Browning Auto 5 20 Gauge Serial Numbers

Just bought a 1926 Browning A-5 16 ga today, serial number 421XX. The owner said the barrel was modified by a Browning to add a ring between the barrel and receiver so that it shoots 2 3/4 ammo. Find out more about these functional and collectable 20-gauge shotguns from the iconic Browning company. Federal Premium Adds 10mm Auto HST To The Lineup. Collecting Browning’s First 20-Gauges. Nick Hahn-December 4, 2014.

Date Historic Information Serial Number Info 1903-1939 First 10,000 shipped to U.S. Marked with 'BROWNING AUTOMATIC ARMS CO. OGDEN UTAH-U.S.A.'

Very few serial number records remain. Beginning with Serial Number 1 to approximately 228,000. Exact production figures are not available. Year of manufacture on Pre-World War II production is strictly a guess. 1940-1946 From 1940 to 1946 production of the Auto-5 was turned over to Remington. Serial number is on the side of receiver. 'ABC' for American made Version.

(A=16 gauge, B-12 gauge, C=20 gauge) 1946+229,000-237,000 1947 200 1948 200 1949 200 1950 200 1951 300 1952 F.N. Took over production of the Auto-5.

300 1953 300 1954-55 Serial Numbering System changed. H=Standard Weight. L=Light Weight. H1-H83000 L1-L Serial Number designation for the Light Weight changed to G.

H83001-H99000 G1-G Serial Numbering System changed again. M=Standard Weight. G=Light Weight. M22000-M85000 G0 1958-67 From 1958 serial numbers were preceded by the date of manufacture. 8M=standard weight for 1958. 8G=light weight for 1958. Example: 8M1000 = A 1958 Auto-5 standard weight shotgun with serial number 1000 G85001-G99000 8G1-8G2000 M=standard weight G=light weight 1968-76 In 1969 Browning started using two digits for the date of manufacture which was followed by a four digit code that identified the type of Auto-5: M=standard weight G=light weight This was then followed by the serial number beginning with 1000.

Example: 69G1000 = A 1969 Auto-5 Lightweight 12 ga. Shotgun with a serial number of 1000. M-standard weight G=light weight 1976-1997 In 1976 Browning standardized its serial number identification which it followed until 1998. Auto-5 Type 151=Magnum 12 gauge 161=Magnum 20 gauge 211=Light 12 gauge 221=Sweet 16 231=Light 20 gauge 2. The practice season 6 torrent download.

Date of Manufacture is a two digit code Z=1 Y=2 X=3 W=4 V=5 T=6 R=7 P=8 N=9 M=0 3. Serial Number beginning with 01001 at the start of each year. Serial Number Example: 01001RT151 This would be an Auto-5 Magnum 12 ga.,manufactured in 1976 with the serial number 01001. 1999 The Auto-5 will be discontinued for 2000. To commemorate this historic event for the Auto-5, Browning released the 'Final Tribute' version in 1999.

Serial Number beginning with 1001 at the start of each year. Date of Manufacture is a two digit code 2000 (distribution began in 1999) 3. Auto-5 Type FT='Final Tribute' 12 ga. Serial Number Example: 2000FT1001 This would be a Auto-5 'Final Tribute' 12 ga., manufactured in 1999 with the serial number 1001.

THE AUTOMATIC FIVE (A-5) Production of the A-5 began at F.N. In 1902, with the first gun, serial number 1, shipped to the U.S. September 17, 1903. Serial number 206 was the first gun shipped to a foreign country. Twelve gauge guns only were usually offered in the U.S. Until 1925, but production of the 16 gauge began in 1909.

In 1958, the 20 gauge was added to the line; 20 gauge magnums were added in 1967. The 'Sweet 16' was introduced in catalogs in 1937.

Lightweight 12 gauges were made as early as 1946. Browning had enough confidence in his new invention to order 10,000 Auto Fives when they were first produced.

These guns were marked, 'BROWNING AUTOMATIC ARMS CO. OGDEN UTAH-U.S.A.'

Very few guns marked in this way will be found. In 1931 the first real Browning catalog appeared. From 1924 to 1931 letters and folders were used to list the guns. A corporation was formed in 1927 to sell Browning guns.

Headquarters were in Ogden, Utah until 1970, when offices were moved to Mountain Green, Utah with a Morgan, Utah mailing address. Prior to 1924, few serial records remain. Browning and F.N.

Rcords give the following dates of manufacture for the A-5. Serial numbers began near 3000 in 1924.

Figures quoted here are for Browning and F.N.sales world wide and are approximate due to missing records. DATES OF MANUFACTURE A-5 Year Start End 1924 3000 0 1926 0 1927 0 1928 0 1929 0 1930 00 1931 100 1932 100 1933 100 1934 100 1935 100 1936 100 1937 100 1938 200 1939 200 1940-1946 WAR YEARS. NO PRODUCTION FOR CIVILIANS AT F.N. FROM 1946 TO 1951 PRODUCTION WAS BY REMINGTON IN THE U.S. ACCORDING TO RECORDS FROM BROWNING AND REMINGTON, APPROXIMATELY 45,000 12 GAUGE, 25,000 16 GAUGE AND 20,000 20 GAUGE GUNS WERE PRODUCED BY REMINGTON.

BY 1952, F.N. WAS AGAIN PRODUCING THE A-5. Year Start End 1946 200 1947 200 1948 200 1949 200 1950 200 1951 300 1952 300 1953 300 BEGINNING OF NEW SERIAL NUMBER SYSTEM IN 1954 H means STANDARD WEIGHT L means LIGHT WEIGHT 1954&55 H39000 H83000 L42000 L H83000 H99000 Lightwgt Gl-G NEW DESIGNATIONS WITH 'M' FOR STANDARD WGT. 'G' FOR LIGHTWEIGHT. 1957 M22000 M85000 G23000 G G85001 G99000 8G1 8G28000 From 1958, serial numbers are preceded by the year of manufacture code. In this system, the first numeral is the date of manufacture, the next figure is the model code.