The production of the Auto-5
began in 1902. Produced by F.N., John M. Browning ordered 10,000 of these shotguns in his
first order. In 1999
Browning issued the "Final Tribute" version featuring engraved scens of John M.
Browning, the F.N. Factory and the Browning Brothers first store. Only 1,000 of these were
produced in a high-grade wood. Production of the famous "A-5" ceased after this final tribute.
To find your serial
number, you will need to refer to your owner's manual. We have most owner's
manuals online. You can go to those by clicking here.
| Date |
Historic
Information |
Serial
Number Info |
| 1903-1939 |
First
10,000 shipped to U.S. Marked with "BROWNING AUTOMATIC
ARMS CO. OGDEN UTAH-U.S.A." Very few serial number records
remain. |
Beginning
with Serial Number 1 to approximately 228,000. Exact production
figures are not available. Year of manufacture on Pre-World
War II production is strictly a guess. |
| 1940-1946 |
From
1940 to 1946 production of the Auto-5 was turned over to Remington.
Serial number is on the side of receiver. "ABC" for
American made Version. (A=16 gauge, B-12 gauge, C=20 gauge) |
1946+229,000-237,000 |
| 1947 |
|
237001-249000 |
| 1948 |
|
249001-270000 |
| 1949 |
|
270001-285000 |
| 1950 |
|
285001-315000 |
| 1951 |
|
315001-346000 |
| 1952 |
F.N.
took over production of the Auto-5. |
346001-387000 |
| 1953 |
|
387000-438000 |
| 1954-55 |
Serial
Numbering System changed. H=Standard Weight. L=Light Weight. |
H1-H83000
L1-L83000 |
| 1956 |
Serial
Number designation for the Light Weight changed to G. |
H83001-H99000
G1-G23000 |
| 1957 |
Serial
Numbering System changed again. M=Standard Weight. G=Light Weight. |
M22000-M85000
G23001-85000 |
| 1958-67 |
From
1958 serial numbers were preceded by the date of manufacture.
8M=standard weight for 1958. 8G=light
weight for 1958.
Example: 8M1000 = A 1958 Auto-5 standard weight
shotgun with serial number 1000 |
G85001-G99000
8G1-8G2000
M=standard weight
G=light weight |
| 1968-76 |
In
1969 Browning started using two digits for the date of manufacture
which was followed by a four digit code that identified the
type of Auto-5:
M=standard weight
G=light weight
This was then followed by the serial number beginning
with 1000.
Example: 69G1000 = A 1969 Auto-5 Lightweight 12 ga..
shotgun with a serial number of 1000. |
M-standard
weight
G=light weight |
| 1976-1997 |
In
1976 Browning standardized its serial number identification
which it followed until 1998.
| 1.
Auto-5 Type |
151=Magnum
12 gauge
161=Magnum 20 gauge
211=Light 12 gauge
221=Sweet 16
231=Light 20 gauge |
2.
Date of Manufacture
is a two digit code |
Z=1
Y=2
X=3
W=4
V=5
T=6
R=7
P=8
N=9
M=0 |
3.
Serial Number
beginning with 01001
at the start of each year. |
|
|
Serial
Number Example:
01001RT151
This would be an Auto-5
Magnum 12 ga.,manufactured in
1976 with the serial number 01001.
|
| 1999 |
The
Auto-5 will be discontinued for 2000. To commemorate this historic
event for the Auto-5, Browning released the "Final Tribute"
version in 1999.
1.
Serial Number
beginning with 1001
at the start of each year. |
|
2.
Date of Manufacture
is a two digit code |
2000
(distribution began in 1999) |
| 3.
Auto-5 Type |
FT="Final
Tribute" 12 ga. |
|
Serial
Number Example:
2000FT1001
This would be a Auto-5
"Final Tribute" 12 ga.,
manufactured in 1999 with the
serial number 1001.
|
