1988 was the year that Mossberg introduced the 3-1/2 inch 12 gauge and Federal Ammunition introduced 3-1/2 inch unfolded length shotshells to go along with it.
1939
If your Browning auto-5 shotgun is in 12 gauge,then it was made in the first year of production which was 1903.If you have a 16 gauge auto-5 shotgun,then it was made in the first year of production which was 1909.
If you have a Browning auto-5 shotgun in 12 gauge it was made in the year 1925.If it is a 16 gauge shotgun,then it was made in the year 1929.
It was made in 1970
If your shotgun is chambered in 12 gauge,then your shotgun was made in the year 1913.If your shotgun is a 16 gauge model,then it was made in the year 1926.
This low grade decarbonized steel 10 gauge gun with under lifters to open the action and 32 inch barrels was made during the first year of production to the best that can be found. That year was 1874. Parker made some 2,760 shotguns that first year.
If your shotgun is in 12 gauge,then it was made in the year 1922.If it is a 16 gauge shotgun,then it was made in the year 1927.
To my Knowledge Browning or for that matter any gunmaker has never made a 16 gauge shotgun with a 4in.chamber.In order to get the answer that you seek,you will need to include the model of Browning shotgun in question along with the serial number(to date the year of manufacture) and the overall condition of your shotgun.
@ 1925.your Browning auto-5 shotgun which was made by FN of Belguim could have 2 different year of production.Because you did not state the gauge of your shotgun,if it is a 12 gauge then it was produced in 1907,if it is a 16 gauge then it was made in 1923.
The gauge is stamped on the water table by the serial number. It is a Flues model made in 1924.
I believe that the year was 1958.That was the first year Browning chambered a magnum version of its auto-5 shotgun.
If your Browning auto-5 shotgun is chambered in 12 gauge then it was made in the year 1928.If it is chambered in 16 gauge,then it was made in the year 1938.