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.'

Feb 28, 2015  I have a 1969 Browning A5 20 gauge, The serial number starts 69Z-XXXXX. The 'Z' is the question, The browning site shows that a 'G' or 'M' should follow the mfg. Date indicating a Lightweight or Standard model.

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 200 1948 200 1949 200 1950 200 1951 300 1952 F.N. Took over production of the Auto-5. 300 1953 300 1954-55 Serial Numbering System changed. H=Standard Weight. L=Light Weight. H1-H83000 L1-L Serial Number designation for the Light Weight changed to G.

H83001-H99000 G1-G Serial Numbering System changed again. M=Standard Weight. G=Light Weight. M22000-M85000 G0 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. 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. Serial Number beginning with 1001 at the start of each year.

Date of Manufacture is a two digit code 2000 (distribution began in 1999) 3. Auto-5 Type FT='Final Tribute' 12 ga.

Anglijskij 3 klass reshebnik lapickaya. Serial Number Example: 2000FT1001 This would be a Auto-5 'Final Tribute' 12 ga., manufactured in 1999 with the serial number 1001.