A5 browning

[sylo15]

Hello all, my name is Rick. I wanted to buy a 16 and 20 gauge A5 to keep my 12 A5 company. So the research started. I think my 12 gauge is a light twelve unmarked. Full choke, shoulder stock has 2 holes drilled out, the barrel ring has 3 holes in it and the receiver has one milled empty hole in it that doesn't take a screw. Serial # comes back as 1948. The trigger and safety doesn't show any gold. Here are some pictures.
Sorry for all the separate post, but my edit wasn't showing up and my other post i could type a bit then the typing started acting up so had to make them short messages.
thank you
Rick

 

[PapaG]

Not the clearest pics I've seen today.

 

[sylo15]

Pictures

 

[sylo15]

The trigger picture is the only gold color in that area

 

[sylo15]

I wondered if the 12 gauge was a rare gun?

 

[rbernie]

The barrel is definitely from a Light-12. The quick way to check the receiver is to look for milled recesses just inside the feed port on the bottom of the receiver. It's not a particularly rare gun, since FN / Browning made them for 100 years, but they are well liked and well considered. The Light-12 version is a post-WWII variant.

Run the SN thru the Browning site, and you can verify the year of manufacture:

https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/auto-5-semi-automatic-shotgun.html

 

[sylo15]

Thank you rbernie. I read the unmarked light twelve might be rare. There are two milled out sections on both sides of reciever

 

[Rudolph31]

Unmarked Light Twelves are indeed rare, as they were only produced from 1946-48. However, just because something is rare doesn’t mean it’s exceptionally valuable. Only to Auto-5 geeks like myself, and we are a small minority.

Early in 1948 FN replaced the words TRADE MARK with a circled R, so yours must be quite early. Engraving the name came later in the year. I have a 1948 unmarked Sweet Sixteen that has the circled R.

I can tell that both the trigger and the safety were once gold plated. The barrel is definitely off a Light Twelve, so if the serial numbers match... Also as rbernie said, the milling inside the receiver differentiates the lightened version.

Re-plating the trigger and safety will definitely enhance the looks of your shotgun. The parts must be copper plated first for the gold to stick, however. But don’t try taking it apart without the proper Browning screwdrivers.

Finally, don’t go to the Browning date your gun website. It’s full of omissions, errors, and contradictions. Also, even the correct data pertains to the 12 gauge only. You will frustrate yourself no end with the 16’s. Use this site:

http://www.nramuseum.org/media/940941/serialization-date of manufacture.pdf

 

[Rudolph31]

From my 1948 Sweet Sixteen:

 

[sylo15]

Thank you Rudolph31. All the serial #'s match. I thought it might be rare when I started looking for a 16 and 20 gauge to keep it company.
Finding those two other gauges made in 1948 isn't going to be easy.
Thanks again

 

[Rudolph31]

You’re welcome!

I’m curious what site you used to date your shotgun. As I said, the switch to the circled R came quite early in 1948. 1946 or 7 seems more likely.

 

[sylo15]

I asked a buddy of mine to run the #.

 

[Rudolph31]

You won’t find a 1948 Light Twenty; FN didn’t produce them until 1958. Also, although all 20 gauge Auto-5’s made by FN are Light Twenty’s, they didn’t engrave the full name on the receiver until 1973. This lead to a lot of confusion over the years. But all of them have used the same lightening techniques as the other two gauges.

 

[Rudolph31]

Look at the link I provided.

 

[sylo15]

I was just looking for 1948 16 and 20. I didn't even know about light weight till a week or so ago. Im from st. Louis and that is what i wanted on all 3 of them. This is how I stumbled on that my 12 might be early 1948. The serial # falls in line with what rbernie sent over above. First time I tried yours it didn't load. I'll keep trying

 

[sylo15]

Yes it falls in 1948 with what u sent also, just had to download it
Thank you Rudolph31

 

[Rudolph31]

I was just looking for 1948 16 and 20.

Good luck, but like I said, FN didn’t make a 20 until 1958. But during (and after?) WWII Remington supplied their version of the Auto-5 to Browning. It’s a Model 11 with a Cut Off and engraving, but you could get one in 20 gauge.

 

[sylo15]

Thanks again Rudolph31, I thought u meant a light 20 wasn't made till 1958, I c now ur saying no A5 20 was made till 1958, unless it is when Remington made them. im still looking for a 16, standard or sweet 1948 and 20 i guess 1958 or later doesn't really matter since my 1948 idea won't happen on all 12, 16 and 20 gauges.

 

[Rudolph31]

Thanks again Rudolph31, I thought u meant a light 20 wasn't made till 1958, I c now ur saying no A5 20 was made till 1958, unless it is when Remington made them. im still looking for a 16, standard or sweet 1948 and 20 i guess 1958 or later doesn't really matter since my 1948 idea won't happen on all 12, 16 and 20 gauges.

You’re welcome. But I had a little difficulty reading your last post. Old Farts like myself are used to English.