A5 16-ga question

S

slick_kipper

Inactive
So I don't know jack squat. Please forgive the technical jargon, but...

I have one. It's a 7XXXX, and I was talking to a guy about it. He said it HAD to have the scribed/engraved twirley swirley stuff on the sides of the doohickie metal part where the exploding things go off. I told him I didn't think it had that stuff on the sides but he wouldn't hear it.

So I'm looking at other XXXXX's online and haven't found one without that stuff on the sides.

What's the deal? Am I just not looking at enough pics? Do some have it and others not, or is it normal for this serial # range?

a5003.jpg
 
Kipper,
What you've got is a 30's FN build BEFORE they put the curliques on. It's also almost certainly a 2 9/16" (65mm) chamber. LH side of the barrel under the forearm will be a horseshoe stamp closest stamp to the breech, I'm betting it says 16 65. Here's a shot of my similar vintage 16ga.
48_18_12_08_10_34_50.jpg


And check out the barrel detail on a later A5, note the stamp on the far right.
48_17_12_08_1_33_41.jpg


Cheers,
R*2
 
According to your serial number, your a5 was built in 1927. FN didn't start putting the engraving on the side of the receiver until appx 1934.
 
Got to love it when people who know stuff about stuff participate in the internet. Thanks Rruss and tbotts.

Very interesting. Yeah it does have the 16 65 stamp on the side of the barrel. Pretty clear what that means (now).

So now I think you guys know everything and I'm inclined to ask. When did the barrels go from Ogden, Utah to St. Louis?

Also, how'd you come by your A5 Rruss? I was told mine was a gift to my dad when he was ~16 from his uncle who brought it back from Europe "after the war." I'm afraid to use the thing it's been sitting in a gun cabinet, unused, since probably 1960.
 
Kipper,
Got my first 16ga just a coupla' months ago off the net. I got bitten by the A5 bug when I got my hands on a Light Twelve about 6 months ago. The Belgium FN guns are IMO wonderfully built, and the Browning design concept is excellent, possibly THE genius of firearms innovation and development of all time. I'm surprised if your gun is marked Ogden, Utah, if the story is correct that it was brought back from Europe, I've read that the first 10,000 shipped to the States by FN were so marked. Should be a serial # stamped on the barrel lug, should match the one on the receiver. If this thread catches Jeff's eye, I'm sure he can give much more, (and much better!) opinion than I.
I'm just the beginner afficianado, {;o).
Here's a pic of the "curlique" variety from 1939;
48_18_12_08_12_13_05.jpg
.
The earlier one in my first post I got about 3 days after this one arrived, walked in to one of the local gunshops and it had arrived an hour or so before. Not as in good a shape and with a polychoke, but the price was right.
And here's a link to parts and manuals and some history if you want to read/learn more. Ammo is available and they are eminently shootable, I reload, so that brings the price way down, but not recommended as an easy place to start shotshell reloading.
http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/ctgy/browning-auto-5
All the best, and happy to answer and help,
R*2
 
Really like the look of the engraving on the receiver, and it's already on what I too consider an elgant and well-constructed piece of hardware.

The story of how the gun came into the family has been passed on a few times so it's certainly possible that the details have changed over the years.
SN on the barrel does match that of the receiver though.

Appreciate the link. Have to admit I'm a little taken with this weapon.

Thanks again,
SK
 
Just a quick question while information is being shared about 16 gauges. I stumbled acroos several boxes of Remington 16 gauge shells in the green and red boxes. They are the short shells. Does anyone have an idea of worth or know where one might check to find out same? Great picture on the site you provided.
 
olddrum,
Here's a company that's producing the short hulls, you could check out Gunbroker and the like to see if there's "collector value". Fiochi I believe also sells them. Being a reloader, I've never really tracked the pricing or availability, components are available, and wad selection is increasing.
http://www.rstshells.com/
Sell 'em to Kipper, {;o), betcha' he could use a coupla' boxes.
Cheers,
R*2
 
Yeah, hey, what's the deal here? I can't shoot 2 3/4"? I need 2 3/4?:confused:



Uh, nevermind, I just re-read the thread.
 
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