Old FN -Browning Patent Shotgun

kc5gxc

Howdy
I have just acquired an old shotgun at our local gunshow.
It's an FN on the Browning Patent. Serial # 141459
It has a "cylinder" barrel on it. All matching serial numbers on stock, etc...
It looks like the chamber has been reamed, as it is rough after 2 1/2
inches in for about 1/4". Total chamber length 2 3/4" or mighty close to it.
Was this one originally a 2 9/16" chamber?
Wonder what the cylinder barrel was used for in particular? birds?
The front bead is missing, but I have one ordered...threads look good.
Is there any kind of buffer in the rear of the receiver that I need to be concerned about? If so, don't know what to do, as I sure ain't gonna try taking it apart any more than I have now (I have dunked it in diesel and got all kinds of nastys out of the mechanism.
Thanks for any help.
Pete

charliemeyer007

So is it a humpback?

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=13

MIKE WISKEY

if this is a 16 ga. then yes it probably was a 2 9/16" chamber. there are a total of 7 parts to modify if done correctly to lenghten the chamber to 2 3/4". as to the 'buffer'; no, yours did not have one (only Remingtons version of the A-5 used a buffer).

kc5gxc

Yes, it is a humpback and also a 12 gauge.
Thanks
Pete

Bert H.

12-gauge Auto-5 shotguns were factory chambered for a 2-3/4" shell unless specifically marked otherwise. The barrel should be marked 70mm.

kc5gxc

Thanks for all the info, gents.
I have a plastic stock ordered. Will save the old walnut stock.
The forearm is ok , but buttstock is cracked badly in the normal places. I have a front bead ordered too. Midwest was out of brass, so I got a silver the thread is supposed to be the same.
Thank you all.
Pete

kc5gxc

Howdy Bert
I double checked the barrel on the Browning. I can find no 70mm marking on it anywhere !!!
Pete

Bert H.

Pete,

The chamber length is marked on the under side of the barrel near the actual chamber. It was marked on all Belgian manufactured Auto-5 shoguns. If your gun or the barrel is one of the Auto-5s that was built by Remington during the 1940 - 1946, it will not have the 70mm marking on it.

kc5gxc

Howdy again Bert
Thanks for the info. I have looked again. The barrel has a lot of stuff on it, as I think they all do.
On top is says Browning Arms Co. Ogden Utah
On left side it says cylinder 12 special steel
On bottom under chamber area it says 183 182 Z
also haa a 1 with a circle around it.
Also has a funny emblem like a fish.
Also has curvy markings kinda like antlers.
Also got an area of little peck marks like they kinda tried to mark out something...looks like a 4 under there, but can't tell what else.
It has some other stuff also, but don't think on the barrel itself...on the rear behind actual barrel part.

What do you make of this ?
Thanks Pete

Bert H.

Pete,

FN did not mark "cylinder" on the barrel. They used a code to mark the choke constriction.

FN Choke Markings are on the left side of the barrel, and appear as follows;

* = Full Choke (F)
*- = Improved Modified (IM)
** = Modified (M)
**- = Improved Cylinder (IC)
**$ = Skeet (SK)
*** = Cylinder bore (CYL)

kc5gxc

Howdy again Bert
I have a Sweet 16 and it has the asterisks indicating choke as you point out. This barrel is very old, I reckon that's why it is different. Kinda like me...ha ha ha.
Maybe before FN came up with the choke indicators.
Thanks for all the help.
Pete