My grandfather has a Belgium Browning Auto-5 that he has had for about 15 years and now would like to know a little more about it. I have been trying to date it but couldn't figure out from the serial number. It is in about 25% condition and the serial number is Y10XX. Using Browning's website they don't list Y as a prefix for any model year. If anyone could tell me or give me a link to a website that would tell me the year of manufacture or approximate value that would be very much appreciated.
Browning Auto-5 16ga help
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If memory serves. During WWII for servicemen only, and for a couple of years afterward, Remington who was building the Model 11 a licensed clone, built Browning marked guns. The give-a-way if I remember was the serials were on the side not underneath the receiver. Each gauge started with a different letter.
The info is online somewhere.
The info is online somewhere.
I have already looked at Browning's website and could find anything of value there. It does have the serial number on the underside of the receiver in front of the loading gate and it begins with a Y which is what I can't find. It also says "Made in Belgium" on the barrel but doesn't have Import marks. The man that my Grandfather traded with said it had been his grandfather's shotgun and that gentleman was in his late thirties at the time.
Are you sure that "Y" isn't an "X"?
The Y prefix was European, and was made between 3/11/54 and 6/27/74. According to my source, there were only two of those exported to the US (both reportedly in 1956), and neither is your serial number.
Perhaps the man was in the armed services and brought a gun back with him from Europe?
Keep in mind, that prefix doesn't make it any more rare or valuable, just means that it's a gun that wasn't built for the US market.
Now, what doesn't make sense about that is that you indicate it's a Browning. John Browning designed the gun, but Browning hasn't ever built any shotguns, instead they have farmed it out to other companies. A gun built on that patent for the European market wouldn't say "Browning" anywhere on the gun (other than maybe something like "Browning's patent"). It should say "FN" or "Fabrique Nationale" who was the company that actually built the Belgian made run of Brownings for Browning.
Perhaps one of the A5 experts will be along with more information...
The Y prefix was European, and was made between 3/11/54 and 6/27/74. According to my source, there were only two of those exported to the US (both reportedly in 1956), and neither is your serial number.
Perhaps the man was in the armed services and brought a gun back with him from Europe?
Keep in mind, that prefix doesn't make it any more rare or valuable, just means that it's a gun that wasn't built for the US market.
Now, what doesn't make sense about that is that you indicate it's a Browning. John Browning designed the gun, but Browning hasn't ever built any shotguns, instead they have farmed it out to other companies. A gun built on that patent for the European market wouldn't say "Browning" anywhere on the gun (other than maybe something like "Browning's patent"). It should say "FN" or "Fabrique Nationale" who was the company that actually built the Belgian made run of Brownings for Browning.
Perhaps one of the A5 experts will be along with more information...
I am certain it says Browning and has the Browning bust on the side opposite the ejection port. I called Browning today and they also asked that I make sure it is a Y not an X. I called my grandfather and both him and my grandmother say that it is a Y. I will try and get some nice pictures of it when I go visit them this weekend. I will post them as soon as i have them. Maybe that will help.
Also it does have the FN buttplate that says Browning Automatic around the sides.
Also it does have the FN buttplate that says Browning Automatic around the sides.
Finally got the pictures uploaded. Here is the link.
http://s1170.photobucket.com/albums/r521/zdc1775/
http://s1170.photobucket.com/albums/r521/zdc1775/
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I talked to Glen the Browning historian yesterday afternoon. He was able to tell me that the gun was made in 1954 and that the Y series was only made for sale in Europe. He also told me that if I ever wanted to sell it to call him because he would have several buyers interested in it. After hearing that my grandfather has asked me to call him back and see how much it would be worth because he doesn't want his son to get it and my mother is a prohibited person. So if any of you have had a chance to look at the photos what do you think it would be worth? If it is something that I would be able to afford I will give him the money for it to keep it in the family and maybe one day pass on to my son if I ever have one.
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