FN Browning Auto-5 Standard 12 Ga, 28" Modified, Belgian-Made 1936 Pre-War Semi-Auto Shotgun
This Belgian-made FN Browning Auto-5 Standard stands out as an early, pre-World War II example of John M. Browning’s famous long-recoil shotgun. Produced in 1936 (within the desirable 1935–1939 window) and chambered for 2 3/4-inch shells, it features a 28-inch Special Steel barrel with a factory-marked two-star Modified choke, classic hump-back receiver profile, and round-knob walnut stock—details that appeal to shooters and collectors alike.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
The metal surfaces display scattered handling marks and honest bluing wear, while the walnut stock and fore-end show small scratches and finish blemishes consistent with regular field use. Despite these signs of age, the shotgun remains in sound mechanical order and presents well for an 87-year-old firearm.
What’s Included
- FN Browning Auto-5 Standard 12 Gauge semi-automatic shotgun
Designed by John Browning and produced by Fabrique Nationale, the Auto-5 was the first successful semi-automatic shotgun. This Standard model retains its original long-recoil action and distinctive cartridge cut-off lever, allowing quick selection between chamber and magazine.
The 28-inch plain barrel is made of FN’s Special Steel and wears a single brass bead up front for a clean, uncluttered sight picture. Belgian proof marks and the St. Louis Browning importer address remain crisp on the barrel and receiver.
Period-correct wood appointments include the early finger-groove fore-end with 18-lpi checkering and an oil-finished walnut stock capped by a steel butt-plate bearing the intertwined FN monogram. The 14.5-inch length of pull offers a comfortable, traditional fit.
Capacity is four rounds in the tubular magazine plus one in the chamber, and a cross-bolt safety sits at the rear of the trigger guard. The blued carbon-steel receiver showcases FN’s hallmark pre-war machining and the iconic hump-back silhouette that aligns the shooter’s eye naturally down the ribless barrel.