Belgium Browning Value

[timeout]

Good Morning Gentlemen! I have been asked by a friend to sell a Belgium Browning for a a friend of his who was gifted it by a will. I took a very quick look on GB early this morning and of course prices are all over the place. I need your help in putting a fair valuation on it. This is a 20 ga. 3" shotgun that has engraving and a gold colored trigger. It says Magnum Twenty and made in Belgium. The serial # is 69X 356xx. As far as condition there are some marks on the forend that I was told the original owner sometimes used it to press down on a fence when he was crossing! It shows blueing wear underneath the receiver from loading shells. Otherwise it looks pretty good. Photo shows the stock scratches. Rest of the wood looks pretty good. I appreciate any help that you can provide me with!

 

[JRS]

It's worth whatever a potential buyer is willing to pay for it. I have seen them sell for $450.00 - $900.00

 

[Regnar]

Get it appraised. Those guns can have a lot more value than that depending on the exact configuration and condition.

 

[Randall Hardy]

20 gauge in a auto 5 will usually bring a bit more than the 12 ga version. Belgium built will bring a little more as well.

 

[243winxb]

69X = Made in 1969. In that condition $350.

 

[rammac]

Based on my older copy of the Blue Book of Gun Values and my guess that the gun is a Browning Auto-5 Magnum series and assuming that the condition is about 50% to 60% (at best) the value would be listed at somewhere around $350 to $450. If that is was one of the Belgian (FN, made before 1976) then it's worth a little more (maybe $50) to a collector that puts a value on where it was manufactured.

But as has been stated, the value is going to be determined by the buyer, if he thinks that the condition is poor enough he might not offer more than $150 to $200. On the other hand, if the buyer is a collector and he's looking to fill a gap in the guns he has collected then he might go as high as $500 or more.

 

[243winxb]

Both with extra barrel. https://www.midwestgunworks.com/browning-auto-5/barrels.html#/filter:gauge:20$2520Gauge

R 6. Browning Model Auto-5 Magnum Twenty. Serial # 73X 50504. 20 Ga. 3” semi auto shotgun made in Belgium in 1973. 25” vent rib barrel choked cylinder with a bore that should clean up to excellent. The barrel has been cut approximately 3”. 75% of the original finish remains on the metal. There are some scuff marks on the barrel and some dings and heavy carry wear on the receiver. The checkered walnut round knob stock and forearm are in fair condition with some small dings and scratches and a few areas of finish loss. The stock was broken at the toe and repaired. The forearm does not match as far as color and may be a later replacement. Original butt plate. Action works fine. Includes an extra 28” vent rib full choked Japanese made barrel in fair to good condition. Sold For 500.00

R 7. Browning Model Auto-5 Light Twelve. Serial # L8426. 12 Ga. semi auto shotgun made in Belgium in 1954. 22½” matted rib barrel choked cylinder with an excellent bore. The barrel has been cut back. 90% to 95% of a reblue remains on the metal with a few small dings. The checkered walnut round knob stock and forearm are in fair to good condition with dings, scratches, and loss of finish. The forearm does not match as far as color. A recoil pad has been added and LOP is 14½”. Action works fine. Includes an extra 28” vent rib modified choked Japanese made barrel in good condition. (C&R) Sold For 475.00

 

[Dusty Stevens]

The 20ga has to have the right guy buying it like the sweet sixteen. I have some of the 12ga versions and as far as a value most guys wouldnt give $250 for an a5 but some may give $800 being a 20ga.

 

[T-shooter]

I have a 12 gauge Belgium Browning and been offered $1,000 for it but it's not for sale. My Dad bought it new in 1958.

 

[243winxb]

Salt wood guns https://shotgunreport.com/2013/05/22/browning-salt-wood-explained/

According to Schwing’s interviews with Browning’s Harm Williams and Val Browning, all the salt curing was done in the US and affected at least 90% of all Browning stocks from made from 1967 to 1969. The problem continued to show up until 1972, but in smaller numbers. It was then that the entire supply of walnut blanks was burned and replaced with traditional kiln dried wood.

To detect salt wood on 1966 to 1972 guns, first check for outward appearance of dark or discolored spots. Check every place that wood meets metal, as on the rear of the forend and at the head of the stock. Rust on the metal will be apparent if there is a problem. According to Schwing, the definitive test is to remove the butt pad/plate, scrape away a little wood from the exposed butt and apply a 1% solution of silver nitrate to the fresh wood. If the silver nitrate remains light purple, there is no salt. If the silver nitrate turns white, you have a salt gun.

The OP's Auto 5 looks OK.

In post 9, note the recoil pad. A recoil operated action produces more felt recoil then a gas gun. I have shot both.

 

[Zhomeguy]

I’d offer to buy the Browning 20-3” for 500$ if your friend feels thats fair with the input you’ve gotten so far...
zrfallin@gmail.com