Old Browning...whats it worth?

[Damn True]

That's my Great Grandfather on the left. He's holding the Browning A5 that my Great Grandmother gave him for their anniversary in 1906.

I've no intention of selling it but need to put something down on the homeowners insurance. What do these things go for in avg condition. The metal is in great shape, the wood has 100+ yrs of wear but is solid. Shoots great.

[BigDogatPlay]

It would depend a lot on the grade of the gun. Do you have any current photos? Is the barrel ribbed? What, if any engraving on the receiver?

[Damn True]

These are the only pics I have handy.

Steel looks pretty darned good



The barrel is not ribbed.








Again, no intention of selling it so I don't need an exact figure. Just something ballpark for the insurance policy.

[ElToro]

thats awesome you have a picture of grampa with that shotgun. i wish i had a picture of my gr gr grandpa with the parker double of his that i have.

sorry cant help you with value on a A5 that old, obviously its priceless to you. really clean A5 from the 50s can be had for under $2k often well under $1k.

has it been re-blued ? or is that the picture ? somebody added the pad so that detracts

[prc77]

If that was mine, a very cool picture of my great grandfather with the shotgun.

Priceless,, wouldn't care what its worth. never sell it

[Damn True]

thats awesome you have a picture of grampa with that shotgun. i wish i had a picture of my gr gr grandpa with the parker double of his that i have.

sorry cant help you with value on a A5 that old, obviously its priceless to you. really clean A5 from the 50s can be had for under $2k often well under $1k.

has it been re-blued ? or is that the picture ? somebody added the pad so that detracts

It's just polished and oiled. You can see the light pitting in the steel just aft of the forearm and aft of the lens flare.

My grandfather added the pad. He was a full 7" taller than GG and needed the extra reach. As it sits it's a bit too long now for me, I slot in between the two gents in height but I've shot it for 25yrs now in it's current configuration, no sense changing it now.

[Damn True]

If that was mine, a very cool picture of my great grandfather with the shotgun.

Priceless,, wouldn't care what its worth. never sell it

Like I said, I'm only asking because I need something to put on the insurance policy. No intention of ever selling it.

[BigDogatPlay]

The pad is not original, as noted. Given that it's 106 years old it's almost certainly been refinished so virtually no collector value if thats the case.

Appears to be a Grade 1 gun. It should have had a bit of engraving on the receiver, so perhaps that was lost with polishing for re-finish?

Unaltered Grade 1 guns with a plain barrel blue book at $250 for a 60% gun, up to $725 for a 100% gun. Split the difference, if this gun was indeed re-finished, and I'd call it in the $400 range for insurance purposes.

Take good photos of it in case you ever have to file a claim or a police report. The photo of your great grandfather with the gun is truly priceless. It's very cool to have that link.

[Revoman]

You can name your own price insurance wise. It may cost you a little bit more in premiums, but completely doable.

Since it's priceless, why not value it at a few thousand to help compensate in fire or theft? At least you may feel a little better spending some cash to help get over the loss.

[Remus]

Not a collector but have seen many A-5s in gun shops. Would put the sticker value closer to 500 so long as the stock is not significantly chewed up.

[Damn True]

The pad is not original, as noted. Given that it's 106 years old it's almost certainly been refinished so virtually no collector value if thats the case.

Appears to be a Grade 1 gun. It should have had a bit of engraving on the receiver, so perhaps that was lost with polishing for re-finish?

Unaltered Grade 1 guns with a plain barrel blue book at $250 for a 60% gun, up to $725 for a 100% gun. Split the difference, if this gun was indeed re-finished, and I'd call it in the $400 range for insurance purposes.

Take good photos of it in case you ever have to file a claim or a police report. The photo of your great grandfather with the gun is truly priceless. It's very cool to have that link.

Thank you, and the rest who commented.

FWIW, It was never engraved. Most of the really old ones with non-ribbed barrels that I've seen weren't. I'm totally guessing here: but I assume the ribbed barrel variant was the "deluxe" version and as such had engraving and checkering on the furniture and the non-ribbed was more of a utility gun. Given that G-G was first a rancher (owned most of the property that is now UTC on Metcalf Rd. between San Jose & Morgan Hill) and not given to "fancy things" it seems the utility gun would have been a more fitting gift for him.

[tpuig]

Do a couple searches on Gunbroker and GunsAmerica for past sales of comparable shotguns. They made a lot of them, but that looks in pretty good shape. As mentioned, somewhere around the $500 mark would be a fair price.

[savannah]

My son just bought a Belgiun made A5 made in the 1930's. He paid $600.00. Shoots great and is beautiful.

[glock 357]

Priceless,, wouldn't care what its worth. never sell it

What he said ^^^^

At least keep it within the family....

[jen]

What he said ^^^^

At least keep it within the family....

at least read the entire op before posting.