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curveman
PostPosted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:01 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Alaska

Is there a web site that you know where you can determine the date of manufacture for browning guns ?

thanks forward

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offhand35
PostPosted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:18 pm  Reply with quote
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Location: Western Connecticut

There are numerous references for dating Browning guns, but I don't think anything direct online.
What are you looking to date, I might be able to help.

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curveman
PostPosted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:44 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 25 Jan 2006
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Location: Alaska

well, I don't have them in hand yet so I can't give you serial numbers. I have two ciori's and a Belgian A-5 in 16

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offhand35
PostPosted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 5:11 am  Reply with quote
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There are 2 references that seem to be the best for dating Browning serial numbers.

For everyting but the Auto-5, I would recommend :
"MATT EASTMAN'S GUIDE TO BROWNING'S SPORTING FIREARMS, Serial Numbers 1903 to Present", published by, Matt Eastman, P O Box 768, Fitzgerald, GA, 311750
He shows s/n dating info on the Auto-5, but his information is outdated for guns made before 1958, and has been surpassed by another book specifically on the A-5
This is a small booklet. I don't know if it is still in print.

If you have interest in the Auto-5, and really want to know a lot about it, you need this book:

BROWNING AUTO-5 SHOTGUNS, The Belgian FN Production, by H.M. Shirley, JR. and Anthony Vanderlinden.
This is available (autographed!) for $59.95 from:

Wet Dog Publications
5603-B West Freiendly Ave.
Suite 166
Greensboro, NC 27410
336-275-0405

www.fn-browning.com

It is fun to get the books, but I can look them up for you when they come in if you like.
We can do it here, or you can e-mail or pm me instead if you like.

David

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budrichard
PostPosted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:07 am  Reply with quote
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http://www.browning.com/services/dategun/index.asp . -Dick
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curveman
PostPosted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:26 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Alaska

Thanks offhand and budrichard for the offers and info. I will resurrect the post should I find I need more help.

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16gaugeguy
PostPosted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:48 am  Reply with quote
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curveman and others, for some reason, browning has omitted the 16 ga citori from the gun type coding info. however, thwe date codes all apply. It just goes to show you, we don't even get respect on data banks.GeeZ Rolling Eyes 16GG
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offhand35
PostPosted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:52 pm  Reply with quote
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You're correct, 16gg, the current date codes will apply to Citori's.
As for the dates of manufacture for Belgian FN guns earlier than even 1967, the references that I mention are better than Browning's website.

I don't know Matt Eastman, but I do know Anthony Vanderlinden and of Mr. Shirley. I do know that a whole lot of work has been done by these 3 individuals to produce far more than what you will see at Browining's website.

Other than that, Browning, for a small fee [I think it's $50] will research a gun to produce a description of the original configuration and its original shipping date and destination from Browning.

I have four A-5's, three of them 65mm 16ga. I plan to get the letter for one of them, but I haven't decided which one yet.

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curveman
PostPosted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:03 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Alaska

Okie Dokie. Thanks for the date code post link, it looks like the two new-to-me Citori's I bought are a 2003 Superlight and a 1987 Grade III. And, that's what I really wanted to know.

Now, the A-5 is another story, it doesn't gel with what I see on Brownings site. It's a Belgian A-5 in 16 with the serial X32051. Any ideas ?

Thanks again everyone.

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john555
PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 6:47 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 14 Jul 2004
Posts: 76
Location: western canada

Curveman

Your A-5 could be a European domestic model that was not manufactured for the overseas market. A lot of these guns were brought back by soldiers returning from WWII. The only way to know for sure is to phone Browning and ask for the historian to check the number. I have two such 16 gauge A-5s that have serial numbers not recognized by North Americian coding. Both of the serial numbers start with Y and are pre-war manufacture.
Hope this is of some help.

Regards
John
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CitoriFeather16
PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 6:56 pm  Reply with quote
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Curveman:

Go to:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewforum.php?f=53&sid=51a9fb1c25e6535db7c3d66cf37b965c

Post your question and serial number and you will get your information. There are some SERIOUS A-5 guys there!

Matt
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Square Load
PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 7:52 pm  Reply with quote
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Curveman,

I have an Auto 5 Ser. #X659xx that was made in '52. I started out on the shotgunworld forums as CitoriFeather suggested and felt like I had it nailed down. Then I called the Browning Historian and he confirmed it. I believe I found his number on the Browning website. You have to do some looking to find it. He will tell you what year it was made but no more. As someone else stated, for $50 they will send you a certificate telling you the mfg. date, shipping date, distributor, etc. He also told me '52 was the first year Browning used the crossbolt safety, which mine has. Browning used the X prefix on the Belgium 16 ga. guns made after WWII until the mid '50's. Yours should be about a '49-'50 model.

Dennis
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curveman
PostPosted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 1:05 am  Reply with quote



Joined: 25 Jan 2006
Posts: 17
Location: Alaska

This A-5 is in absolutely beautiful condition. I acquired it in 1998. I bought a japanese barrel with an invector for it and it is such a joy. It's a little shorter stocked and I think it fits my wife great.

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