The lever on the left side of the receiver is called the "Magazine cut off". It is used to remove the shell in the chamber and keep the shells in the magazine. The lever moved forward will hold the shells in the magazine when the chamber is emptied. This enables the chamber to be emptied to allow the shooter to insert a heavier load without running all the other shells through the chamber to empty. In your case you have a 3" magnum, and let's say you were hunting pheasant with 2 3/4 shells. Suddenly, you see some low geese heading your way and you want to get a 3" heavy shell in the chamber. Simply flip the lever forward, pull back the bolt handle, eject the light load and insert the 3'' shell. Release the button and your ready to fire. It also is good if you want to make the gun safe while travelling to another hunting field without unloading the magazine. (A shell in the chamber is illegal to carry in a vehicle) To provide the year, the serial number must be known. Value depends on condition. Use the following links to provide more data.
Contact Browning and they will send you one.
It is a 12ga Magnum made in Herstal Belgium in 1962.
1926; 50-500 usd
250 USD or so
50-600 usd
300 USD
one thousand us dollars
Depnds on features each has.
You will have to call Browning for an answer.
1958,or 1968.
You Have a Browning auto-5 shotgun that is a Magnum chambering which was made in the year 1968.
Your Browning auto-5 magnum shotgun was made in Herstal,Belgium by the firm FN(Fabrique Nationale)for Browning in the year 1965 with the serial number that you have provided.