Browning Auto-5 Twenty Grade I 20 Gauge, Belgian 1968, 27.5" FN Special Steel Barrel, Solid Rib, Fixed Modified Choke, Scroll-Engraved
Belgian-made by FN Herstal in 1968, this Browning Auto-5 Twenty Grade I pairs the scaled 20-gauge receiver with factory roll-engraved scrollwork and a Browning crest. It features a 27.5" FN "Special Steel" barrel with a solid matted rib and a fixed Modified choke denoted by the FN star code "**". Belgian proofs and a Browning Arms Company St. Louis Mo. rollmark underscore its provenance, while the external magazine cut-off and classic walnut furniture complete a distinctive, collectible configuration.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Specific Condition Details: Many scratches and blemishes are present. Minor pitting is visible on the receiver. There is a large crack on the left side of the grip. There is a bulge in the barrel roughly 4 inches from the muzzle. The bore appears clean and shiny on visual inspection.
What’s Included
- Browning Auto-5 Twenty Grade I 20 Gauge semi-automatic shotgun
Belgian production and Browning heritage define this Auto-5 Twenty Grade I. Built by FN in 1968, it uses the scaled 20-gauge receiver introduced in 1958 and the proven long-recoil action. An external magazine cut-off lever provides quick control over the feed system, a hallmark feature of the Auto-5 design.
The 27.5" FN "Special Steel" barrel is topped with a solid matted rib and a single front bead. It is chambered for 2.75" shells and carries a fixed Modified choke, confirmed by the FN "**" star code. This configuration offers a classic all-around 20-gauge setup.
The receiver and barrel wear a blued finish with factory Grade I roll-engraved scroll and the Browning crest. Belgian proofs appear throughout, including ELG in oval, the Perron, and lion over PV, with Liège proof marks on the barrel ring. The barrel is roll-marked "Browning Arms Company St. Louis Mo."
Stocked in walnut, it features a round-knob pistol grip with cut checkering, a matching forearm, and an FN hard-rubber buttplate with monogram. Length of pull measures 14.0 inches, and capacity is 2+1. The steel receiver construction and classic furniture round out a well-recognized Twenty-grade configuration.