Robertson Trading
Post – Browning Auto-Five Shotguns Page
This page last updated
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Coins Guns Collectibles |
Robertson Trading Post 117 Front St PO Box 365 Henderson, Tennessee, USA 38340-0365 731-989-7641 |
In business since 1952 NRA Dealer of the Year 1993, 1995, 1997 |
Thanks for looking over our inventory, and for those among our shoppers who have done business with us in the past. Belgian Browning firearms in Excellent or better condition are, as y’all know, difficult to find and even more difficult to pry loose from their owners. A similar situation holds with Japanese Brownings, at least the ones with walnut and bright blue. Even the well-used old veterans are desirable amidst the proliferation of firearms from, say, China and Turkey. A blind person, we have always held, will know the difference between a Browning Auto-Five and a Turkish auto, or even many US made autos. All the older Brownings are timeless, and several of the ones we have, even the ones that discriminating collectors will shrug off, are testimonies to the genius of the Inventor and the expertise of the Company and its contractors.
For more Browning guns, see our Browning (everything else) page.
Auto Five Brownings are classics by
definition, even the Japanese models that were discontinued in 1998. We’re
pretty good buyers for most Browning Firearms. For those kind enough to offer
to trade or sell us their guns, please bear in mind that it costs us $50 to
process a firearm, from the time we receive it until the time it is a finished
product, ready to sell in our store and listed on the internet. The principal
portion of this expense is cleaning supplies and labor. Fewer than 5 percent of
the firearms we receive are clean. That is a sad commentary on American
gunowners, but it is the truth.
Discount schedule: 2% discount for orders paid with USPS Money Orders.
Listings format: Our stock number, then Item Title, then
photos, then description & pricing.
LG0612
Browning Sweet 16 FN
Belgian 1953 28 in Cutts Rib VG
Serially numbered X916xx, this round knob, lightning-grip Sweet Sixteen Browning Auto Five was manufactured by Fabrique Nationale in Belgium in 1953. We consider it to be in Very Good Condition on the strength of its walnut’s lack of cracking and on account of the majority of original bluing remaining. Receiver bluing is original matte blue combined with brown patina. The underside edges of the receiver show substantial amounts of weakness, or even white, but note the strength of the trigger guard itself. Forward screw on the lower tang shows moderate stress, and there is a small screwdriver scratch on its right side, but the rear screws show only light stress. Trigger has perhaps 30 percent of its original gold remaining. Screws on the left side of the receiver show light to moderate stress, as the photos show. Barrel has most of its original bluing up to the heat treatment point about 2 inches back of the period Cutts. We estimate that the Cutts Compensator was installed in the 1950s, so we consider that it is period and an asset to the shotgun. It comes with only one Cutts Tube, a tight .650 Modified. Internally, the barrel’s chamber is excellent and clean. Bore shows about 40 percent very light etchy-looking pitting forward of the chamber for about 6 inches, but forward of that, the crucial area for patterning, the bore is clean and excellent.
This shotgun has some very nice wood, despite minor detracting features. Little of the gloss finish remains, but in its place there is some gloss residue but a nice oil finish with only moderate amounts of residue among the checkering. Butt pad is genuine Browning, a late addition but appropriate; and the length of pull is the standard 14 inches. Extensive light scratching and scuffing is only moderate except for a scratch emanating from the top tang in a zigzag fashion. This is not, our gunsmith assures us, a crack; it only affects the surface for its .002 or so depth. We detect no other hints of cracks anywhere in the wood, including the forend.
Despite
what has been no doubt a distinguished hunting career in the fields of West
Tennessee, this is a very attractive old Sweet 16. It has been hunted with, but
has been well maintained and has not been abused at all. It is respectable
enough to be collectable, and there is no question as to its mechanical
soundness and serviceability. It will remain a death threat to pheasants and
doves for many years to come. Own it for
only $
679.95
LG0186
FN Belgian Browning A-5 Std 12 ga 1935
Acier Spl Cutts Exc Refinished
According
to our R.L. Wilson book, this shotgun, serial number 1694xx, was manufactured
by Fabrique Nationale, Herstal Belgium, in 1935. It has the period advanced
Solid Rib barrel, with the words Acier Special stamped on its left side and no
choke designation markings. We believe that it is in its original,
special-order configuration except for the refinishing. Acier Special referred
to an improvement in the steel strength from the 1930s. This fine shotgun has
the old-style forward safety. The Cutts tube itself has very sharp lettering,
but the barrel and receiver have been expertly reblued. Cutts tube is a Lyman
#3 L.R. .690, for Long Range .690 Full. Buttstock and forend have been nicely
refinished, but the checkering was not re-cut, so there is some weakness to it.
Forend has quite a bit of scrubbing, scuffing and pecking evidence between the
checkering and the receiver. There is one hairline crack running from the lower
right side of the receiver to the top of the checkered area beneath the finger
groove channel. The rear grip-area retaining screw has been replaced with a
period – by our estimate, pre-World-War-II – brass headed screw. Previous
comment includes what’s detracting about this fine old rare shotgun; now for
what’s right with it. Length-of-pull is the correct 14+ inches, and overall
length of the barrel is the correct 27 ½ inches. Mechanism and bore are
excellent. Carrier-floorplate is excellent. Wood-to-metal fit is excellent,
with very little gap. This is an estate gun that has been in one family for
many years, and we regret that we cannot trace its history. Own this rare old
shotgun, a real genuine Belgian Browning, for only $529.95
Sales policy: We accept MasterCard or Visa
on a phone- or fax-in basis; and USPS Money Orders for immediate shipment. 2%
Discount for payment with USPS Money Orders. Personal checks, company checks,
and Cashier’s Checks may involve a delay of no more than 8 business days for
clearance. There is no need to fool with a Cashier’s Check or non-USPS Money
Order, since there are so many bogus ones floating around. We offer a 7 day
return privilege, lay-aways excluded. We offer 90 day lay-away with 20 percent
down, balance in 90 days, but will levy a 6 percent per month charge on any
unpaid balance after 90 days. Lay aways are not refundable, but if there is a
mechanical problem with a firearm, we will honor service bills from competent
gunsmiths so long as they are warranty stations for at least one of the
following: Smith & Wesson, Browning, or Remington.
Shipping rates and information: We must
have a signed copy of the purchaser’s Federal Firearms License in order to ship
firearms interstate, and that licensee must check out with the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a current, bona fide licensee. Individuals
commonly use Licensees to act as transfer agents.
All
handguns have to be shipped via expedited carrier, express or overnight
delivery. Handguns and long guns cannot be shipped together.
First
handgun is $12.00, $6.00 each for add-ons to the Lower 47 States, insured, USPS
Priority Mail. $20 for First Handgun to
First long gun is $25.00, 10.00 each for add-ons in one order. Insurance
is included. $40 for First Long Gun to
We accept trade-ins at agreed-upon prices,
delivered to us. We cannot be responsible for the freight on returns unless we
have made some sort of glaring mistake.
Interstate Shipments of Firearms can go to Federally
Licensed Dealers Only. Anyone who undertakes to purchase a firearm must first
of all be eligible to own one under State and Federal Law. Disabilities from
owning firearms include being under 21 for a handgun (or pistol grip rifle or
shotgun) or under 18 for a long gun; conviction, indictment or information of a
misdemeanor domestic violence or felony (it does not matter if the person
served jail time or not, the conviction or information suffices); adjudication
of a nervous disorder or disability; and non-citizenship in the United States.
If anyone who is not eligible to own a firearm attempts to purchase one from
us, we will assist law enforcement in that person’s prosecution. If anyone
attempts to aid and abet the acquisition of a firearm from us for an ineligible
person, we will assist in all involved parties’ prosecution. We have no
intention of violating any laws. That is why we cannot ship some firearms
and/or magazines to jurisdictions that include California, Maryland, New
Jersey, and the New York City vicinity.
If an unlicensed individual wishes to purchase a
firearm that we have advertised, he or she must do so legally through an FFL, a
federally licensed dealer. Dealers normally charge transfer fees. In our
experience, the most readily available transferors are Pawnbrokers and
Gunsmiths. Please have transfer logistics worked out before contacting us for a
purchase. Thanks for your interest. Law Enforcement officers may purchase a
firearm through their department only if it will be used on duty, and
Department Letters and paperwork from the Chief Law Enforcement Officer in the
jurisdiction are required.
We do not receive firearms or purchase firearms from
non-licensees through interstate shipments.