Belgian Browning Auto 5 barrel age?

[Toscano]

I have a 30", Belgian made, Browning Auto 5 barrel with a serial number of V388XX...I would appreciate it if anyone can help me identify the vintage of this barrel. Pre 1954?

 

[bigjohnson]

I don't know the age of your barrel, but would be interested in buying it to install in my Auto-5. Some idiot cut the barrel on my gun back to 21 inches and installed a huge aluminum Cutts compensator. Send me a PM and let me know what you want for the barrel. Maybe we can make a deal.

 

[Blue Line]

you can call Browning and they will tell you. I don't have the number but you can google it. I called a few years ago to check the age of my A5.

 

[coyotehitman]

I did not see what gauge it is, but if it is a 16 gauge, I am interested as well.

 

[JohnBT]

I looked for that number last night and couldn't find one starting with a V anywhere - internet or in my books. Lots of complaints about incomplete lists on the web, but no leading V.

Browning has used a V in other positions in the SN to indicate Magnum, but that's about all I turned up.

It doesn't happen to have an 0 in front of the V does it?

John

 

[Toscano]

barrel age

No "O" in front of the "V". I called the Browning head office and after a lengthy search it was concluded that because barrel serial #s were discontinued after 1955 that the barrel # could possibly reflect the receiver number minus their prefixes...they told me they had no way to track barrel numbers without the receiver #. I still think there is something somewhere which would make the link. One thing for sure, this barrel is definitely a Belgian FN produced barrel and not a Remington.