Browning FN Auto-5 A5 A-5 20 GA 26” 2 ¾” Semi Auto Shotgun, 1963 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,702.00
LSB#: LSB250609DM094
Make: Fabrique Nationale for Browning Arms
Model: A5
Serial Number: 3Z70930
Year of Manufacture: 1963
Gauge: 20 Gauge, 2 3/4” Chamber
Action Type: Long Recoil Semi Automatic Shotgun fed by tubular magazine
Markings: Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “ “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY ST LOUIS Mo. & MONTREAL P.Q. / MADE IN BELGIUM”” with a series of Belgian proof marks and “N28303”. The right side of the barrel is marked “** SPECIAL STEEL- 20 GA.- SHELLS 2 ¾”. The left side of the receiver is marked “Twenty / ® / BROWNING” with a bust portrait of John M. Browning. The underside has the serial number. The receiver, tangs and trigger guard have tasteful Grade I engraving.
Barrel Length: 26 ”
Choke: Fixed: Cylinder
Sights / Optics: This shotgun is mounted with a silver colored bead at the muzzle.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two-piece checkered walnut set with a rounded semi-pistol grip, fluted straight comb, black composite “FN BROWNING AUTOMATIC” buttplate, and finger grooves running the length of the forend. The stocks have scattered light impression marks and scratches. The checkering is sharp. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 ½ ” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in a Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. There is no erosion. This writer rates it at 10/10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The receiver, tangs and barrel show operational wear, fading, and blueing loss around the edges. The barrel shows very little fading, some light scattered scratches and some light handling marks. The screw heads are lightly tooled with good slots. The markings and engravings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in a Fine 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. His patent dated 1903 read, in part:
“My invention relates to an improvement in recoil-operated magazine firearms in which all of the several operations of the arm, with the single exception of pulling the trigger, are performed by power derived from successive explosions of the cartridges in cartridge-chamber…”
His invention did all of that, in a way so successful that it was produced continually for almost 100 years by several makers with production ending in 1998.
Browning presented his design to Winchester, where he had sold his rifle designs, but they refused his terms. He then went to Remington, but the president of the company died while he was waiting to offer them the gun. Browning then took the gun to FN in Europe and was so confident of his design that his first order was for 10,000 shotguns. The design was later licensed to Remington for their Model 11 and to Savage Arms for their Models 720 and 755.
The first mass-produced semi-automatic shotgun featured a distinctive high rear end, earning it the nickname “Humpback”.
This Auto-5 was built by FN in 1963 with simple but nice engraving. It is chambered for 20 GA. 2 3/4” shells and has a 25 ½” barrel choked Improved Cylinder. The gun appears to have seen limited use. The barrel, marked with the Browning choke code for modified, seems to have been bored out to cylinder. This should still make for a great classic quail or grouse hunting gun for the lucky winner, but would also be a neat addition to a Browning collection. Please see our photos. -C.B.
