He designed a small, well-made brass and glass compass that sat in the top of a buttstock to help a hunter find his way out of the woods. Being a jeweler, he also had a penchant for designing, tinkering and building small intricate things with his hands. He had a penchant for always getting lost in the thick woods of Maine, and I'm sure back then that area was pretty rural still. LaViano, also started a small jewelry business in 1945 here in New Jersey. All shared an interest in bird hunting, raising and training English Setters, and annual trips to Maine each year for grouse and woodcock. My grandfather, Dad and uncle grew up and hunted with this fellow going back to the 40's. Here's the story behind the one made by Poly-Choke: My Dad's Sweet Sixteen from the 50's carries the same Pol圜hoke Gunner's Guide compass in the buttstock as well. It's in about 95% condition and I'm tickled to add it to my collection. I can post a picture of it tonight if it would help.Īny information will be helpful. I forgot to take a picture, but it almost looks like a place for an engraving plate. I've never see this on an A5, personally.įinally, in the top of the comb almost to the heel is a small (maybe 1/2" diameter) inlaid piece of wood.
The obvious one is in front of the loading port on the receiver, but the serial number is also stamped in the fore end, stamped in the end of the wood buttstock, and etched in the inside of the black FN butt pad.
Possibly even more interesting is that this gun has serial numbers everywhere. Following the standard of my other A5's, I'm thinking this is a 1965 gun. Possible with this gun, as you'll see in the pictures below. (FWIW, I do think this is a light twenty.) I've seen one other thing say the "Z" marked lightweight guns with High Grade wood.
I've seen some things say it was the "lightweight" designation for these years but most things say "G" was the lightweight designation. Not exactly sure what to make of the "Z". Anyways, I just bought a Belgian A5 Light Twenty but it has a few curious traits.įirst off, the serial number is 5Z 95571. I can see myself spending a bunch of time because I love these guns.