The 6 types of Armes de luxe

Discussion in 'Browning Auto A-5' started by Biz, Oct 30, 2017.

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  1. Rudolph31

    Rudolph31 .30-06

    I don’t know what to tell you, Biz. Nick is a hell of a gunsmith, but I don’t know how good a historian he is. Also, I might have gotten the details wrong. It’s a busy shop, and conversations get interrupted. You might call down there and ask, if they’re not too busy I’m sure they’ll be happy to help.
  2. Biz

    Biz 20g

    Rudolph I know what to tell to you and Nick, it is thank you. For 5 years now, I have been collecting Auto-5 and Remington Autoloading Shotgun and always I am confronted with the same problem. Which is, there is a lot unknowns and conflicting information concerning those Shotgun. Fortunately I have this forum, the SGW and the french forum TCAR where I can exchange views with others with similar interests.
    Rudolph31 likes this.
  3. Rudolph31

    Rudolph31 .30-06

    Biz, it’s the unknowns that make this hobby interesting. I’d never have started collecting if my first Browning didn’t seem to be covered with hieroglyphics, or if explanations had been easy to find. So keep pushing, I’d like to know the answers.

    It occurs to me that the answer to your specific question isn’t to be found in North America. The restorers here may know how to duplicate the look, but original methods aren’t necessarily in their toolbox. You have the great advantage of being a native French speaker, maybe there is someone left at FN who knows how it was done “back then”.
  4. Rudolph31

    Rudolph31 .30-06

    I’m going to admit that this gun doesn’t belong in this thread. But I’m posting anyway in he hope of getting the conversation started. Where are you, Biz?

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    This is the Browning Classic, made in Japan but engraved in Belgium.

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  5. Biz

    Biz 20g

    Good evening,

    I am very "Bizzy" these days with my business, but I am visiting periodically and discreetly Browning owners. Here is what I am looking for in Europe. This one will be a long shot but it is worth a try. It is the Auto-5 Special for Pigeon which I believe is rare.


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  6. Rudolph31

    Rudolph31 .30-06

    That’s great, Biz. Where is this treasure?
  7. Biz

    Biz 20g

    Where you find the best wine and cheese
  8. Rudolph31

    Rudolph31 .30-06

    Trader Joe’s?
  9. Biz

    Biz 20g

    Rudolph, who is Trader Joe's?
  10. Rudolph31

    Rudolph31 .30-06

    They don’t have them in Canada? That’s too bad. Gourmet food, low prices.

    https://www.traderjoes.com/our-story

    So, is the pictured Auto-5 the one you’re after? And did you go to Europe just to get it? Very impressive; you’re one serious collector, Biz.

    If I ever get to Quebec, I want to see your collection!
  11. Biz

    Biz 20g

    Yes that "spécial pour tir aux pigeons" is what I am after. Regarding my collection, it rather modest mainly pre WWI. I received recently from France the type 1 shown at the beginning of this thread. It has an interesting story that I am going to write about in the future. I am still gathering information. Here is a hint, on the barrel of that Auto-5 appears an interesting marking

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  12. Rudolph31

    Rudolph31 .30-06

    Saint Etienne? The French government arsenal? Maybe we’ll find military Auto-5’s after all.
  13. Rudolph31

    Rudolph31 .30-06

    Hey Biz, how long must I wait?
  14. Nic

    Nic Copper BB

    Gentlemen. This sixteen gauge auto 5, I think, is from about 1947. All original with a solid rib barrel. The interesting thing is that when I purchased it the guy told me it was 2.5" barrel and sure enough the barrel stated that it was a 30" 2.5" barrel. But the other good thing about it was the the barrel proof marks showed 16-70 which we all know it means 2 3/4" shells proof! So took it out shooting and it dropped the third shell right off the hop, but fixed that problem right away and it has been working flawlessly with 2 3/4" shellsever since. It's a keeper. The receiver reads FN 131309 and all including barrel are matching numbers. What year do you guys think she is?
    Browning Sixteen solid rib.jpg
  15. Rudolph31

    Rudolph31 .30-06

    Nic,

    This gun deserves its own thread. But I agree it’s a 1947 gun made for the World Market. It’s interesting because S/V tells us that 65mm chambers continued for a while in markets other than the U.S.

    But now maybe Biz will finish his story!
  16. Nic

    Nic Copper BB

    I will start a new thread on this because it is interesting. tx
  17. Biz

    Biz 20g

    The story continues. It turn out that Manufacture Française D’armes et Cycles was a French Business like Sears Roebuck that was selling amount others, sporting goods including firearms. Like Sears they were selling via catalogue. They had their private label like shotgun Simplex and L’idéal. I believe that because they didn’t have repetition arms amount their private label, they offered renowned brand such as Winchester, Remington and Browning with Manufacture Française d’armes et cycles engraved on the barrel.

    I was fortunate to find a 1912 version of their catalogue where you can see the Browning auto-5 offered, as well the Winchester model 1897 and the Remington model 10. The two latter model are famous for their use in the trenches during the first war.

    They also offered some customized services such as a second barrel to your desired choke and to my surprise they would fit a rubber recoil pad which I didn’t know was available at this time.


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    This pic describes the rubber recoil pad

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  18. Rudolph31

    Rudolph31 .30-06

    Thank you, Biz. That was worth waiting for!
  19. Biz

    Biz 20g

    Hello everyone,
    Here is another nice engraved 16 gauge. Base on the trigger shape, I would say that it is an early production, post first war. What type do you think it is?

    [​IMG]
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  20. win7stw

    win7stw .30-06

    Don’t know but I want it!!!
    Rudolph31 likes this.
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