FN Auto 5 - type V Engraved

That’s a 1921 gun and I have a hard time believing Funken engraved it as he didn’t officially work for FN until 1926. However there are guns that were engraved by him prior to 1926

Things keep getting curiouser and curiouser…

So the gun came with Browning hang tags? With the St. Louis address?

This is all very unusual because from what we think we know, the Type V wasn’t available in the US. Maybe on special order? But…

It was manufactured in 1921, and there were no imports from Belgium after 1903 until 1923. Not only that, but the St. Louis distribution center wasn’t opened until 1929. So unless this gun sat around in the Liege warehouse for 8 years, then special ordered, we have a mystery.

If I were you, I’d definitely try to get a letter from Browning.

Sorry fellas but Felix Funken did not put those tails on those dogs! More likely Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny!

I took two pictures of Type V engraved receivers from SV:



And here’s the OP’s gun:


I’m afraid that my original estimate of $10,000 may have been exaggerated…

Was the beer good?

As if I must have been drunk when I wrote that? No, but I admit that I didn’t look at the pictures that closely.

My admiration for these guns has to do with the genius of the design first, the history second, and the artwork a distant third. So I briefly glanced at what appeared to be very rare Auto-5. Good for you for pointing out the flaws.

I don’t know if the OP is the victim of a fraud or the would-be perpetrator of one. I’m going with victim unless he doesn’t come back.

We all did, except for Biz.

While I don’t have a problem with an after-market engraved gun, I think this example rises to the level of fraud because of the anachronistic accoutrements that accompany it. But as I said, I’m giving the OP the benefit of the doubt. After all, he didn’t try to sell it. And lots of dealers know very little about these Brownings.

Oh, one last thing, SV says the Type V was Matt chromed, not blued.

I do appreciate the quail rather than the Obligitory "Hound that found Granny's Jug" on the back of the receiver though! Lol