Browning Miroku Auto-5 A5 Ducks Unlimited 50th Year Semi-Auto Shotgun, 1987

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Sold for $3458.00

Make: Miroku in Japan for Browning

Model: Auto-5 Ducks Unlimited 50th Year Commemorative

Serial Number: 87DU00209

Year of Manufacture: 1987

Gauge: 12 gauge with 2 3/4” Chamber

Action Type: Long-Recoil, Semi-Automatic, Tubular Magazine Fed Shotgun

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q. / MADE IN JAPAN”. The right side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING AUTO-5 / ** SPECIAL STEEL 12GA. SHELLS-2 3/4?-28? / BROWNING PATENTS”. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number at the front. The left of the receiver is marked “DUCKS UNLIMITED” on a banner and with a monogram showing a duck and a world map in the background and reads “DUCKS UNLIMITED / 50th”. The receiver has engraved floral scrolls and ducks throughout. The left side of the receiver also bears the engraver’s name “M. NOZAKI”.

Barrel Length: 28?, Vent-Rib

Choke: Fixed, Modified

Sights / Optics: This shotgun is mounted with a steel bead at the front of the ventilated rib. The top of the rib is finely checkered and the top of the receiver is serrated to reduce glare.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered deluxe walnut with finger-grooved forend, round-bottom pistol grip, straight comb and a press checkered black Browning buttpad. There is light storage wear but no major imperfections. The checkering has a few spots of light wear, but is generally sharp. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 14 1/8? from the front of the trigger to the back of the pad. The pad has minor discoloration. Overall, the stocks are in Fine-Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blue & Stainless

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are two small spots of interrupted finish on the right side of the barrel. Otherwise, only light handling marks are present. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in about Fine-Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is a magazine cutoff on the left front of the receiver, a safety at the rear of the trigger guard and a bolt release on the right side of the receiver. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Browning Automatic 5, most often Auto-5 or simply A-5, is a recoil-operated semi-automatic shotgun designed by John Browning. The Browning Auto-5 was the first mass-produced semi-automatic shotgun. Designed by John Browning in 1898 and patented in 1900, it was produced continually for almost 100 years by several makers with production ending in 1998. It features a distinctive high rear end, earning it the nickname “Humpback”. It is also an important piece of Browning/Winchester history.

John Browning had previously sold his designs to Winchester for lump-sum payments, turning over all of the patents related to a particular model. Winchester had gotten in the habit of having their engineers and attorneys assist Browning in filing for his patents, in order to ensure that when they received those same patents they would be airtight. Browning’s experiences with Colt and FN had convinced him that he would be better off licensing his designs rather than selling them outright, but when he presented this to Winchester, they refused his terms. This ended the relationship between Winchester and Browning.

Browning would eventually license the design to FN in Europe and later to Remington for their Model 11 and to Savage Arms for their Models 720 and 755. These designs went on to be a great commercial success, the first truly successful autoloading shotgun. This Auto-5 was built by Miroku in Japan in 1987 to commemorate the 50th year of Ducks Unlimited. It features beautiful floral scroll and duck engravings done by engraver M. Nozaki. The gun appears to have seen little use, if any. It appears this one spent more time in a safe than at the range. This should still make for a great hunting gun for the lucky winner but would also make a nice addition for collectors. Please see our photos and good luck!