Mfg date on a Browning A-5

[olywa]

I've got a buddy who just inherited a Browning A-5. It's a Belgian 20ga with a 2 3/4" chamber plain barrel and the word "Twenty" on the side of the receiver. I'm hoping I can get a little help figuring out the age of this shotgun for my friend. I've been to the Browning page and the info there is just plain incomplete at best. The following info is on the front bottom of the receiver:

7Z

17149

Thanks guys, any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Jimmie]

http://proofhouse.com/browning/index.html

 

[olywa]

Thanks Jimmie, from what I can figure out it is a 1967 Light Twenty. Could Browning possibly be more obtuse? Talk about no rhyme or reason to a numbering scheme. Anyway, much obliged for your help.

 

[axeman_g]

yep, 67 Light 20.

What condition is in it... well it doesn't really matter. Please tell your friend it is UNSAFE to shoot at any time. It would be in his best interest to get rid of it ASAP. I run a service disposing of A5s and would pay him $10 to dispose of the fine... I mean pos firearm for him.

That is a nice legacy, hopefully it has a story, was well used, loved and will continue to be so.

By the way, you can blame FN, Nazi's and WW2 for the overly complicated, obtuse and downright missing information. Stuff happens.

 

[olywa]

Thanks axeman_g. If I could pry my buddies hands off it I don't think it would get past me on it's way to anywhere else. He went back to Kentucky for his annual turkey hunt on his family's property and his Uncle gave it to him. It used to belong to his Aunt and it's a real sweetheart in great condition.

He's been looking for a 20ga auto for a while now and this one just dropped in his lap. Sure nice when they can stay in the family like that. Of course his wife and their new baby are getting a little perturbed when he comes home from the office and hugs it instead of them. She told me he even talks to it and asks it what kind of day it had, then promises that they will go out and play together when the weekend comes around. Sounds like the start of a beautiful relationship to me...

 

[axeman_g]

Yep... A5s have that effect on people.

That's why I love shotguns, they dont get jealous if you fondle another shotgun.