Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Co. is pleased to present this highly collectible Belgian-made sporting shotgun for a penny-start auction; this is the Belgium Browning Pre "Light Twenty" Auto-5!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Browning Arms Company / Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal, Belgium
Model: Auto-5 A5 A-5 / Pre "Light Twenty"
Serial: 5Z96961
Date of Manufacture: 1965
Caliber: 20 Gauge, 2-3/4" Shells
Finish: Factory Blued Steel w/ Traditional Factory Floral Scroll Engraving & Gold-Plated Trigger
Barrel Length: 26" Special Steel Ventilated-Rib Barrel
Optics/Sights: Ventilated Sight Rib w/ Front Brass Bead Sight; No Rear Sight
Stock/Grips: High-Gloss Walnut Pistol-Grip Buttstock & Matching Slender Walnut Forearm w/ Fine Factory Checkering and Factory Black Buttplate
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Receiver left side engraved "BROWNING" within factory floral scrollwork; upper receiver engraved "A-5 / Twenty"; receiver bottom serial marked "5Z / 96961"; barrel marked "BROWNING ARMS COMPANY ST LOUIS MO. & MONTREAL P.Q." and "MADE IN BELGIUM," with Belgian proof marks visible at the barrel extension and receiver.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
John Moses Browning's Auto-5 is one of the landmark sporting-firearm designs of the twentieth century and is widely recognized as the first commercially successful semi-automatic shotgun. Its distinctive squared "humpback" receiver houses Browning's long-recoil system, in which the barrel and bolt travel rearward together before separating during the operating cycle. Belgian production by Fabrique Nationale established the Auto-5's reputation for exceptional machining, durability and hand-finished sporting quality, and the smaller-frame 20-gauge examples have become particularly desirable among collectors. The 2-3/4-inch Twenty was the lightweight 20-gauge configuration, with period serial references identifying the "Z" designation with the Light Twenty series; Browning's own Auto-5 records confirm that guns from this era used a leading production-year digit in their serial format. This particular example is a Belgian-made Auto-5 Twenty bearing serial number 5Z96961, placing it in 1965 production. It displays the classic Grade I-style factory floral scroll engraving across the blued receiver, contrasting gold-plated trigger, finely checkered high-gloss walnut furniture and a ventilated-rib Special Steel barrel. The wood presents with especially attractive color and figure, while the blued metal retains a deep polished appearance and the engraved receiver surfaces remain crisp and well defined. The visible "MADE IN BELGIUM" barrel marking, Belgian proofing, period Browning Arms Company address, gold trigger and early "Twenty" receiver treatment combine to give this example strong collector appeal as a desirable mid-1960s Belgian Light Twenty rather than a later Japanese-production Auto-5.
Model: Auto-5 A5 A-5 / Pre "Light Twenty"
Serial: 5Z96961
Date of Manufacture: 1965
Caliber: 20 Gauge, 2-3/4" Shells
Finish: Factory Blued Steel w/ Traditional Factory Floral Scroll Engraving & Gold-Plated Trigger
Barrel Length: 26" Special Steel Ventilated-Rib Barrel
Optics/Sights: Ventilated Sight Rib w/ Front Brass Bead Sight; No Rear Sight
Stock/Grips: High-Gloss Walnut Pistol-Grip Buttstock & Matching Slender Walnut Forearm w/ Fine Factory Checkering and Factory Black Buttplate
Action: Semi-Automatic
Markings: Receiver left side engraved "BROWNING" within factory floral scrollwork; upper receiver engraved "A-5 / Twenty"; receiver bottom serial marked "5Z / 96961"; barrel marked "BROWNING ARMS COMPANY ST LOUIS MO. & MONTREAL P.Q." and "MADE IN BELGIUM," with Belgian proof marks visible at the barrel extension and receiver.
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
John Moses Browning's Auto-5 is one of the landmark sporting-firearm designs of the twentieth century and is widely recognized as the first commercially successful semi-automatic shotgun. Its distinctive squared "humpback" receiver houses Browning's long-recoil system, in which the barrel and bolt travel rearward together before separating during the operating cycle. Belgian production by Fabrique Nationale established the Auto-5's reputation for exceptional machining, durability and hand-finished sporting quality, and the smaller-frame 20-gauge examples have become particularly desirable among collectors. The 2-3/4-inch Twenty was the lightweight 20-gauge configuration, with period serial references identifying the "Z" designation with the Light Twenty series; Browning's own Auto-5 records confirm that guns from this era used a leading production-year digit in their serial format. This particular example is a Belgian-made Auto-5 Twenty bearing serial number 5Z96961, placing it in 1965 production. It displays the classic Grade I-style factory floral scroll engraving across the blued receiver, contrasting gold-plated trigger, finely checkered high-gloss walnut furniture and a ventilated-rib Special Steel barrel. The wood presents with especially attractive color and figure, while the blued metal retains a deep polished appearance and the engraved receiver surfaces remain crisp and well defined. The visible "MADE IN BELGIUM" barrel marking, Belgian proofing, period Browning Arms Company address, gold trigger and early "Twenty" receiver treatment combine to give this example strong collector appeal as a desirable mid-1960s Belgian Light Twenty rather than a later Japanese-production Auto-5.
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3-day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping with Insurance $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping with Insurance $70.00
Any orders placed with magazines that are not compliant with your state, county, or city regulations will not ship with your order.
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Payment MUST be received within 14 days.
Additional Information
GunbrokerLink: |
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1206213600 |
BidPrice: |
200 |
AuctionEndDate: |
2026-10-04 21:00:00 |
CurrentBid: |
1225 |
