade that will keep it in your family. Best, Jim
timbroman@aol.com0 -
I also have a browning. is there someplace i can check to find out its value.i want to sell it only because I want to get a shotgun combo i can use for small game and deer.and you can't use semi in my area 0 -
Wow HDale, you dredged up an old post. You might want to fully describe your A-5 on a NEW thread - But I'll say this to get you started considering options. If I were in your position (no semi-autos) I would consider the Browning pump gun in 12 gauge. It uses variable choke tubes. And for me, bigger is almost always better so I would have the 12 gauge and the 3" chamber is plenty for me. But you know what they say about opinions, ... 0
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