Browning 16 gauge semi auto says made in belbuim has T 1037?

Answer 1

FN manufactured 10,900 Auto-5 16ga guns with an interim serial code in late 1957 to early 1958. The serial code either had an "A" for the lightweight model (sweet) or a "T" for the standard weight model. There is no record published as to how many of the 10,900 were A's or T's. The numbers were mixed, but not duplicated. These guns were shipped from FN between November 1957 to April 1958. This group of guns are the only Auto 5's that had a "T" prefix, such as your gun. New guns being made in 1958 were changed to the well known Serial Number (year & model) code that Browning used from 1958-1976. Specifically we know that the "A or T" serial number 1300 was shipped on Dec 31st 1957. So it's definite that your gun being below #1300 was shipped in Nov or Dec 1957. Not all of the 10,900 guns were sold to Browning, but most were; The remaining were sold in other FN markets.