Help with a Browning Sweet 16
Alright, so I'm admittedly not a huge gun guy. I own several guns that I inherited from my father who was a police officer and used to hunt with his father and grandfather long ago. The one I'm having the most trouble identifying is a Browning Sweet 16 A5 shotgun. I have used the serial number reference provided at browning.com (thanks to the sticky in this forum) and none of them seem to match. I know it is a Belgium-made model, as it has "Made in Belgium" stamped right on the barrel. The serial number, located with help from the owner's manual, is A8435. According to browning's website, this seems to be too short, but is the only number stamped in the location the owner's manual indicates as the serial number location. Any help? I am looking to sell this gun and want to get a decent idea of its value before even attempting to locate a potential buyer - don't wanna get ripped off!
Here are some pictures, forgive the lousy quality - I had to adjust some of the lighting in photoshop to make the engraving detail a bit more visible:
Here are some pictures, forgive the lousy quality - I had to adjust some of the lighting in photoshop to make the engraving detail a bit more visible:
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Believe if I were you, I would not be in a rush to sell this one. At least until you can locate a very good appraiser. Most will likely tell you how low priced it should be, only cause they want this one! Be very careful here! 0 -
From your pictures I'd say your Sweet 16 is fairly nice. Choke is a bit of value decider. Look on the left side of your barrel, just above the forearm. You will see some astrick type stars or dashes. * is full choke, ** modified, **- is improved clyinder. Go into the semi auto shotgun auctions and type in "Sweet 16" or just 16 and review the pricing and whatever bidding activity there is. That should be a guide. Browning Auto 5 collectors or shooters are a diminishing group and 16 guage in particular. I do have a stsndard A5 16 in improved cylinder that is pretty much my #1 shotgun for upland game of all varieties. My value estimate would be around $600. 0 -
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Nice 16. The round knob pistol grip early guns usualy bring a premium over the later ones. None of the nice Belgum Sweet 16's are cheap. Paid $475 for my late model one with the square pistol grip 20 years ago. 0 -
you have a nice shotgun but the bluing wear on the bottom of the receiver takes it out of the 'colletor' class. Go to the auction side and type in 'sweet sixteen' in the search box. use the 'smart search' and use 'completed auctions' compair yours to the 'sold' auction prices. 0 -
Thanks for the quick and helpful responses everyone.
Golfer - how did you come up with that year of manufacture? I couldn't match the serial number to anything on browning's website.0 -
The Blue Book of Gun Values shows Browning and other Manufactures serialization, Not that accurate for early classic Winchester but seems very good for Browning 0
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