doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com FN Browning Auto5: safety date?

When did they change from push forward (front of triggerguard) to push sideways (back of triggerguard)? Thanks.

With kind regards,
Jani

Jani:

During WWII when Remington took over production of the A-5 from Herstal, they made that change........and after WWII when Herstal produced them again that change was retained.......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Auto-5

Remington had been building guns with rear trigger block saftey's since the turn of the century, so it was a natural change for them.......

Best,

Thanks, Doug.
BTW, am I the only one who prefer the old type safety?

With kind regards,
Jani

NO, me too Jani......!......I think they felt having the safety bar behind the trigger blocking rear movement was more "fail safe" and definitely cheaper to produce.......probably true, but I still prefer the old front style same as you......

Best,

1929 16 gauge......

The John M. Browning designed Remington Autoloading Shotgun, as introduced in 1905, had the original Browning lever safety, inside the trigger guard, same as the original 1903 FN produced A5s, as on this 1909 vintage No. 6 "Premier" Grade --



This style safety was retained by Remington Arms Co. and when Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co. began call in the gun the Model No. 11 --



it remained in use. When the company became Remington Arms Co., Inc. in 1920, the "suicide" safety was still in use on the Model 11. It wasn't until 1928 that Remington Arms Co., Inc. changed the 12-gauge Model 11 to the cross-bolt safety behind the trigger guard. The 20-gauge Model 11, introduced in 1930 and the 16-gauge Model 11 introduced in 1931, always had the cross-bolt safety.

Jani:

Here's a circa 1910 Remington with the rear trigger block saftey as it was later incorporated into the A-5 Browning during the WWII.......

This particular safety looks like the exact same trigger safety that was initially used at first by the Remington built Brownings during WWII.......



Best,

Thanks guys.
I remember the original Browning lever safety (inside triggerguard) from an old Stevens 520 pump I used to have in my youth.
I never liked cross-bolt safities; pushing or sliding forward is more natural to me.

With kind regards,
Jani

According to Shirley & Vanderlinden, FN continued to produce the A5 with the safety in the front of the triggerguard after WW-II. The 12-gauges changed to the cross bolt in April 1951 and the 16-gauges in August 1951.

Yes that sounds correct as I noticed one from circa 1948 with the old type safety.

With kind regards,
Jani

Jani:

According to Arts & Reference House Browning Dates of Manufacture for the A-5 Browning by George Madis:

"1940-1946 War Years, No production for civilians at F.N"

From 1946 to 1951 production was by Remington in the U.S.

According to Records from Browning and Remington, Remington produced approximately 45,000 12 gauge, 25,000 16 gauge and 20,000 20 gauge guns. By 1952 F.N. was again in production producing the A-5.

The Remington produced A-5 Browning had the rear trigger safety block.....

Remington produced Browning A-5 serial ranges:

1946---serial 229000-237000
1947---serial 237001-249000
1948---serial 249001-270000
1949---serial 270001-285000
1950---serial 285001-315000
1951---serial 315001-346000
1952---serial 346001-387000 - partial as F.N. started production again.

Remington produced Browning A-5's....






Best,

That is not right. FN was back in A5 production by late 1945, with the highest 12-gauge A5 serial number 240950 to the warehouse on 12/31/45. By 12/31/51 they were up to 352050. In 16-gauges 128116 was the highest serial number to the warehouse on 12/31/45, and 131738 on 6/15/48. In 1947 they began the X-series 16-gauge serial numbers which overlapped the straight six-digit serial numbers from late 1946 into 1948 and then were the norm until 1953. The Remington produced A5s had letter prefixes to the serial numbers -- C for 20-gauges, B for 12-gauges and A for 16-gauges. Remington production of A5s for Browning ended in June 1942. Some were probably still being sold out of inventory in 1948, as the Stoeger catalogue for that year still shows both the "American" Browning A5s and the Belgian made Brownings. The 1950 Stoeger catalogue only has the 16- and 12-gauge Belgian made A5s, still with the safety in the front of the trigger guard, and is also showing 12- and 20-gauge Superposeds.

Also see production:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Auto-5

PA24

Sorry, but Researcher is correct. I'm looking at my std.A5 16 gauge made by FN in 1949 with the early safety in front of the triggerguard.
Serial # is X25xxx.
Belgium made by FN for Browning, not made by Remington.

Jeff

That table from Art's certainly doesn't agree with Shirley & Vanderlinden.

Fuller, you are right, PA24 was wrong in his first post. 1951 was the cutoff year, as Researcher stated.

Bill,

PA24 was not wrong, he provided his reference material.

He was simply misled by information that since the time of printing has been shown to be inaccurate.

Will

Researcher,
That Premier Remington is quite a gun. I am jealous.

Jerry