Any Browning A5 Experts? Need help with assigning a date.

[Blackhawk Convertable]

After spending the better part of two hours scouring the internet, including the Browning site, I still can't figure out the serial number date for my A5. It is B13xxx marked on the left side of the receiver. The barrel is marked "Browning Arms Co. St. Louis MO."

If someone knows what the date of manufacture is and maybe a link to where you found the info, I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[hittman]

https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/shotgun.html

Or

CONTACT US​

Browning
One Browning Place
Morgan, UT 84050

800-333-3288

 

[Killer Bee]

as always, pictures help!

B serial on the right side of the receiver is likely a WW2 era Remington production Browning.

historians in Morgan will help you verify.

as far as I've ever seen, every Belgian Browning A5 serial is on the bottom of the receiver forward of the loading port.

I believe the Remington war production Brownings were on the side of the receiver prefixed with a B.

I don't have one of those but I do have a 1941 Remington model 11R (riot) WW2 issue with original 20" cylinder bore barrel.

does yours look similar?

 

[Killer Bee]

found it! well, at least something to support my rusty memory.

Greatest Shotgun in History? Browning Auto 5

Meanwhile, the original Browning Auto 5 continued to be produced by FN until 1975, except for a brief hiatus during World War II from 1940 to 1946 due to Belgium's occupation by the Nazis. These Browning Auto 5 shotguns were made by Remington, which was already producing the Model 11. Auto 5 Shotguns manufactured by Remington during this timer period can be identified by a serial number or receiver stamp that includes and A, B, or C.

 

[Blackhawk Convertable]

Thanks Killer Bee

That is exactly like mine. That puts mine in the WWII period. B makes it 12 gauge which is correct. Remington produced....hmmm. Interesting. Being that mine is 13xxx, I "assume" what I have is fairly early in their manufacturing. Probably '41 or '42??? Now to see If I can narrow it down further...

Found that they started with B5000 and ended with B43129. So approximately 38,000 produced from 1940-1946 with primary production ending around 1942, though sold later...