1930’s Belgian made Auto-5, value?

[KaiserJ]

[KaiserJ]

[freonr22]

Thats purdy. Imho, regardless of monetary value, i wouldn't chop it.

Id use Semichrom on outside and inside, so beautiful

[KaiserJ]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KaiserJ]

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[KaiserJ]

Reserved for photos

[Bainter1212]

I am an A5 enthusiast but unfortunately, they aren't worth much generally, unless it is a Belgian made Sweet Sixteen. There were just too many of them made and any gun shop that takes in used guns will have a dozen of them.
I did make one into an home defense gun. Cut down a spare ebay barrel to 18", installed mag extension, synthetic furniture. It actually runs really well.

[Bainter1212]

I suggest getting a spring kit from Midwest Gun Works. The bolt return and recoil springs and friction piece almost never get changed when they should, due to the fact that the gun keeps running just fine despite the wear.

[SVT-40]

I am an A5 enthusiast but unfortunately, they aren't worth much generally, unless it is a Belgian made Sweet Sixteen. There were just too many of them made and any gun shop that takes in used guns will have a dozen of them.
I did make one into an home defense gun. Cut down a spare ebay barrel to 18", installed mag extension, synthetic furniture. It actually runs really well.

This... it's a shooter. Do with it as you like. Probably a $250 to $300 shotgun. At most.

[KaiserJ]

Thanks for the replies, I’ll probably continue on with the choppage. I’ll report back here with more photos of the process

[RNE228]

Some ranges have a minimum barrel length for shooting clays. Might want to verify at the range you shoot at.

[Bainter1212]

Yeah I got told "No" by a gray-haired old codger employee when I brought a Mossberg 590 to Coyote Valley. I actually brought it for a friend who didn't have a shotgun of his own.
I looked up the rules later and there was no such barrel length rule, the guy was just one of those elitist Fudds who probably thinks "you don't need an assualt weapon for hunting"

[Nihonto Chicken]

No Great Loss If Not Collectible

If an A5 of the age of yours is in 95%+ condition and is unaltered, then it is collectible, and I wouldn't recommend changing it, but rather conserve it for posterity. Yours is far from that standard. The butt stock rear end has been cut for a rubber pad and its front end is trash, the fore arm crack is not repairable in a cosmetic sense, and while the receiver light surface rust can be mostly removed with brass wool and oil, the metal finish will never look factory original again, though will be quite acceptable for a utilitarian firearm.

Bottom line, IMO, if you desire a short barrel HD or tactical arm, modify away with a clear conscience. Right now you're in luck. There haven't been any new synthetic A5 replacement stock sets available for ages, but some have just surfaced on the Midwest Gun Works site under the Champion manufacturer name. These are the old Ram-Line stocks, newly manufactured using a pressure injected polymer impregnated with fiberglass. Price has been upped to about a Benjamin with shipping, but at least these decent knockabout stock sets are available once more. Link below:

https://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/55551

[KaiserJ]

Considering selling this project off currently, or possibly trade. Anyone interested? I have not cut or modified anything yet.

[pitfighter]

Great looking shotgun, and really good photographs, well done!
I cannot speak on chopping, I'm not for altering much, but honestly, I probably would, as those long duck hunting barrels just look odd nowadays.

Yeah I got told "No" by a gray-haired old codger employee when I brought a Mossberg 590 to Coyote Valley. I actually brought it for a friend who didn't have a shotgun of his own.
I looked up the rules later and there was no such barrel length rule, the guy was just one of those elitist Fudds who probably thinks "you don't need an assualt weapon for hunting"

Range "attendants" - the pond-scum amoebic-disentery of the shooting sports.
They have literally failed at everything else life has provided for them and have found a place they can have a semblance of authority.

Thankfully private ranges exist.