My step dad gave me his dad's shotgun, Belgium Browning" and...

My step dad gave me his dad's shotgun, Belgium Browning" and i was trying to figure out if it is worth something and should be kept as a collector or if I should get new stocks for it and use it...

It says "Light Twelve" on the side and on the bottom (forward of the loader) it has 1G then below, there are 5 numbers... 49**1

Can't seem to find anything on the Browning site that has this type serial number... It seems to resemble the A5 the most.

The gun is in pretty poor condition as the stocks are badly scratched and the finish is coming off and even a couple cracks. The blueing is worn to bare metal in places too.

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hello,,the 1G indicates the year of production as 1962 and it is a A-5 auto loader,,value for a belgium light weight in the condition you say yours is in would be 400-600,,any browning has value and if your planning on keeping it then i'd either refinish the stocks to suit your needs or pick up a set of new stocks and keep the originals as a backup or if a collector want them if you sell it down the road ,,it won't hurt the value and it sounds like it needs some TLC,,but also sounds like it may have had a day or two in the feild and must work good and did its job well to be in the condition you say yours is in...

Yes it has seen many days in the field for many years! It has always worked flawlessly...

I have a question - My A5 is a "Light Twelve" Did they make them in 62? I have had so many contradicting statements I don't know how to judge it...

Thanks!
CM

the light weight was made in 1961,i made a mistake when i said 1962,,the 1G is listed as a light weight model designation for 1961..the standard weight model was 1M and the magnum model was 1V,,i don't collect brownings but thats what my book says for you 1G markings ,,when do other people say it was made ?the book says the number letter sequence was used from 1958-1976,,if you'd go by the serial number then it would have been made in 1928 but with the 1G it only shows 1961 as the date of production..
bigcurt