New member and proud owner of 1996 Auto_5 12 ga 30" barrel 1945 Auto_5 16 ga "Service member only" and a Savage Browning licence 12 ga Auto_5 !
Had to do some research myself. Once Belgium was liberated FN produced Browning A5 in 1944 and 1945 but only for servicemen My 16ga A5 has a serial number 127xxx I know it was acquired in 1945 directly from FN by a serviceman in the US Army.
This Browning has a special history that I am putting together in a document. It served to feed American Army soldiers as they moved into Germany.
OK, I've read about those in S/V, but they didn't use that term. Pretty apt. Congratulations on owning one of the rarest Brownings. Do you have the GI paperwork?
I do and photographs as well. The story behind this Browning makes it special and I continue to use it in the field as it was meant to be used.
I don't think that many GI's bought those guns, so they're pretty rare. At least, I've never seen one. The S/V book has pictures of some that were engraved by master engraver Felix Funken. If your gun is in nice shape and you have the Bring-Back papers, you have a great collectible. If it's been engraved by M. Funken, you have a very valuable collectible. I'd like to hear the story if you know it.
It is a field gun and not engraved. This gun never left the possession of the original owner until his recent passing.
It was just recently put into my custodianship from the family. The GI told me the story of how he acquired it and for the purpose of its use. I recognized this is a very special Browning and the family appreciated my feelings when they placed me with the responsibility of possession. This Browning looks like any other well used field gun. Always used and never refinished.
