Where's the serial on my auto 5 ? & appraisal please..

[Canso]

[QUOTE
From what I see, your gun is a 1960 Standard weight, same as my buds. Nice guns, I own a '68 A-5 mag and it's by far the best duck gun I've owned in the last 35 years. I think the safety placement can also help date the gun, where is yours? Looks to be behind the trigger.
Dan

Dan, the safety is behind the trigger.

but I'm not fallowing you with the date of manufacture... if the serial number is 437, doesn't this makes it in the beginning of production (1903)?

I has hoping the gun would sell a bit higher, on well...

and thank you so much all of you for the help.
Stef[/QUOTE]

Here's how it decodes:

OM 437

"O" = 1960 (Last digit matches)

"M" = Standard weight

437 = the serial number (the 437th A5 made that year).

This is based on the line I posted above "1958-67. From 1958 serial numbers were preceded by the date of manufacture. 8M=standard weight for 1958. 8G=light weight for 1958". Therefore, OM would be 1960 standard weight for 1960.
I was pretty sure the early guns had the safety on the front of the trigger guard, thanks for posting.
$200 is a steal for that gun Ben. I agree though, they are underpriced because of 2 3/4" and need to be opened up to mod. choke to shoot steel. The browning site says don't shoot steel out of these barrels. I had mine opened up and have shot it for 3 years and know others who have done the same.
Dan