I am new to the forum and shotguns in general, but I am interested in learning more. I recently inherited a shotgun and I am trying to find out more information about it. From the research I have been able to do so far it seems it is a Browning Auto 5. I tried to post a picture, but it says the file is too large so here is what I have found so far (might be too much info but I figured the more detail the better). The barrel states that it is made in Belgium on the right side.

On the left side it says Browning Arms Company St. Louis Mo & Montreal PQ Special Steel 20 GA Shells 2 3/4. There are a few more markings on this side and on the bottom, most notably a PV, a crown with an E and LG under it, and then 'Z15365'. As for the serial number which I assume is on the bottom of the gun it reads 9Z over 16071. The gun also has a gold trigger if that has any significance. Sorry for the novel, the gun looks to be in pretty good shape so I was just curious what the year and value was.

Tried looking at the Browning website to no avail. Thanks in advance guys. The SN is located at the front of receiver/ mag tube loading port. The choke markings are on the right side of barrel, where it state 'browning special steel, 20ga. The actual mark is an '*' and the number of such is the choke single '*' is FULL, five '*' is Skeet. There a sticky at start of the forum regarding the chokes. Recomend that you douwload the '.pdf's' from browning website for the manual and parts list, and order new friction bronzes, steel rings and recoil spring.

These will help with the cycling and felt recoil when you shoot it. Review the ring setting instruction and print out for future reference. Ole Cowboy now you got me confused, are you cracking a joke or is what you stated about the barrel serial number minus the previous year manufacture true??

'V' is the product ID code, in your case, 12ga Mag The number following it is the actual serial number of the gun. The ball or round knob grip is just the style of the day. Browning serial #s (on A5s amoung others) are confusing and were oft changed due to several global and corporate influences. The whole thing goes a little something like this.

I understand what you were asking. The age of the shotgun is related to what the serial number is on the receiver. The barrel was marked 'Z15365'. The receiver is marked 9Z 16071, which would mean it was the 5,171 shotgun made in 1959. (0=5171) The barrels were just added to receivers at this point as I believe they stopped marking the serial numbered barrels to the receivers sometime before this. _________________ We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. Benjamin Franklin.

I am new to the forum and shotguns in general, but I am interested in learning more. I recently inherited a shotgun and I am trying to find out more information about it. From the research I have been able to do so far it seems it is a Browning Auto 5.

I tried to post a picture, but it says the file is too large so here is what I have found so far (might be too much info but I figured the more detail the better). The barrel states that it is made in Belgium on the right side. Pod andreevskim flagom klyuch. On the left side it says Browning Arms Company St. Louis Mo & Montreal PQ Special Steel 20 GA Shells 2 3/4. There are a few more markings on this side and on the bottom, most notably a PV, a crown with an E and LG under it, and then 'Z15365'.

As for the serial number which I assume is on the bottom of the gun it reads 9Z over 16071. The gun also has a gold trigger if that has any significance. Sorry for the novel, the gun looks to be in pretty good shape so I was just curious what the year and value was. Tried looking at the Browning website to no avail. Thanks in advance guys. I would highly recommend this publication.