Grade 4 Engraved Browning FN Auto-5 12 GA Semi-Automatic Shotgun 1925 C&R

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Sold for $7517.95

Make: Made by FN in Belgium for Browning

Model: Auto 5, Grade 4

Serial Number: 76319

Year of Manufacture: 1925

Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 3/4? Shells

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

Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “FULL 12 SPECIAL STEEL” and with Belgian proof marks, the right is marked “MADE IN BELGIUM”. The bottom-rear of the barrel is marked “CHOKE 18.1”, “* / M”, and with a Liege proof. The top of the barrel extension has Belgian proofs and an inspection mark. The top-front of the forend is marked “76319”. The left of the receiver is marked “FABRIQUE NATIONALE D’ARMES DE GUERRE HERSTAL BELGIQUE / BROWNIN’S PATENT DEPOSE”, the right of the receiver has Belgian proofs and the bottom-front is marked “FN” in oval, with the serial number and an inspection mark. The right of the bottom tang is marked “76319”. The lower tang cut on the buttstock is marked “73773”. The right of the bolt has Belgian proofs. The receiver has Grade 4 Type VI engraving inlaid with gold with motif on the barrel at the rear.

Barrel Length: 29 1/2” Vent Rib

Choke: Full, Fixed

Sights / Optics: There is a white bead in a base mounted to the front of the rib. The top of the rib and receiver are serrated for glare reduction.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with round-bottom pistol grip, straight comb, weave textured Pachmayr buttpad and finger grooves running the length of the forend. There is a thin crack in the right side of the grip and on the left side of the forearm. There is some material loss on the bottom of the checkering on the forend. There are sparsely scattered little nicks and draglines about the wood. The checkering is well defined where not interrupted. The LOP measures 14 3/4″ & 13 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad and wood, respectively. The pad has light wear. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-Plus condition and would rate higher if not for the cracks.

Type of Finish: Blue & Gold

Finish Originality: Original

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

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 83% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at the edges. There are several scratches throughout the receiver as well as a light even layer of surface oxidation. There is a small streak of finish loss on the bottom of the receiver. There is also light finish loss on either side of the barrel near the. There are some scattered minor nicks and scratches on the barrel as well. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly disfigured with a useable slot. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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. It was the first successful semi-automatic shotgun design, and remained in production until 1998. The name of the shotgun designates that it is an autoloader with a capacity of five rounds, four in the magazine and one in the chamber. Remington Arms and Savage Arms sold variants called the Remington Model 11 and Savage Model 720 that were nearly identical but lacked the magazine cutoff found on the Browning. Browning Auto-5s are cool. Pre-War Auto-5s are even cooler. Pre-War Grade 4 Auto-5s with the distinctive gold-filled type VI engraving are among the coolest. This example is a 12 gauge made in 1925. It looks like this gun has actually seen some responsible use in the field. This will make a neat addition to a Browning collection and would make for an eye-catching gun at the range or a classy field gun for the lucky winner. Please see our photos and good luck!