I picked it up yesterday. It wasn’t in shootable condition, but it looks like it mostly needs a clean and lube. The rust is another story. I can’t match the engraving to any of the pictures posted on Biz’s thread. It’s time to break out SV.
More pictures. Maybe one of you guys can tell me what Type it is. As far as I know, Type II doesn’t have engraving on the barrel.
May try some of that pioneer cloth stuff, I was surprised how well it worked on barrels with liquid wrench. Just removes rust not the blue.
ACIER SPÉCIAL in French would confirm, as you know, that your example was not for the U.S. market. Do you think the polychoke was installed after the gun was made? When was the Polychoke first commercialized? From the pictures of S&V book, it appears that the Type 1 and 2 doesn’t have engraving on the barrel. However, I will put my hand on the fire if your gun is not a type 1 on which the engraver decided to put its personal touch by engraving the barrel or may be that auto-5 was a special order.
So are you happy with it? It looks pretty sweet to me. I like the engraving along the top of the receiver too
I hear what you’re saying, Biz. But it doesn’t really look like a Type I compared to this 1931 Browning Grade 2 (bottom picture):
Pretty happy. Nothing is broken. Once it’s cleaned up and new springs are added I’m sure it will shoot fine. And I got it for a song. It’s got some rust, which I saw in the auction photos. So I’ve got to decide what to do about that. Also, it’s been re-blued. And although the engraving is still clear, they polished it to a mirror finish. It’s too shiny. So, this gun is an interesting shooter. Poly Choke, recoil pad, and refinish took most of the collector value. So I’m not sure I’ll be taking this to Art’s for a restoration.
Here are three pictures showing respectively what I believe to be the types 1, 2 and 3. Considering that the top of the barrel of your nice shotgun is engraved like the type 3, may be it is a type 3. It may have happened that the engraver decided to deviate from the "standard pattern" and why not, those engravers are artists after all. Anyway, that is a very nicely engraved auto-5. Congratulations.
Wish I could find a 16 engraved like yours Rudolph, I would be reaching for the gold card like a gunfighter.
This Remington is 1928 or later as it has a cross-bolt safety. And yes, it does look like Browning engraving.
