'*' designates full choke (F). '*-' designates improved modified choke (IM). '**' designates modified choke (M). '**-' designates improved cylinder choke (IC). '**$' designates skeet (SK). '***' designates cylinder bore (CYL).
look under the forearm
take it to a gunsmith
It will be marked "Made in Belgium"
The barrel will be marked "Made in Belgium"
The barrel will have 'Made in Belgium' on it. The receiver can be dated by serial number.
BROWNING CHOKES AND THEIR CODES (ON REAR LEFT-SIDE OF BARREL)'*' designates full choke (F).'*-' designates improved modified choke (IM).'**' designates modified choke (M).'**-' designates improved cylinder choke (IC).
Comparison to known grades.
Your gun was made in 1929 in Belgium. The Browning Arms Co imported Auto 5 shotguns fron the Fabrique Nationale plant in Herstal Belgium. At that time their HQ was in Ogden Utah, where the Browning Brothers were in business. 1929 was the last full year with the Ogden Utah address. They moved their US headquarters to St. Louis in 1930. Your gun is likely a Grade I with no engraving. If it has scroll engraving on the receiver it is a GradeII. The barrel will tell you the choke designation guage and "special steel". It also says "made in belgium" on the barrel. auto5man
Serial number. Go to Browning's site, click on support, then date your firearm.
By the serial number.
There were at least three places where the Browning shotguns were made: Belgium, the US, and Japan. Take the gun to a gunsmith and he may be able to tell you easily.
Call Browning, give them the serial number, and they will tell you the age and a host of other information about your gun.