Hello Browning aficionado I am not still certain if Browning auto-5 commemorative are kitsch but I do know that most of them are not registered into a catalogue or a book. It will be interesting to have a post dedicated to the commemorative examples. Here are some that I am thinking: Duck Unlimited, Federal Duck Stamps, Wild Turkey Federation etc...
Biz, “Registry” is not a good word to use with Americans when talking about their firearms.... That aside, that is a beautiful Auto-5. Too nice to be considered kitsch. I suppose it was made in Japan and then sent to Belgium for the engraving. It looks to have been done by hand. My Browning Classic looks like it was acid-etched.
Actually, I was trying to find the proper term. My English vocabulary being limited, a will welcome any suggestions. Regarding your nice Classic Model (I am dealing one right now), I thought it was photo-etched and the scroll done by the engraver R.Dewil ??
How about just “Browning Auto-5 Commemoratives”? Photo-etched is the term I was looking for, though I don’t know much about it. Don’t they use acid? Here are a few pictures: Notice it’s got the checkering pattern that win7stw hates.
I don’t hate it on the Belgium guns. Put a set of that Jap wood on a Belgium gun and you will understand my dislike for it. The wood is proud where it meets the metal. The other thing I don’t like is you can tell it’s machine cut. Sorry about the rant. Beautiful gun Rudolph
I can, but I still don’t think it was done by traditional engraving methods. Your gun’s engraving is much deeper and sharper. How is photo-engraving accomplished?
I am not to certain how it is done but it seems that Larry Potterfield Hello gentlemen, I need some clarification here. I am not familiar with Jap wood despite having studied forestry and biology and running a wood business. Would you happen to know the scientific name? As well, what do you mean by "the wood is proud where it meets the metal"
Actually I am not sure myself. I read an article into a French firearms magazine, call "Cible" which mean target, where they mention that several factory engraved auto-5 where engrave by photo-engraving and by hand. I know that may collectors and purists are turned off by this engraving technique. How about you guys?
When I say Jap it’s short for Japanese. The wood I am referring to is the walnut stocks that were used on the newer Miroku built A5’s. Proud means the wood is higher than the metal. When installing the Japanese stocks on a Belgium gun the wood to metal fit is very poor in my opinion. The Miroku stocks are fat compared to the slim Belgium stocks.
I will have to agree with you. That the wood is proud to the metal is a way to hide the poor inletting.
I read the Wikipedia article. The surface is treated with a “photoresist” which shields certain areas, then etched with acid. I like the gun, but not nearly as much as one done entirely by hand. Your comment that part of it was hand engraved was good to hear.
