Find your Browning manufacture date

Lubenator · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2014 12:05 pm **Posts:** 22

Thank you!

Rudolph31 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 12, 2014 5:43 pm

You're welcome! Enjoy your gorgeous shotgun.

Curious, just WHERE are you enjoying it?

Lubenator · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2014 12:05 pm **Posts:** 22

Thank you for asking.

JOESPUD27 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 11, 2014 12:06 pm

I have an A5 20ga 2 3/4in chamber.

Twenty------------- St. Louis & Montreal
1Z over 497XX

This http://www.browning.com/customerservice ... .asp?id=13 just left me more confused.

I also can't seem to find any *'s to denote the choke of the barrel.

Any help is appreciated.

Jay

Rudolph31 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 11, 2014 2:57 pm

Hello Jay,

Your Light Twenty was made in 1961. The "Z" is the code for the Light Twenty, and the "1" is for 1961. The single digit was used from 1958-67. Double digits were used 1968-75 when they switched to letters.

That Browning page is very confusing. It's full of errors and, although they don't say it, it's only for the 12 gauge. This is a much better reference:

http://www.nramuseum.org/media/940941/s ... acture.pdf

Your choke stars should appear just to the left of "SPECIAL STEEL".

JOESPUD27 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 11, 2014 7:05 pm

Thanks. The NRA link is much better.

Looks like 2 *s to the left of the special steel. Modified choke it appears.

It's gramps old 20ga, I'm fairly certain he purchased new.

Jay

supr78nova · **Posted:** Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:16 pm

I was hoping to get some more information regarding the year of production on my father's 12 gauge 2-3/4" chamber A-5. The browning website has some contradictory info, so I am not sure what to make of it.
It has a round knob style stock, FN buttplate, safety to the rear of the trigger, and the barrel is smooth with only a front bead. It is stamped made in Belgium on the RH side of the barrel and says Browning Arms Company St. Louis, MO on the top of the barrel. The serial number on the bottom of the receiver near the ejection port is stamped "M", and below that "156xx".
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Rudolph31 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 23, 2014 1:45 pm

Standard, 1956.

http://www.nramuseum.org/media/940941/s ... acture.pdf

supr78nova · **Posted:** Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:08 pm

thanks for the help

Cobra7 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:34 pm

Got a Auto-5 light 12 with #2G74231. Can't figure it out on Browning's website. Can anyone tell me what year it was made? Thanks

Cobra7 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 28, 2014 12:53 pm

Cobra7 wrote:

Got a Auto-5 light 12 with #2G74231. Can't figure it out on Browning's website. Can anyone tell me what year it was made? Thanks

Figured it out i think. Made in 1962

Opossum · **Posted:** Sat Feb 07, 2015 6:30 pm

I spent a while trying to figure out my serial number and need a bit of help. I'm not sure if it's different in Europe but the serial number has a small 60 followed by 179xx, and also a weird proof mark that I can't find reference of anywhere. I know they went from letters to Greek letters, but this one is a Latin ꟼ or something, with another symbol below.

Is the 60 the year of manufacture? It's got the crossbolt safety, two-piece carrier and magazine cut off so I now it's not an antique

Thanks!

Rudolph31 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 07, 2015 10:15 pm

1960 is correct. The date code appears to be the symbol for "tau", which is for 1960. I didn't think they had opossums in Europe...

http://damascus-barrels.com/Belgian_All_Proofmarks.html

Opossum · **Posted:** Sun Feb 08, 2015 3:08 pm

Thanks for the help, and no I'm not sure there are any opossums over here

Looking forward to shooting the A5 on saturday!

Rudolph31 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 9:51 am

Forgive my nosiness, but what country are you in? Your English makes me think the UK, but in my experience the Dutch speak it better than most Americans do.

Opossum · **Posted:** Mon Feb 09, 2015 12:54 pm

I'm in the UK, and yes the Dutch have excellent English from what I've experienced.

Nice gun, btw!

wearestate56 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 12, 2015 7:27 pm **Posts:** 2

Ok guys lets hope someone can offer some additional help. I have tried to surf numerous websites as well as browning site to try and figure out the age of my A5. I have recently taken ownership from my grandfather and he has zero back info on it cause who knows where he obtain it, he was a man who just bought random sh*t when he saw a deal. Anyway, the gun is a 12 gauge magnum with some scrolling on the receiver. the SN on the underside of the gun has a SN 70374 wit 5V stamped above the number. The barrel SN is VT82918 i believe, I know it is made in Belgium, has rib barrel, believe it is a full choke barrel since it has only 1 astrik on left side of barrell and can handle 3 in magnum shells. If there is anymore information I hope that attach link will help with all pictures I took tonight will help. I also took pictures of all the markings/stamps i could locate on the barrel also.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/

Rudolph31 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2015 9:24 am

Nice gun. Made in 1965.

wearestate56 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 12, 2015 7:27 pm **Posts:** 2

Rudolph31 wrote:

Nice gun. Made in 1965.

Can you explain how you came up with that so I know for personal gain? Also do you know what the 5v mark means?

Rudolph31 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 13, 2015 10:53 am

Yes sir! From 1958-1967 Browning used a single digit for the year of manufacture. They then switched to 2 digits until the system changed around 1975.

The "V" is the code for the 12 gauge magnum, used from introduction to the big change in the '70s.

This is a great reference, and not just for Brownings:

http://www.nramuseum.org/media/940941/s ... acture.pdf

Find your Browning manufacture date

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