Auto 5 date

[CptCripple]

Greetings

I bought an auto five from a gentleman a while back and I am trying to figure out how to date it as the last owner had no clue, I have what I think is the serial number, I may be noobing it up but going by the Browning website the markings on it conflicted with the dates ie its labeled 8G and the serial number is in the 35*** range, which according to Browning means light and 1958, the serial number is in the 35*** range which puts it in 1957 as the Light Auto 5 serial numbers for 1957 range from 23k to 85000, any input would be great

Edit - The sequence of the serial number would date it mid sequence of 1957

 

[iceman2]

With just 8G**** pretty hard to help.

 

[CptCripple]

Delete

 

[iceman2]

I looked too. Confusing isn't it. Maybe someone else can figure it out.

 

[rembolt]

Are you sure the first digit is a 3 and not a poorly stamped 8 .also Brownings serial # and id codes are not always 100% correct .I have a BT 99 that has an id code that identifies it as a BT 100 which was long out of production as the date code and serial # date it as being a 2006 production year gun .

 

[kamlooky]

I agree with the 1958 year and G=lightweight.

 

[FLHTCUI]

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=13

http://proofhouse.com/browning/a5.htm

Kinda late to the party, but others may benefit from this?

Rob

 

[kamlooky]

Is this stickied yet?
If not, could we do this?

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=13

http://proofhouse.com/browning/a5.htm

Kinda late to the party, but others may benefit from this?

Rob

 

[CptCripple]

Positive that it is a 3 and not an 8. The 8G dentotes Light weight 1958 butIt is interesting that the serial number puts it in 1957

 

[VLT79]

Did the FN manufacture of European market guns follow the Browning sequence of serial numbers? I had an Auto-5 that was built, I believe, in 1954 (serial number 442###) that didn't have the typical Browning receiver engraving or barrel markings...the serial number doesn't match anything Browning has published. Somebody told me the gun was destined for the European market and somehow got imported to Canada? Is that a possibility and could this be the cases with this gentleman's gun?

 

[FLHTCUI]

Positive that it is a 3 and not an 8. The 8G dentotes Light weight 1958 butIt is interesting that the serial number puts it in 1957

Whats odd about it?
I have a 1999 F250 SD with the 7.3L engine.
Date of Manufacture for model yr is May 1998.
They then went to a 1999.5 model and finally a 1999 model yr.
Problems arise when one is trying to find parts for the early yrs or the other way around.
This morning when I did a 2 minute research on google there was a line that suggested that during the early years
record keeping was less than perfect.
Trust your having fun what ever year it maybe.
Rob