JesseO,

It sounds like you have a Belgium made 1948 Light Twelve. The Remington or " American Brownings" were made from 1940 to 1947. FN resumed shipments to Browning in 1946. The American made Brownings had the serial number on the side of the receiver. The Belgium ones had the number on the bottom of the receiver.

Yes, the forearm, stock, barrel, large receiver screws and bolt should match the serial number on the receiver. The Light Twelve versions of the Auto-5's had milled out receivers, 3 holes in the barrel ring and hollowed out stocks to reduce weight. The gold plated trigger and front safety were features of the light weight guns. FN began engraving "Light Twelve" on the receiver in 1948. Is your receiver engraved Light Twelve?

Your barrel has already been cut when the aftermarket choke was installed so it won't make a difference in value if you cut it again. I think the shortest factory barrel made at that time was 26". Its your preference.

If you fill in the holes in the receiver try to go back with a rust blue finish on the gun as that is the way they were finished back then. I would caution against spending too much money on this gun as their values have not gone up much but if you intend to keep it for a long time then have fun with it and shoot it as much as possible. They are fun to shoot and hunt with and nearly indestructible.

 

I agree with everything said by NDube. I'd just like to add, NEVER GO BACK TO THAT BROWNING PAGE! It's full of errors and omissions, and is especially confusing if you should ever obtain a 16 gauge. Go here instead:

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

Enjoy your Auto-5.

 

One more thing, ELG isn't an import mark, it's the final proof mark. It stands for "Epreuve de Liege" or Proof of Liege.

 

Thank you fro all your replies. This was my first post here, and as soon as I hit "submit" I realized I'd not added pictures. Here they are..

JesseO

 

post a pic tutorial pm sent {hs# it is only impossible if you give up otherwise it is a royal pain until you get the hang of it.

 

Gonna try this ...

Also, it is not engraved "Light Twelve". Is that a problem? There are three holes on the barrel ring and it is stamped with a "L" on the ring. I've not checked the stock closely yet to see if it is hollow.

 

And thanks Goad for the advice!!!!!!!!!!!!! {hs#

 

If this is a 1948 gun, the trigger plate has been changed to the cross bolt safety.

 

I was wondering about that!!! Also the receiver bolt on the ejector side does not match. So obviously, some work has been done to the gun!! Can anyone tell me what years the cross bolt safety was used?

 

First cross bolt safety was 1951-1959. That is the style you have. Type two came out in 1960. Might wanna give Browning a call for the details/history. Looks like your gun was either fit with the later safety after 1948 or your gun was originally sold in the early fifties with the newer saftey. It appears to be one of the last unmarked 1948 light twelve. Very nice shooter. I love that choke.

 

I like the choke also....I would not cut the barrel.

 

That choke is cool.

Yours is only the third unmarked Light Twelve I've heard of. They only made them from 1946 to 1948 and were identified by the gold trigger and safety. Sometime in 1948 they started engraving the name, and sometime in 1951 they started using a blued cross bolt safety. Too bad someone swapped out trigger plates, it's a rare gun.

 

Well, it sounds like I should spend $39.95 and get a letter from Browning!!! Never thought I'd have a gun I'd get lettered. This is actually my second one. The other one is a Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless from the 1880's that I'm thinking of getting a letter for. That said, the Browning will be first one I get!!!

 

Well, it sounds like I should spend $39.95 and get a letter from Browning!!!

First, give the Browning historian, Glen Jensen, a call at 800-456-6021 x3256. He'll be able to tell you for free whatever he might also put in the official letter.

Second, as others have suggested, this gun is a shooter. The collectors will look at the aftermarket choke and immediately walk away from it.

Finally, it's one hell of a shooter. Eight decades after its introduction, the A5 remains one of the great shotguns ever made, and to _me_ the aftermarket choke only adds to its value. If you do plan to use it, I would very strongly recommend that you take it to a gunsmith with A5 experience. The $50-60 you'll pay for a thorough cleaning and inspection should address the common problems people encounter and give you a gun you can enjoy for decades to come.

Enjoy!
Dave

 

Thanks!!! I'll give him a call!!! Oh, I plan on using it!!! I realize the collector aspect of it is diminished considerably given to all the work that has been done to it, but I'm still a history buff!!! I don't think that having it lettered will increase it's collectability any, but it won't hurt and my kids will love it!! This is one of those guns that I wish could talk and tell me all it's done, what kind of people owned it, where it's been, etc. I know, I'm a bit of a dreamer!!
JesseO

 

Mr Jensen has been called. I talked with him personally and he will be getting back to me!!! Thanks for the contact Dave!!! I will post here what he told me!!

 

This is one of those guns that I wish could talk and tell me all it's done, what kind of people owned it, where it's been, etc. I know, I'm a bit of a dreamer!!

I've often felt the very same thing. There often are clues … a full choke suggests a trap shooter, wear on the bottom of the receiver suggests a gun that was carried through the field. Look for anything that looks odd and let us know.

Enjoy!
Dave

 

Just heard back from Glen Jensen. All he found was that it was sold on May 17th, 1948. That is all!!! Serial numbers on either side of mine were all Light 12's, so it was definitely a Light 12. Kind of disappointing, but I'm glad I didn't spend $39.95 to find just that out!!!!

As for anything interesting, I can tell it's seen a lot of field time!!! The edges of the receiver are worn from a gun case and the barrel is worn from the slide action. But it was well taken care of!!! Outside of the slide marks, the barrel is beautiful!!! It was a slug gun at one time, judging by the scope holes on the top of the receiver. The power pac choke on it is medium range, so maybe a pheasant or duck gun after it was a slug gun??

The forearm is cracked in two places and the stock can be moved slightly forwards and backwards. I can fix the forearm (I think) with a fiberglass patch, but it is really oily. I'm thinking, if I want a dependable shooter, I may want to invest $40 on a "shock resistant" forearm from Numrich and a $65 stock from Boyd's. Both would be walnut, but neither would be checkered. For another $100-150, I can have them machine etched in a checkered pattern, but I'm not sure I'd do that. What do they call that in business ... the point of diminishing returns??

Anyway, I love my new A-5 and I thank you all for sharing this with me!!! I've learned a LOT these past few days!!!

JesseO

 

The forearm is cracked in two places and the stock can be moved slightly forwards and backwards. I can fix the forearm (I think) with a fiberglass patch, but it is really oily. I'm thinking, if I want a dependable shooter, I may want to invest $40 on a "shock resistant" forearm from Numrich and a $65 stock from Boyd's.

If you shop around (eBay, Gunbroker, the clearance table at your local gun store), you'll likely stumble into an A5 stock or two or three. The gun was made for so long and was so popular that the pieces are out there.

New, the Champion (formerly Ram Line) synthetic stock lists for about $80, but street prices are much lower. It's not a thing of beauty, but it works just fine and will absorb any abuse.

That will buy you time if you might be inclined to repair and refinish the stock yourself. Or, you can send it off to one of the Browning restoration specialists (like Art's). They'll make it look as beautiful as the day it left Liege.

Enjoy!
Dave

 

These are as rare as the unmarked Sweet Sixteen. Another case for a collectable shooter category. It has the credentials but was modified from original. :wink:

 

Rudolph31
I'm eyeing another unmarked Light Twelve, 2 barrel set in original condition with a nice Hartman case. It has some wear to it but is unmolested. The barrels are both vent rib. I think the asking price is a little high at $1400.

 

Thanks, NDube. Is there a link for it? It's more than I'm prepared to spend but I'd like to see it.

What's new with yours? Also, please post a link to your auctions, I've not been able to find them. Maybe I can get another one of these:

 

Rudolph31,
The gun is listed on Guns America. If you do a search on "A5", Its about the 8th gun down. Its pictured with a case and 2 barrels. He only has one picture but you can see the gold trigger and safety. I asked for more pictures and after looking at them I gave him a lowball offer. He called the owner and the owner accepted the offer. He then proceeded to tell me that he had a 1949 Sweet Sixteen with a VR barrel from the same owner all matching and original. He gave me a great deal on both guns and I took it. I have a Browning problem! They are coming from Rapid City, SD. Goad, are you close to Rapid City?
I recently sold a few, needing restoration, on GB but mainly I have been buying.

 

Yes! I get to Rapid City a couple times a month. I have been eye balling those guns for a couple months now. That case is worth 250.00. The Sweet Sixteen is in great shape you are gonna love it. Both guns were a little high priced for me. I couldn't get him in range. The two barrel set is a mismatched set. The unmarked Light Twelve is righteous but the extra barrel is a stray.

 

Wow...you get around Goad! Yes, only one barrel had a matching serial number on the 12ga. The case looks mint and had the keys. The Sweet was all matching numbers but it did not look like it had a gold trigger and safety from the pics. What sold me was the uncut stocks and no after market chokes. He said they had had them for a while and just wanted out. I didn't pay anywhere close to there asking price.