Question for the History Buff's, My friend has procured an old Browning A5 16 gauge. Looking for some information about it. Age/year, production run etc.
Pics don't do it justice, and we have it tore down for a well deserved cleaning.
It was made by Remington for Browning between 1940 and about 1945-1949 depending on the source. It is easy to tell as the serial number on these "American" Browning's are on the side of the receiver rather than on the bottom just in front of the loading gate. That the serial number starts with a letter is another sure top off. The 16 ga began with an "A", the 12 ga with a "B", and the 20 ga with a "C". It is a hybrid with some parts being from a Model 11 and some from the A-5, and some adapted to make the conglomeration work.
There is little collector value with prices going for very little more than a comparable Model 11 unless one does not know the history and buys only on the Browning name. I've owned three in 16 ga and one in each of the others back when I was acquiring A-5s. They all went down the road and I was very happy to get my asking prices. I let it be known these were not true Belgian Brownings but the buyers did not care.
They are dependable guns and had two positive features over the FN models to that point- the 16 ga had 2 3/4" chambers and all had a crossbolt safety at the rear of the trigger guard. Enjoy your A-5, they are fine guns.
It was made by Remington for Browning between 1940 and about 1945-1949 depending on the source. It is easy to tell as the serial number on these "American" Browning's are on the side of the receiver rather than on the bottom just in front of the loading gate. That the serial number starts with a letter is another sure top off. The 16 ga began with an "A", the 12 ga with a "B", and the 20 ga with a "C". It is a hybrid with some parts being from a Model 11 and some from the A-5, and some adapted to make the conglomeration work.
There is little collector value with prices going for very little more than a comparable Model 11 unless one does not know the history and buys only on the Browning name. I've owned three in 16 ga and one in each of the others back when I was acquiring A-5s. They all went down the road and I was very happy to get my asking prices. I let it be known these were not true Belgian Brownings but the buyers did not care.
They are dependable guns and had two positive features over the FN models to that point- the 16 ga had 2 3/4" chambers and all had a crossbolt safety at the rear of the trigger guard. Enjoy your A-5, they are fine guns.
Thank you for your response and education. My buddy actually ended up paying 0.00 for it. It was given to him. It does shoot very well, you know your shooting it but still a pleasure to shoot.
Careful with those receiver screws. First thing I look for on any Belgium A5 is buggered screws.
If you take all those metal parts, including receiver and mag tube, and degrease them well (I soak em in gas or diesel), wipe down well, then soak them well with Militec and lay on a cookie sheet and leave out in the hot sun (or a warm, not hot, oven), until everything heats up well, then wipe down everything dry, once you reassemble it will function like a dream, assuming it still is in good shape. I leave just a little heavy grease on the hammer sear.
"What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated." Thomas Paine
A properly lubed and set up Auto 5 should not be a hard recoiling shotgun. You may need a new set of friction rings, recoil spring and action spring. Replace those, properly lube and that old Browning should shuffle along smooth as glass for the next fifty years or so.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
Hey Woods did they call that vintage St Louis Brownings? MB
Some may have done so but the only "knick name" I heard of was "American" Browning. This is even designated as such in Flayderman's books on gun values. These guns were made at the Remington plant in New York. St Louis, MO was the headquarters of Browning for most the years FN produced their guns. More correctly, "St Louis Browning" would encompass a much greater time span and number of models as it should designate the location of Browning's headquarters as Browning did not produce guns at that time.
