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sauerfan
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:25 am |
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:10 am Posts: 557 Location: Hannover, Germany
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1936Overview No known design changes. Serial number range 12 gauge 191605 - 194535 Serial number range 16 gauge 103501 - 105850
_________________ Value? Open an auction at GB or AA and in two weeks you'll know exactly....
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sauerfan
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:26 am |
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Presentation Grade |
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:10 am Posts: 557 Location: Hannover, Germany
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1937Overview Only minor design changes. Introduction of the “Sweet Sixteen”. Serial number range 12 gauge 194536 - 199200 Serial number range 16 gauge 105850 – 111000 Barrel Rib four possibilities in 1937: none, solid rib, ventilated rib with X posts or matted finish for Sweet Sixteen (SV page 98) Barrel Ring as before or drilled with three holes on the barrels of Sweet Sixteens Safety Gold plated (Sweet Sixteen only) Trigger Gold plated (Sweet Sixteen only) Misc. “Sweet Sixteen” not separated by SN. The Sweet Sixteens have normal SNs of the 16 gauge A5s.
_________________ Value? Open an auction at GB or AA and in two weeks you'll know exactly....
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sauerfan
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:26 am |
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Presentation Grade |
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:10 am Posts: 557 Location: Hannover, Germany
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1938 - 1940
Overview No known design changes.
Serial number range 12 gauge
1938: 199201 - 208400 1939: 208401 - 218808 1940: 218809 - 224596
Serial number range 16 gauge
1938: 111001 – 118200 1939: 118201 – 126123 1940: 126124 – 126175
_________________ Value? Open an auction at GB or AA and in two weeks you'll know exactly....
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Tijeras_Slim
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:02 pm |
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Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:22 am Posts: 4364 Location: East Mountains, NM
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Outstanding post Martin.
I think the moderator should place it at the top of the forum with a "sticky".
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sauerfan
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 8:41 am |
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Presentation Grade |
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:10 am Posts: 557 Location: Hannover, Germany
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Hi Tijeras_Slim,
Thanks you! I appreciate your positive feedback.
Honestly, I expected some more reactions on my “article”….
Regards
Martin
_________________ Value? Open an auction at GB or AA and in two weeks you'll know exactly....
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Tijeras_Slim
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:33 am |
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Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:22 am Posts: 4364 Location: East Mountains, NM
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Quote: Honestly, I expected some more reactions on my “article”….
I think most of us are just standing here with our mouths hanging open in amazement. Your post really does stand alone.
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Worc
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 2:09 pm |
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Moderator |
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Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2004 12:53 pm Posts: 13112 Location: Michigan
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Thanks for the great post. I added it to this sticky. viewtopic.php?f=53&t=70794Hard to make it it's own sticky since this forum already has so many.
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16penny
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:54 pm |
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Limited Edition |
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Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2009 3:12 pm Posts: 342 Location: Alamogordo N.M
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Thanks for the Great refrence .I am shure it will be usefull JUST MAKE IT A STICKY ALREADY
Last edited by 16penny on Sat Jan 28, 2012 12:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Fowlgunner
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 10:14 pm |
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Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:58 pm Posts: 278 Location: Western TN
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Congratulations! The best "Screw Counter" wins. Excellent work and detail. Thanks from all. Will
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USMC0802
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 11:36 am |
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Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2010 10:17 am Posts: 11 Location: NC/MO
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Martin, Superb post, as usual. Now, I've got to start trying to find one of each example...thanks alot!  Tyler
_________________ For autos; A Belgian A5 For pumps; A Winchester Model 12 For SXSs; A Sterlingworth For hammers; A Husqvarna 51 For combat; A Winchester 1897 riot For abuse; A Remington 870 synthetic ...what are all the other ones for?
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fiasconva
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2010 4:45 pm |
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Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:28 pm Posts: 397 Location: York County, VA
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Great article and most valuable information. I do hope this ends up as a sticky here. Thanks!
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Mastiff63
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 11:26 am |
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Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2010 11:10 am Posts: 2
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I am new to this site and very impressed with the available information. I am trying to identify a 16ga Browning A5 with a serial number 126XXX, that was purchased new by my Grandfather. Other Web sites indicate that it may have been manufactured in 1932, however this article suggests 1941. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
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Tijeras_Slim
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 4:46 pm |
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Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2005 9:22 am Posts: 4364 Location: East Mountains, NM
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Welcome to the forum! The problem with the 1941 date is that the FN plant was occupied during WWII. Does your gun's serial # have a letter prefix of any kind? Also, other barrel markings such as the address and chamber length are helpful in determining date.
It's folks showing up and sharing info about their guns that is the main contributor to our growing knowledge of these fabulous guns.
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Mastiff63
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:33 pm |
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Joined: Sat Apr 24, 2010 11:10 am Posts: 2
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Thanks for the response. I was lucky enough to find the Blue book of Gun values,30th edition at the library. According to this, the serial number indicates that it was manufactured between 1943 and 1944 for serviceman only. My grandfather was in the military during WWII. It has the St Louis MO marks on the barrel and is chambered for the 2 9/16" shell. Are the barrels stamped to indicate the type of choke? Are there certain 2 1/2" loads that work well with this? Thanks again.
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A5guy
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:03 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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I am noticing that, in my 1937, catalog there is a page given to the "Browning Special" in both 16ga & 12ga. These guns had engraving like the new Sweet Sixteen and ribs came standard, solid for the 12ga and VR for the 16ga. The price for the 12ga was $57.75 the same as the Grade II. The 16ga special was $63.85 while the Sweet Sixteen sold for $65.75. All three guns were offered in 3 shot versions. Were all three of these guns new for 1937? Were early 3 shot versions marked on the forend a were later ones?
_________________ CAUTION: Things may appear closer in the rear view mirror!
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sauerfan
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:55 am |
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Presentation Grade |
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Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:10 am Posts: 557 Location: Hannover, Germany
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Hi A5guy, A5guy wrote: I am noticing that, in my 1937, catalog there is a page given to the "Browning Special" in both 16ga & 12ga. These guns had engraving like the new Sweet Sixteen and ribs came standard, solid for the 12ga and VR for the 16ga. The price for the 12ga was $57.75 the same as the Grade II. The 16ga special was $63.85 while the Sweet Sixteen sold for $65.75. All three guns were offered in 3 shot versions. Were all three of these guns new for 1937? Were early 3 shot versions marked on the forend a were later ones? Honestly, I don’t know. I liked to be able to tell...... well, learning about A5s is a permanent process. I hope to be ready with learing in about 50 years. BTW: Fowlgunner wrote: The best "Screw Counter" wins. Well…. I’m not the best screw counter, unfortunately! Meanwhile I discovered some “screws” not counted precisely enough. E. g., the change from large diameter access hole (punch port) to small diameter hole occurred not before 1929/30 approximately on the 12 gauge A5s. I will correct this and other details in the next days. And: the introduction of locking screws/large carrier latch button/ type 3 safety seems to have been made already in 1908 – I saw photos of a 1908 made gun having already these features….. Still, a lot to learn – and to be corrected. Regards Martin
_________________ Value? Open an auction at GB or AA and in two weeks you'll know exactly....
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zman
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 11:03 am |
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Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:17 pm Posts: 27 Location: michagan
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I got a good one for you. I have a 3 shot that is also a light twelve. According to H.M. Shirley It was never made. serial number #240204 I have been trying to figure out the value of this shotgun and can't get anywhere.
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Decoy
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Fri May 14, 2010 8:11 pm |
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Joined: Mon May 19, 2008 3:41 pm Posts: 386
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OUTSTANDING WORK MARTIN!!
_________________ Browning: "Our ruling principle: Not how cheap or how many, but 'how good can guns be made.'"
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fiasconva
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 5:00 pm |
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Joined: Thu Aug 06, 2009 4:28 pm Posts: 397 Location: York County, VA
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Keeping this in the front pages...
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Researcher01
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Post subject: Re: Timeline for the Browning Auto 5 1903 – 1940 Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 5:04 pm |
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Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2007 11:12 am Posts: 5006 Location: WA/AK
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This really needs to be stickied to the top!!! Wake up admin!!
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