1936

Overview No known design changes.

Serial number range 12 gauge 191605 - 194535

Serial number range 16 gauge 103501 - 105850

1937

Overview 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.

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

Outstanding post Martin.

I think the moderator should place it at the top of the forum with a "sticky".

Hi Tijeras_Slim,

Thanks you! I appreciate your positive feedback.

Honestly, I expected some more reactions on my “article”….

Regards

Martin

I think most of us are just standing here with our mouths hanging open in amazement.

Your post really does stand alone.

Thanks for the great post. I added it to this sticky. viewtopic.php?f=53&t=70794

Hard to make it it's own sticky since this forum already has so many.

Thanks for the Great refrence .I am shure it will be usefull JUST MAKE IT A STICKY ALREADY

Congratulations!

The best "Screw Counter" wins.

Excellent work and detail.

Thanks from all.

Will

Martin,

Superb post, as usual. Now, I've got to start trying to find one of each example...thanks alot!

Tyler

Great article and most valuable information. I do hope this ends up as a sticky here. Thanks!

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,

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.

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.

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?

Hi A5guy,



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:



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

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.

OUTSTANDING WORK MARTIN!!

Keeping this in the front pages...

This really needs to be stickied to the top!!! Wake up admin!!