Browning A5 Info

Win M12

I bought a Browning A5 today and would like a little history.[:)] The serial number is 257**

The blueing is 99% and the wood is also 99% with no cracks or major blemishes. It has the original FN butplate. The receiver on the left side has the word Browning and above it is a R with a circle around it.

The barrel is marked ** Special Steel 12Ga Shells 2 3/4" The other side says Made In Belgium. It a 28" plain barrel with a front bead sight. It still had the original "Made In Belgium" wood plug in the magazine tube.

Does it sound original and what kind of price tag would you expect? I paid less than $600.

Any info will be appreciated.

bobski

a 5 digit serial number makes it a 1925. if it has a letter in front of it, it changes everything. let me know.

Win M12

The serial number on the receiver has a H above it.


H
257**

Thanks

bobski

1954. your gun is the standard weight A5.[:)]

Catfan

I found this site by accident and I sure am glad.I have two sweet sixteens and have been trying to find the manufacture date with out any luck.Any help would be greatly appreciated.First off I don,t know where to look for the serial numbers.The first gun has a ribbed barrel and the number 1 k g 46 on the side of the barrell.Where you put in the shells it has a S with 1778 below it.
The second has the number o k g 955 on the barrell and the letter S with the numbers 4 8074 where the shells go in.I was just curious about their history,any help is appreciated.

bobski

catfan, all 16's were discontinued in 1976. 's' means sweet16. so, a S48,000 series gun should make it a 1956.

Catfan

Thanks Bobski,is that for the first gun or second.I appreciate the quick answer.

bobski

oops...i see it. ok, the s1778 makes it a 1953/54 era gun. [:D]

Catfan

Thanks again for the info its appreciated.

cromah

I have 3 Belgium A5s I would like to date. I have a 12ga with a serial number of m41340, a 16ga with a serial number of x29401, and a 20ga with a serial number of 1z 56180. I know the 20ga was bought second hand in 1963, and the 16 gage has been in the family at least as long, but i would like to know more about the date of manufacture.

Thanks,
Adam

Spring Creek

Your Standard weight (m) 12 ga, was shipped from Belgium between
12/31/56 and 6/30/57.
Your Standard 16 ga (x) (pre-Sweet 16) was shipped from Belgium
between 6/30/49 and 12/31/49.
Your 20 ga. (Light Weight) (z) and Round knob was made in 1961.
All 3 are ones you can be proud of, esp. if condition is nice on each.


NRA Benefactor Life Member
Browning Collectors Association

cromah

quote:Originally posted by Spring Creek
Your Standard weight (m) 12 ga, was shipped from Belgium between
12/31/56 and 6/30/57.
Your Standard 16 ga (x) (pre-Sweet 16) was shipped from Belgium
between 6/30/49 and 12/31/49.
Your 20 ga. (Light Weight) (z) and Round knob was made in 1961.
All 3 are ones you can be proud of, esp. if condition is nice on each.


NRA Benefactor Life Member
Browning Collectors Association


The 12 and 16 are in great shape the 20 is somehat worn, but seeing as how my dad has used it for over 40 years I guess I can understand that The 16 belonged to my gradfather and he had it around 50 years. the 12 my father bought for my birthday yesterday so I could have one in each gage and one from each family generation.

Many thanks for the info