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1steve7301
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Post subject: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 7:02 pm |
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Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:37 pm Posts: 1166 Location: New Hampshire
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Sometimes you just miss things and this was one of those times. We have two very good gun auctions in my state that I go to with some regularity, but I missed the last one and just saw an A-5 that sold at it for $1840. The gun is so unusual and, in my opinion, sold for such a reasonable price considering it is a F Funken signed one of a kind A-5 I wanted to share with those who love A-5's. The following is the description from the auction house and some pictures of the gun. 12ga., 27 1/2" ventilated rib barrel choked full with an excellent bore. This is a lovely and very intriguing shotgun, it's receiver is overall engraved with a dizzying array of animals and is signed by the engraver "F. Funken". The receiver is completely un-serial numbered while the barrel is serial numbered on the hanger 104656. The barrel retains perhaps 95% original blue, the loss due to honest wear and the minor scratches that come from use afield. The receiver has been left completely in-the-white and now shows very sparse, very light brown oxidation staining which could be easily professionally rectified, there is some very minor pitting on the bottom of the trigger guard. The top round of the receiver and its rear face have a unique sunburst hand-matting which extends 4" onto the barrel, the entire rib as well is hand-matted. The stock and handguard treatment on this gun are extremely unique. They match precisely the work of stock carver Richard Gerard, which he did for the 1937 Paris and 1939 exposition de l'Eau in Liege. The straight grip stock is a lovely grade of French walnut, as is the forearm, they feature carved graceful radiating raised ribs. Both rate about very good showing numerous minor scratches and dings that come from use, the forend has two of the commonly seen cracks at its rear edge that the Browning Auto 5 is known for; there is no buttplate, the butt is carved in an interesting overlapping groove pattern. The animals featured on the guns receiver range from baboons to peacocks, kangaroos to vultures, serpents to owls and egrets to alligators. The work was extremely well done overall. While there's no telling how the gun made it to these shores, popular family legend holds that the gun was received by the family from Mr. Thomas McCarthy, president of the Austin Nichols distillery. McCarthy was an avid sportsman and was the man who coined the brand name "Wild Turkey". The ancestor of the consignor was head of the marketing firm that first promoted the Wild Turkey brand name and purportedly received this shotgun from McCarthy. Overall a lovely one-of-a-kind shotgun that definitely shows its roots with the exhibition grade guns of the Paris World's Fair and exposition de l'Eau in Liege of 1937 in 1939. [Ref. "The Browning superposed" by Ned Schwing, P. 61-63] SOLD FOR $1840.00   
_________________ LIVE FREE OR DIE
Last edited by 1steve7301 on Wed Apr 07, 2010 7:56 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Rastoff
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--BOY, DID I BLOW IT!!!!!! Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 7:51 pm |
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*Proud to be a* |
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Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:57 am Posts: 20896 Location: So Cal (Near Edwards AFB)
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Is that a good price for an A-5? It's too high for me.
Value is decided by the guy writing the check and the guy accepting the check at the time of the sale.
_________________ Remember, you can post here because they died over there.
“Endeavor to clear your mind of can't.” - Francis P. Church

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A5Mag12
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--BOY, DID I BLOW IT!!!!!! Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 8:13 pm |
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Crown Grade |
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Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:51 pm Posts: 2744 Location: La-Tx
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I wouldn't give that for it. I have no use for any pre speedload/crossbolt safety A-5 whether it's been drawn on or not.
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Iconoclasm
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--BOY, DID I BLOW IT!!!!!! Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:17 pm |
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Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:39 pm Posts: 55
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A5Mag12 wrote: I wouldn't give that for it. I have no use for any pre speedload/crossbolt safety A-5 whether it's been drawn on or not. Whoa! And here I thought that maybe I was the only (John) Browning aficionado who hadn't drunk the Funken Kool-Aid. Any decent Italian engraved gun will make the 'best' Funken guns look cartoonish.
_________________ "Oh, that way madness lies; let me shun that."
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dueeast
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--BOY, DID I BLOW IT!!!!!! Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 7:21 am |
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Presentation Grade |
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Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2004 7:49 pm Posts: 502 Location: New Jersey(where the goverment knows whats best for you.)
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I think it's a nice looking gun. That being said, some of the animals on the engraving do not suit my taste. But it's too bad others have to piss on your parade.  It would have been nice if you got to pick it up.
_________________ "Support our troops and support the N.R.A." !!!!
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1steve7301
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 7:59 am |
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Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:37 pm Posts: 1166 Location: New Hampshire
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Yeh, each to their own!!! I agree with you that the animals are not really my style either, but just the "different" factor of this gun make it so interesting to me.
_________________ LIVE FREE OR DIE
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Tijeras_Slim
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:15 am |
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Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:22 am Posts: 4364 Location: East Mountains, NM
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Quote: The animals featured on the guns receiver range from baboons to peacocks, kangaroos to vultures, serpents to owls and egrets to alligators. Sounds like a U.S. Congress Commemorative Gun.
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1steve7301
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 10:05 am |
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Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:37 pm Posts: 1166 Location: New Hampshire
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 Good call!!!!!
_________________ LIVE FREE OR DIE
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A5guy
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 1:09 pm |
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ID & Value Expert |
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Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 10:16 am Posts: 10510
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Slim, +1
_________________ CAUTION: Things may appear closer in the rear view mirror!
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A5Mag12
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 2:39 pm |
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Crown Grade |
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Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2004 9:51 pm Posts: 2744 Location: La-Tx
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Not raining on anyone's parade. Just giving my honest opinion of the gun. I don't like guns in the white.
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Mallard Cutter
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:58 pm |
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Joined: Mon Feb 15, 2010 6:04 am Posts: 436
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I like the wood on that gun for sure.
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Clem Snide
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:43 pm |
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Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2009 1:19 pm Posts: 2034 Location: Tyler, Texas
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A beautiful and fascinating gun. Thanks for posting this. As for Funken not meeting the Italians' standards, I will only say that we can't all be John Wayne. In fact, John Wayne wasn't really John Wayne either.
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3rdbuttondown
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:34 pm |
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Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 12:05 pm Posts: 127 Location: Ohio
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Vent rib barrel seems out of place for a gun of this era.
Anybody know when Vent Ribs became an option?
We need a Browning/FN timeline sticky.
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markIVbigblock
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:40 pm |
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Joined: Sat Jan 17, 2004 11:01 pm Posts: 973 Location: Fort Collins, Co
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I just noticed the checkering/carving on the stocks that is really unique and I think it is really cool although I think birds and dogs would be more fitting engraved on this gun than the exotic animals.
Aaron
_________________ life's too short to hunt with an ugly gun...
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Iconoclasm
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:48 am |
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Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:39 pm Posts: 55
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3rdbuttondown wrote: Vent rib barrel seems out of place for a gun of this era. The serial number given for the barrel would be correct for about 1937. A few years ago A5guy posted that he has a 1937 A-5 Sweet Sixteen with three original barrels, all with ventilated ribs.
_________________ "Oh, that way madness lies; let me shun that."
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A5guy
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:20 am |
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ID & Value Expert |
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Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2004 10:16 am Posts: 10510
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In 1937 a raised matted solid rib was an $8 option and a vent rib was a $14.10 option on any A5 or A3.
The Sweet Sixteen MSR was $65.75 with a matted barrel, $69.75 with a solid rib and $75.85 with the vent rib.
_________________ CAUTION: Things may appear closer in the rear view mirror!
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NoDak Scotty
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 2:49 pm |
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Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:03 pm Posts: 1170 Location: DFW, TEXAS
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Funken used a Germanic, deep engraving style. Italians prefer Bulino or banknote engraving. Its apples and oranges...
_________________ ...911 calls the men that draw the white chalk lines...1911 determines who they draw the lines around...
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gold40
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:46 am |
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Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:49 pm Posts: 1781 Location: St. Louis, MO
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IMHO it is a magnificent shotgun, and I would have readily bid $2k or more at that auction.
JERRY
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txrick55
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 10:00 pm |
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Presentation Grade |
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Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:41 pm Posts: 879 Location: Republic of Texas
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Excellent, a piece of history, Funken was responsible for bringing FN's engraving dept. into it's own, he was instrumental in the ongoing apprenticeship and training of hundeds of master engravers, this gun would have been early in his career, any qualms about his workmanship and you would do well to leaf through Ned Schwing's book on the superposed, his engraving dept. up until the time of his retirement puts the Italians to shame. But to each his own. I appreciate your sharing the story & these photos...
Thanks !! Rick
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Iconoclasm
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Post subject: Re: LOOK AT THIS A-5--VERY UNUSUAL GUN Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 12:14 am |
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Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:39 pm Posts: 55
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"Interesting"? Yes. "Unique"? Certainly. "A piece of history"? Without a doubt. But "lovely" or "beautiful"? Not in the eyes of this beholder. From the Italian school of engraving; From the Funken school of engraving; txrick55 wrote: ...any qualms about his workmanship and you would do well to leaf through Ned Schwing's book on the superposed... The 'workmanship' speaks for itself. I enjoy 'The Browning Superposed' greatly, but no remarks by Schwing or anyone else can make those Diana figures any less cartoonish. (Schwing, by the way, refers to some products of the Funken school as "...a heavy Germanic style of deep relief engraving that was not well accepted in North America.")
_________________ "Oh, that way madness lies; let me shun that."
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