Date this sn please

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JeffP
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2019 2:50 pm

Date this sn please

Post by JeffP »

I haven’t been able to date an A5. “Browning” and the sn is stamped on the side of the receiver. It does have the magazine cutoff. Browning A 5 sn B27xxx
Any help would be appreciated.
Jack71
Posts: 50
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2017 3:00 pm

Re: Date this sn please

Post by Jack71 »

That must be one of the "American Brownings" made by Remington while the FN factory was under German control in World War II. The B indicates it is a 12 gauge, but I don't know how to date it by the serial number other than to say the numbers started at B5000 in 1940 and ran to B43129 in 1947.

Do you see a Remington date code on the barrel? That would give you the date for the barrel, usually (but not always) the date the gun was made. How to interpret the codes is available in many sources - look for two or three letters: For example "PK" would mean June 1941 and "LRR" would be February 1946.
Researcher
Posts: 1080
Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2003 11:06 pm
Location: Washington and Alaska

Re: Date this sn please

Post by Researcher »

The old factory ledger goes up to June 30, 1942, when the 12-gauge Brownings were up to B16112. So, your gun was made immediately after the War, late 1945 or 1946.
JeffP
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2019 2:50 pm

Re: Date this sn please

Post by JeffP »

Thank you for the information. I was looking into a full restoration for this gun but it looks like it doesn’t make financial sense. I had a gunsmith check it over to be sure it is safe to shoot. I put new springs and friction rings in the gun. Now I need to give it a try with different loads to see how it is.
Thanks again
JeffP
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Jul 19, 2019 2:50 pm

Re: Date this sn please

Post by JeffP »

PRR stamped on the right side of the barrel indicates June, 1946. 3 months older than I am.
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