Some just got in this debate on shotgunworld. I don't know that much about the A-5's but I do know Browning Double Autos. The best years were in the mid to late 50's and into the early 60's. The wood is darker and better figure. The 1970's Brownings went to the blond wood and hard glossy finish that cracks and peels. In about the mid 60's the barrels on the DA stopped being rust blued in favor of the cheaper, glossy dipped blue. This is like the M12 vs the Y M12. The are all great guns but I can feel the love put into those late 50's guns.
Doug Allison