Thank you for the video. I was able to determine my light 12 auto 5 was made in 64, 1 year before my dad was born

my father gave me my great-grandfather's Belgium 12ga Auto-5 when I was 12 years old after he had it re-blued with a new Remington 'replica' barrel but without the thick sight-rib that was on top of the old well-used barrel.. I was tasked to clean all the long-guns since around 8 years old.. it still looks the same after using it on many hunts and high school trap and skeet competitions.. now I know S/N 50527 was made in 1921, thank you.. she never felt heavy when I was younger.. at 70 years old she's a beautiful but hefty machine whose weight took most of the kickback off my right shoulder...

Thanks for the work y’all did on my A5 mag 12 gauge. I was so proud to see what kind of job y’all did. Sending to Arts was the best move I could have ever made. I can’t thank you enough. I wish I could do something to show how happy and proud I am. Thanks again.

based off your chart my grandfathers A5 was number 101075, made in 1927, nearly a century old and i will make sure it sees another century. thank you, truly.

Awesome video... Like others I was lost with the charts on the Browning site...you made this very simple. I have a 70V Magnum! 32" barrel! Thanks to you, now I know that!

Just purchased my first auto 5 thanks for information can't tell y'all how much it helped me through the searching and buying process hats off to you fellas

I was looking all over trying to get magnum dates. Finally came across this video and answered all my questions. Thank you.

Thanks. Way easier than Browning site. My daddy just gave me his 1973 mag 12 he bought new the year I was born, 1974. The deer in eastern NC were happy to hear that weapon has been relocated…..

Excellent. Absolutely excellent. I have a 1970 magnum 12 gauge. You took the stress out of trying to figure that out. Perfectly presented.

Your information is absolutely clear as a bell ! Browning’s website is very confusing! Thanks to Your info I now know my A5 Light 12 was made in 1955. Thank You so much.

What Mark said Brad/Art........I received my light Belgium 12 in 1973 as a graduation present from my Gunsmith Father. He procured it from a friend who was a Docter who completed his collection of Brownings and liquidating and starting a new collection. Very informative video, thanks much!

Great presentation! More helpful than the Browning page. Buying a "Magnum Twelve" was a little like getting married. It was only after the deal that I learned her true age.

This is the greatest video! You answered all my questions about both of my browning 12 Guages. And no bs. Thank you, you da man!! 🙌

Buddy that was really helpfull, i just inherited a Japanese made PX series wich stands for 1983 according to your board, and all i can say is that it is a really sturdy and well made gun. I'm waiting untill i shoot it next week! Thanks a lot for the info!

I inherited my uncle's Light Twelve. It's from 1956, thanks for the help!

Thanks for this. I have been trying to date my Browning A5 that I inherited from my grandfather. Looks like was made 1955 with a serial number of H79027. It still shoots very good and is very reliable. I shot a round of trap with it recently and scored 23 of 25.

Great video! Just inherited my Papas browning 12 mag made in 1971 thanks for the video

Thanks so much. Was able to date my dad's 1954 light 12 with your video. Great video.

Just inherited my fathers original 1958 (8G XXXXX) Light Twelve! Appreciate the information. Glad I can pass it on to my son some day.

Just bought a 64 magnum ..so excited ..you helped me date it

Thanks for a great video I just dated mine it’s a 1906 and still seems to work fine 👍🏼

Excellent video Art. Now I know how old my A5 is. A fun bit of “detective” work.

Thanks guys. My wife got her great grandfathers A5 12 for Christmas. I was trying to date it. It indeed has a 2M above serial number so thanks to your video we are calling it a 1962.

Thanks Guys, I called Browning to get a factory letter for my Great-Grandfathers’ 12Ga but they didn’t have any records. Your chart tells me it is from 1938 Thanks Travis

inherited my dads light twelve, its from 1979 japan model, thank you for the fine research.

Thank you for a great, informative video! (Just bought a Browning "Light Twelve" today with "73G" stamped on it...oh and the word "Belgium.") Thanks again for your knowledge! Keep up the good work...

Thanks so much! Have tried to decipher the SN on my dad's A5 for a while with no luck. 1956 it is!

I inherited my grandpa's 1962 magnum. Thank you!

I found out that i got me a '65 magnum at my local pawn shop. Thank you!

Very helpful. Way easier to follow than the chart on browning website. If I understood this right my browning was made in 1963

Very well done video. Great information!

Thank you that was very helpful. Mine was made the first year of the lightweights

I got my Browning Auto-5 from an arms dealer friend. It had taken it from a collector. I've been trying to date this rifle for years but the serial number suggests it was made during the war when there was no production at the time. namely 226743. The rifle functions perfectly.

Thank you. You made it simple

This is very helpful. Thank you!

Yes very useful information thanks keep up the good work and hoip you and family and your work colleagues are safe and well

Very Informative, Thanks!

Thank you for making this video.

Thank you! This was very helpful!!

Great video! Thank you.

Thank you kindly, I now know I have a 1953 light 12!

My browning has a 7G on it. ..manufactured in 1967. Had a guy tell me it was a Japanese shotgun. Watched this and saw he didn’t know what he was talking about.

3 years later I’m here, just dated my grandpas old 1969 Light A5

Thank you. I inherited 2 auto 5 magnums one 20 gauge and the other is a 12 gauge.

Thanks I inherited grandpas 1959 A5 magnum 👍🏻

Thank you for this video!

1958 Light Twelve! Thank you!

Thanks! Discovered my Magnum is a 1964

Thanks Mark... Good stuff!

Gotta Look. Thanks for the info

I own a Browning auto 5 magnum and I love it

Super helpful man! Turns out I have a 1947.

Great video guys. I just picked up an A5 and it dates at 1965. Supper nice shape. I would like to now look into the proof marks and serial number on the barrel to get a little more info. Is there a good on-line source for this info? Cheers.

Good information 👍

Good to know! Awesome video. My dad that passed 16 yrs ago had a FAB. N non magnum with a like 6” huge muzzle brake on it. I’m guessing it’s late 50s, early 60s, it’s currently locked away safely at a cousins house.....BUT, when they borrowed it the BROKE the muzzle brake off! I CANNOT find a barrel(with or without the ugly muzzle brake.) Any ideas once I get serial #?

thanks helped a lot i have a 1958 G 89278

Thanks for the video. About 30 years ago I purchased a 1929 A5 12G. Bead front sight, no vent rib, no checkering and no engraving on steel. I believe "12G Full special" means full choke? The wood has no cracks but the gun looks like it has been used but well taken care of. I only shoot heavy loads and the cycling works without failure no matter how fast I can manage to squeeze the trigger. A testament to the reliability of John Browning gun making genius!

You did not include the 16 ga models. The lightweight or Sweet 16 used an S for the post '57 models. So a 1961 Sweet 16 would start with 1S. Thanks for posting this. Very helpful.

Thank you. Good info

AM GLAD I FOUND YOUR CHANNEL! I have my Grandfathers A5 @ 89643 with an 'H' stamped lower case between the 6 and 4. It is a 2 9/16 inch 16 gauge. Can you suggest as to the uniqueness or common manufacture of this shotgun? Anything interesting? Full choke. Bead front sight. Thanks much , Ed

Thanks for the video. Very helpful. You said in 53 that Browning came out with two lines L and G. What about the Light 12's made before 53? I have one with a SN of 344153. Is there a separate chart for them?

Question for everyone. I just inherited my grandfather’s 16 gauge Browning A5. Serial number 45557. Browning Arms company ogden utah on barrel. Fabrique nationale d armes de guerre herstal belgique in receiver. According to your video, this is dated to 1914. But would this be the case with the 16 gauge? Thanks for the info

Thanks For this

Very useful Tks

Hey thank you for the info i inherited mine last week from my grandpa my serial number is M 41391 so would that be a 56 or 57 the chart doesn't include this?

so a 263 would be early 03 correct? i have seen a picture of an 04 gun and it had finger grooves part way down the for-grip mine has no finger groove does this meen its been replaced or did the early ones have no groove

So #1270 is a 1903 browning ? The gun my dad gave me at age 14 for duck hunting. I can't believe this,I better sit down and double check this . Holy cow!

Thanks! now I know that mine was made in 1962

Great video, thank you. I am having trouble identifying what class or model my A5 is. I believe it is a Super Alleige Chrome with gold inlay, year 1960, with a Grade 1 detail. The serial numbers are also gold inlay. They are 60 23525. There is also a larger 1 above those serial numbers. If there is anyone that has more information on this then please help me out. Thank you

Thank YOU!! Browning c onfused me. I had a G31366, thought is was '57. but yours showed m '56.. St. louis side,. I don't have the purchase receipt from my dad.. But i shot it when i was 7... I'm 65 now..

Thanks, now I know that I have a 1958 light 12

Are the barrels interchangeable? I have a magnum 1969 Browning. Can I use a different 12 gauge barrel?

My cousin has two Auto-5's we're trying to date. The first matches your charts, it's labeled a Magnum with 8V over a 4 digit (XXXX) serial number so I assume it's a 1958. The second is clearly labeled as a "Light Twelve" in cursive on the left-hand side, the serial number has FN in a circle above it and the serial itself is a 6 digit number, there are NO letter prefixes. It's 420xxx. Based on the initial chart you presented that would make it a 1953, however you mentioned it should have an L to indicate a Light 12, it does not? Thanks,

I have a Belgian made A5 that says "light twelve" on the side but the serial number puts it in a gap between 1920 and 1921. Have you seen this before?

Were the barrels stamped with a serial number, and if so, should it match the receiver serial number?

Very interesting. What if it is a FN serial number, where do I go to date the Firearm

What about the Brownings made in WWII by Remington, in Illion, NY? Serial numbers are on the side of the receiver for these guns. They are clearly marked Browning. Do we not consider these Browning A-5s?

With the serial number starting with 3G the A5 12 chambered and three-quarter two and three-quarter what year am I looking at?

I haven't watched the video yet, but Ive been dating mine for 5 years and Im ready to take it to the next step. Should we move in together or go straight to marriage? Asking for a friend.

Hey thanks for the great info on the Browning Auto5. I am confused a bit by one of my Auto5's - it's SN is 91455 -Standard weight-plain barrel which dates to 1927! But, it also has a 9M above it. Looking thru the charts you provided, I don't see that code (9M standard weight code) until 1959. Did they those codes back in 1927? Any help will be appreciated😁

Have a browning automatic-5 20 gauge with serial number 48546. It has 1Z on top of that number. Trying to date the gun. Can't find a good date listing of that particular SN.

Ours in a ‘69 Magnum, and he wasn’t lying about the weight!

Wow! Guess mines from 1949! Didn't expect it to be that old since it has a synthetic stock n fore.. guess someone switched that out! Lol

So apparently I have a Belgium 1957 light browning 5 in the box with the receipts and best of all never shot mint condition. what do you value would be?

G71 I love my A5..

I have seen a Browning Auto 5 for sale with the serial number G 6529. The G is above the 6529. Can you tell me what year this was made?

Thank’s Art for all of your videos I have enjoyed all of them and learned a lot. I grew up using a Browning A5 12 gage standard that was handed down to me by my dad. I love Browning firearms I have many different Browning shotguns and rifles and I have never had a Browning fail me yet. I also have an FN A5 16 gage with the suicide safety and a solid rib barrel. I love this shotgun but I can’t find much information on this shotgun. Do you have charts that will tell me when it was made?

Damn good vid, well i have 2 numbers on my auto 5, under where the number is supposed to be there is frist 1fn under that 69 in small print followed by 90170. The other number is under the hand grip which says AAB/1406/71 so any idea about that. Hope you can tell me. Thanks

My browning Auto 5 is made in belgium (FN graved on it) and start by B 84XXX does it speak to someone ?

was the barrel marked as "full" or "modified" or was the barrel marked at all?

Question ….. my dad left me his A5 Serial 2M 89193 The stock has a 5 stamped both sides behind receiver. Is this normal ?

Hello! Happy New Year! I am inquiring about an odd SN Stamping or at least it seems different from the explaination in this video. There is a it is located on the bottom of the receiver. In the first row: A Circled FN In the second row: the number "177xxx" In the third row: A number in smaller type face that looks like a "51" All of the above stampings are centered on the receiver. There ar no letters except for the Circled FN. I ask of course because I want to date the shotgun, but also because it might help others since I am sure that many other shotguns were stamped with this method of stamping. Also to add to the confusion, it seems to have the split or two piece lifter. To me the Serial Number matches 1931 by your charts; other charts on the Browing site say FN took over production in 1952; Still there is a split lifter installed. Well, I am confused. ...I need to ask the experts!!! I look forward to your rapid reply. ...smiles! Thanks! 2021/12/31 ----

Hello. Very helpful. Thanks. However, I do have a question. Recently bought an Auto 5 and can't figure out the manufacture date by the serial number. The serial number on the shotgun is 60 (small size font) 18928 on regular font size. I can't post a picture here but would love your help to find out information about this gun. Is there an email to where I can send a picture? Thanks

Thanks. I'm looking at a 16ga. # X60472. Does not seem to conform to any of the numbering schemes. Has FN marks and cartouches

I inherited a 12ga Browning lite, but the serial # is 425385 which I did not see listed in your video. How can I tell when it was made?

Hi, I have a Magnum with a 7V serial AND it says Belgium. If they moved production to the US, how is this combo possible? Did they re-start production in Belgium for some? Many thanks

How are y'all able to read the charts? When I try to pause on them they have a bunch of stuff in front of them and it's blurry. What does G1 above the number mean?

3G 20153 is the number on mine. What am I looking at? Great video, thank you.

So I have a browning a5 H53426, this date fell between 1954 and 1955? But start and stop serial number don’t match? Can you help.

I just assumed my gun was made in 63, 63V 20571 but the 63 doesn't match your years on the page any idea or am I right thinking it's still a 63