doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Slightly off topic: Browning A5

I've got a couple. Quail killing machines, for sure!

I bought mine at the Quantico VA USMC PX in 1964-- light 12 with gold plated trigger, 28" mod ventilated rib barrel $135.00 Had Briley install the 17-4 ph stainless tubes for steel shot back in 1990- ugly as homemade poop, but other than my "pet" Model 12's- one hellofa reliable and deadly on live bird target shotguns- Not For Sale either- used it for layout shooting many years ago- trickiest of all the waterfowling shots- divers coming in low at Mach 4 plus in a squall-eaaier to shoot when reclining in a Nov. snowsquall in a layout boat that shucking a pump-IMO damn fine shotgun, a real workhorse-like a Parker Trojan..

Here's some old stuff from the past. Not a magnum but did fine with the depicted 2 3/4" #4 1 3/8 oz. Blue Dot driven AA reloads when a duck was best shot dead with lead.

I don't even like A5s and I bought one just because...

Belgian Light 12, mid-70s, 28" VR Mod.

Back to the original post - "Light scroll and Brownings face on the action." Is it possible that this gun is some sort of commemorative model? Have you been able to identify the year it was made? Is it a Belgium gun?

In 1934 or so they added a bust of Browning between trade mark to the side of receiver, light scroll engraving was also added later, here is a poor example, been reblued but gives an idea.

a 16 ga A5 is a very special gun. it was built around the shell size and as such are as petite and svelt as a 16ga model 12.

I've never understood the aversion to the early safety. it's in the same location and works the same way as an M1 Garand and nobody ever had a problem with those under conditions much more tense than hunting. and it's the fastest location of all excepting top of the tang like on a double. nor is it any more dangerous than a safety in any other location. if one's finger stays off the trigger until the sights are on target, as one should, it's not an issue. if one walks around with his finger on the trigger all the time, no "safety" is safe enough, and nobody with any sense would hunt with him.

fnb, I acknowledge what you say and I still don't like the M-1 style safety on my 16ga A-5. Big fingers maybe?...Geo

Interesting follow-on to this thread after my post of several days ago. Was "working" as a picker-upper with my dog yesterday at a local pheasant tower shoot. A man walked by with a high condition "A5. I complemented him on the gun and said "It's not a Browning, it's an Ithica 745". Never heard of such a beast before

TUDURGS, how about the old browning patent "sweet 16 pump":



Well, its really a Savage 520 16ga, but I've been thinking of getting some new engraving to make it a Browning Sweet-16...Geo