Browning A5 auto shotgun value

[fox fire]

  I gotta friend that has a A5 browning auto 12ga. and we are wundering about what it's  worth, it's  one of the older ones with rounded butt cap on the stock, the wood is purty good, a few scrathches but no cracks or chips,   the bluing is about 85 percent, thers some worn off around the reciever with some rust, a scint place or two on the barrel,    any body got an idea (ball park) of the value?
  He thinks it was produced in the 30's,not sure tho.   and it's belgum made.

[mattmillerrx]

Look up the serial number here http://www.proofhouse.com/browning/index.html

If you can check in one of the gun price books.  If it is one of the really old ones in a grade 4 for instance then it is worth a lot.  Other wise you are looking at maybe a 400-550 dollar gun.  I have seen then on the gun show tables in the past three years for 800-900 dollars but they have dropped in value to  around 500 for one in good shape.  Still see some for sale at that 900 dollar mark but not seen one sell.  I recently traded one in for a Ruger Vaquero and got 50 dollars back.  So that puts the gun right around 500 for the trade.  Most I had be offered was 450.  The gun I trade was in about the same shape as yours friends from the sound of it including the round cap.  This is all for the Belgium made guns which I assume when you say yours is old we are talking 1940's-1960's belgium made guns.

[fox fire]

  Thanx a bunch, your probably rite about the age,  my friend is guess'n maybe made in the 30's but we realy dont know.       I'll get with him on it tomarow and check the numbers,  how do we find out what grade it is, is it marked on the gun or the numbers tell us???
                                                                                        Thanx again, Fox fire

[mattmillerrx]

I am not sure on that one.  The only ones that have grades were the early ones.  If it was made in the 30's it likely will.  I don't have my book handy but pick up a gun price book or blue book gun values they are fun to look at and come in handy if you are buying but mine if I remember right breaks  down the the years of production.  I think the grade would be on the barrel or receiver but if not you could easily tell by looking at the quality of wood on the gun.  I may be wrong on that as I have not really every knowingly looked at one of the early high grade ones but have looked at many of the 50's production on up to current.  Sorry, I read your post as i was about to go to bed and missed the date you gave but it doesn't sound all that firm.  Check out the numbers and let me know what you have.  I will try to check my book when you get back to me.  Also, check to see if it is a light 12 which mine was.