The Browning Auto-5 that I may consider...

[mehulkamdar]

Mack The Knife,

Here's an offer, buddy. If you could get it transferred to your name and have it sent here, I'd be happy to get it fully restored for you to take back. You might be interested to know that shotguns no longer come under the BATFE guidelines and come under the Department of Commerce in the USA. So, sending them here for service and upgradation should be no problem at all. Be glad to do it for you if you would like me to. I have friends in the trade - one of whom Grumpy has met - who would do a nice job at a huge discount over their normal prices.

Just let me know if you want me to do this. You would have a superb gun if this is cleaned up. Grumpy is the expert here and his advice is as positive as mine is, which means that I have learned something from him!

Cheers!

Mehul

[Grumpy]

Dodger......having few problems with the serial number.
If the serial number is plain 22832 the year of manufacture is early - certainly pre-WWII and probably around 1906-1910. If the serial number is preceded by the letter `M` it`s 1957. Inserting `22832LL` into my homebrew gundata software throws up the date 1948 ........ but I don`t know why. I`ve obviously found some information somewhere that I`ve included but can`t access the relevent data. I have a vague idea though that refers to an American built example.

[Grumpy]

Mehul, I still don`t know what Schwing is talking about. FN themselves say that no A-5s were built in Belgium between 1940-46. The lack of a rib is inconsequential as the early guns - certainly all those pre-WWI - didn`t have a rib anyway.
Wouldn`t you just love to have a root around the FN factory in Herstal, Liege ? There are rumoured to be all sorts of interesting goodies laying around in odd corners. I once saw a pair of very high-grade B25 20-Bores that were built on actions laid up in the mid-1950s but not completed until the mid/late `70s.
Those damascus tubes that Peter Dyson got hold of a few years ago are reckoned to have been sourced from somewhere in the vast facility......and they would have pre-dated FN by many years.

[mehulkamdar]

Grumpy,

No idea what Schwing means - I just read through his book and posted what was in it.

I hope Mack The Knife does the gun up and keeps it. If he does manage to send it here, I would be happy to get it cleaned and reblued and sent back to him nicely restored.

The FN plant at Liege must be a real treasure house. I have heard that they found a huge number of sidelock actions that FN made for the Priotte company before it was bombed out during the war. Perhaps, these would be made into SxS shotguns and sold under the BSS name though the newer BSS are made by an outside company, aren't they?

Cheers,

Mehul

[Mack The Knife]

Grumpy,

Your reply knocked me for a six - I was fully expecting something along the lines of, "You are actually considering it, get your head checked!".....

Well, if you think it's worth restoring I will see if I can get it transfered to my licence - sans Vitamin M.

The wood does show a bit of tiger stripping and the repaired grip must have been good a job because it felt as sturdy as an unbroken one. Whether it will survive the recoil remains to be seen. Failing which I will either order a polymer or wooden stock (front and rear) for it.

The Laurona I use has a straight grip and I find it very comfortable.

The Vaseline was put on the metal parts only, so hopefully, the wood is still useable.

In your opinion, do you consider the pitting seen in the pics to be light or medium? I believe it was the in the bore but localised to one or two places as I recall.

Doesn`t the fact that the gun is a family heirloom carry some weight ?

The only thing that carries weight is the thickness of the envelope.

I do not even mind blocking the entire magazine tube and effectively make it a single shot if that's what the authorities want. In a way that would give me some peace of mind as I get a bit worried when there are semi-autos around even if I am the one holding one.

Dodger, with your abilities and attention to detail you will be able to restore this gun to near mint condition.

I have no false pretensions about my abilities - they are average at best but restoring it is THE thing that is attracting me to this shotty.

Thanks a lot for your reply.

Mack The Knife

[Mack The Knife]

I am not sure the barrel is also too rusted but if you could emery the rust off....

I would have disagreed had it not been for Grumpy's post but now I am not so sure.

I will admit that most of the surface rust was removed with just oil (kerosene'ish), a toothbrush, rags and a lot of elbow grease. At home I can do a better job because I do have better things to use on it - I wonder if I should take them along and work on it whilst I am there.

This is really getting me excited.

Frankly, if you could rebarrel it, it should be a fantastic gun to use...

That has always been an option but with the import of barrels not being permitted I don't see how. I cannot even buy one or two on the net and have them sent to you to bring down as part of your A5 barrel set because you would need to account for them and may not be given permission to 'sell' them to me.

Only option is that a friend's father who lives in Bangalore sells me one of his A5 barrels but I don't see that happening.

Mack The Knife

[Mack The Knife]

Just one question Rusty,

Right now is it entered as SBBL on NPB license or Semi Auto on PB license?

-Inder

Not too sure, Inder. Considering he was an air-force officer then it could be entered as a PB though something tells me it has been entered as a SBBL - once, when he had gone to get the licence renewed (after retiring from the IAF), the police officer in charge had objected to him having a semi-auto but I believe the matter was sorted with a bottle or two of rum.

Will call him when he gets back from his morning golf.

Mack The Knife

P.S.: Spoke to the old boy and he hasn't a clue how it has been endorsed on his licence. He is also still under the impression that to get a PB licence all you need to do is get the Commissioner's approval.

[Mack The Knife]

Mack The Knife,

Here's an offer, buddy. If you could get it transferred to your name and have it sent here, I'd be happy to get it fully restored for you to take back. You might be interested to know that shotguns no longer come under the BATFE guidelines and come under the Department of Commerce in the USA. So, sending them here for service and upgradation should be no problem at all. Be glad to do it for you if you would like me to. I have friends in the trade - one of whom Grumpy has met - who would do a nice job at a huge discount over their normal prices.

Just let me know if you want me to do this. You would have a superb gun if this is cleaned up. Grumpy is the expert here and his advice is as positive as mine is, which means that I have learned something from him!

Cheers!

Mehul

Mehul,

I really do appreciate the offer and even if there were no hurdles in sending it to the U.S. and getting it back, do you really imagine I would give up such a chance to get my finger nails dirty?

What you can help me with is spares but more on this if and when the need arises.

Mack The Knife

[mehulkamdar]

Mack The Knife,

One of Mark's co-moderators at Accurate Reloading has a CNC stock duplicator and we could get a new one made for you if you send us the old stock with someone who travels here. We could get you wood here itself though if you want something exotic then Bangalore is the place for fine dark teak or red sanders if you really want to do an over the top refinish of the gun. There are lots of options and just let us know what you would like us to do for you on the gun.

And, once you start shooting it, try and make your mind up about moving out. There are many countries around the world that would have good use for someone with your background, education and skills. From a selfish standpoint, we guys in North America would also have one more good friend here.

Cheers!

Mehul

[Mack The Knife]

Dodger......having few problems with the serial number.
If the serial number is plain 22832 the year of manufacture is early - certainly pre-WWII and probably around 1906-1910. If the serial number is preceded by the letter `M` it`s 1957. Inserting `22832LL` into my homebrew gundata software throws up the date 1948 ........ but I don`t know why. I`ve obviously found some information somewhere that I`ve included but can`t access the relevent data. I have a vague idea though that refers to an American built example.

Thanks, Grumps. I appreciate what you are doing.

Here's a close up picture of the actual picture.





It's just 22832 with a 'F' turned by 90 degrees below the number.

Ring any bells?

Mack The Knife

[penpusher]

Mack The Knife,

The action should clean out nicely.If the barrel is in a condition that it can't be used,then the best option would be for you to take it ( just the barrel)along with you the next time you go to USA and bring back a replacement.If you send the weapon abroad for repair or take the complete weapon with you,there is a high possibility of it being confiscated on the way back.

Asif,any progress on finding the notifications governing the import of shotgun barrels?

penpusher

[mehulkamdar]

Mack The Knife,

Don't buy any barrels on the net. There are much cheaper sources. For example, I bought a barrel that can take steel shot from a private seller for $ 80. The same thing from Midway would have set me back by at least twice the amount.

Just a rhetorical question, but if you send the gun here for repairs and it is rebarreled, would that not be permitted? After all, replacing parts is a part of repairing a gun... In any case, any parts you want culd most probably be arranged here. The Remington and FN A-5s are very popular guns though they are no longer made and there is no shortage of shooters who use them. Whatever parts you want should be available. Just let me know.

Cheers!

Mehul

PS What if your father in law has your name as a retainer on your license? Would that help with the transfer?

[Mack The Knife]

One of Mark's co-moderators at Accurate Reloading has a CNC stock duplicator....

Now that is an offer I would happily and gratefully accept. Thank you!

No need for any fancy wood or graining. If I get it, it will be a working gun not a showpiece.

I will see if I can have the stocks sent to you directly from Delhi.

And, once you start shooting it, try and make your mind up about moving out.

My mind is already made up but there are constraints - parents getting old (though they would throw a fit if they learnt I was staying back because of them), getting a job that I actually like and that pays enough to put the kids through a good education, blah, blah, blah.... What's a good wage to achieve all that in the U.S.?

From a selfish standpoint, we guys in North America would also have one more good friend here.

Not sure about that. I am a bit too blunt (to the extent of being rude) and grumpy and tend to annoy most people, unless they happen to be of similar bent.

Mack The Knife

[Mack The Knife]

If the barrel is in a condition that it can't be used,then the best option would be for you to take it ( just the barrel)along with you the next time you go to USA and bring back a replacement.

penpusher,

That is something worth bearing in mind. The only problem is that going to America bit. Last I was there was 1981!

Mack The Knife

[Mack The Knife]

Mehul, an online store is the only option for overseas purchases because I can use my credit card. Getting foreign exchange from a bank isn't easy.

Just a rhetorical question, but if you send the gun here for repairs and it is rebarreled, would that not be permitted?

Probably involve reams of paper work and such and something I have no intention of doing.

What if your father in law has your name as a retainer on his license? Would that help with the transfer?

May help but getting a retainership would be a problem. He is in Delhi and I am in Bangalore.... I will ask him though. Thanks.

Mack The Knife