Any American Browning experts?

[.45Guy]

I'm hoping someone here could shed some light on whether or not the matte barrel was factory standard. The only information I have been able to locate on this matter is someones sales pitch:

"American Browning" Auto 5 - 20 ga. - Remington produced 1940-1946, during Germany`s occupation of Belgian in WW II. Overall condition is 98% plus and shows no signs of use. Only 11,000 of these 20 ga. guns where built ( C 5000- C 16152 ). Round knob pistol grip with Browning logo hard rubber butt plate. Receiver is Browning stamped and engraved with mag. cut-off. Stock and forend are checkered walnut. Serial number is - C 720X ( 1941 ). Barrel length is - 26" and is the rare plain barrel with 1/4" wide top matting. Barrel is choked - Improved Cylinder ( **- ) and has the Browning stamps and address on left side ( " St. Louis, Mo. " ), also has the same serial number. Buyer pays a fixed shipping and insurance charge of - $35.00. Very Rare - No Ca. Sales Will email additional pictures. Note: Gun has only Browning proof marks and logo stamps to both receiver and barrel. No Remington marks or stamps can be found.

 

[Virginian]

That is not a "matte" barrel as is thought of today. On plain barrel guns they matted a strip along the top to reduce reflection and/or glare. A lot of them were made that way.
I am not a Browning expert, but if it has no Remington markings anywhere, how do you know they built it? I am assuming there are references somewhere that Remington built such and such guns in such and such serial number range.
I had a Browning Auto 5 and have no smidgen of desire for another, but a lot of folks love them.

11,000 made does not make something super rare, but in the condition described I bet they are asking a pretty penny for it.

 

[35Rem]

I have a 26" CYL barreled 20 ga American Browning. The barrel is plain. Not matted. The matting was a Browning thing. Remington didn't do that to their guns.

Remington did it FOR Browning, though. Along with the magazine cut off.

I wouldn't say it's super rare to have the matted barrel, but it would have been an extra cost option. Look in the books for the added value on a Browning A-5 for the matted barrel (NO RIB).

The only Remington mark will be a date code on the barrel.

 

[Gordon]

Adds 20-50$ to price, which is quite a bit higher than the Rem 11 but lower than a Belgian Browning. I've had a couple matted barrel square backs in my day.