Home Forums Birds & Dogs Shotguns St.Louis Browning A5 Value?

Can anyone tell me an approx. real-world value of a Browning A5 made in St. Louis. 12ga. 28" solid rib, modified choke.

It is absolutely in like-new condition and the owner (cousin)still has the original box. It was given to him as a gift in the 50's (which I remember very well). He never went hunting but said he shot it a couple of times then put it away.

Just looking for a ballpark figure to make an honest/realistic offer.

I already checked GB and GA but found no matches.

WN

Are you sure the barrel isn't just stamped St. Louis and the gun was made in Belgium?

Look a little closer.

crowrifle

Could be, the bbl does say St. Louis, MO on it. I won't be able to double check that for a couple of days, though.

Either way--Belgium or St. Louis, any idea as to approx $$?

WN

if he really got it in the 50s it was made in Belgium. should also have the round knob on the pistol grip. Solid rib instead of vent hurts you a little, but around here that's still a $850+ gun.

Saint Louis MO was the address for Browning USA in the made in Belgium days. A later gun will have St. Louis and Montreal Canada on the barrel. The serial number will give you the year, then you can place a value on it.

Check out www.shotgunworld.com and the Browning Forum. You can find about any info you ever wanted to know and some you probably never thought about.

DF

Here's a short cut to the SGW Browning forum.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=53

DF

crowrifle

Right you are! It was made in Belgium but has "Browning Arms St. Louis Mo." on the barrel.

End panel of the box indicates it is a Gr. 1 "Lightweight"

There is no mention of Montreal, CA on it.

THanks

WN

Dirtfarmer: Thanks for the link. The gun was made in 1954.

Thanks everyone for all your help! I got it pegged!

WN

If you have some time to burn, check this one out.

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=124719

DF

Dirtfarmer thats a pretty cool story! And a sweet shotgun with history. I'm going guess you left the stock how it was after finding out the history? Do you ever shoot it?

Hey, DF

How did you know that I was a Superposed guy? *L* You must have ESP!

I'll send you a PM in the morning. It took me three hours to read that whole thread!

You are one lucky man!

WN

Thanks guys. It was sort of a surrealistic experience. I met some great guys on the SGW site, a good number from Louisiana. I really enjoyed Bill Askins and got some inside info from him that only he could have provided.

Yes, I still have it and it handles great. The 28" barrels with open chokes, as specified by the Major, are spot on. I even like the rear positioned trigger.

I have several Supers and this one handles best of all.

DF

I like the mid 50's guns quite well. You've a nice one.

SGW made me spend way more money than I thought I would on A5s. Good forum...

'50's guns are cream of the crop, no doubt.

The old pre-war guns are just interesting. There were so many variations, they were almost like custom guns. And with those guns, many were delivered to individuals, not wholesalers and big hardware stores like in later years. That makes them even more interesting because the provenance can often be documented.

SGW is to the shotgun world what the Fire is to riflemen. I hate to say it, but those guys seem to have more class than a lot of what goes on here. When I cross reference the Fire from over there, I usually put in a disclaimer of sorts so they won't have too much cultural shock...

DF