Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

browning sweet 16

fairgame
Considering buying extremely clean A-5. Near perfect stocks no cracks and no modifications from original. 28"(?)bbl with cross-hatched sight plane (no rib), modified choke, extremely fine blue and shiny bright inside. Gold(?) trigger has a little spotting. Has little (3"X5")instruction booklet. Comes with several boxes of Federal Monarch paper shells of varying shot and old Outers cleaning kit. Seller asking $750.00 but I would appreciate your thoughts as to value. I'm unable to determine year of manufacture at the Browning website...s/n is S14671. Thanks. Best, Jim (timbroman@aol.com)

timbroman@aol.com
0

Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • fairgame
    Trying to get an idea as to what a Belgium Browning Sweet 16, Serial# X44470, might be worth. I believe it was made in 1951, plain barrel and in very good to excellent condition. I have a chance to buy it and neither the seller or I really know what the value is. Thanks.
    0
  • nyforester
    I believe it is 1935.
    0
  • ndeltaguns
    From the Browning web site

    Auto-5 Semi-Automatic ShotgunDate Gun / Back

    The production of the Auto-5 began in 1902. Produced by F.N., John M. Browning ordered 10,000 of these shotguns in his first order. In 1999 Browning issued the "Final Tribute" version featuring engraved scens of John M. Browning, the F.N. Factory and the Browning Brothers first store. Only 1,000 of these were produced in a high-grade wood. Production of the famous "A-5" ceased after this final tribute.

    To find your serial number, you will need to refer to your owner's manual. We have most owner's manuals online. You can go to those by clicking here.

    Date Historic Information Serial Number Info
    1903-1939 First 10,000 shipped to U.S. Marked with "BROWNING AUTOMATIC ARMS CO. OGDEN UTAH-U.S.A." Very few serial number records remain. Beginning with Serial Number 1 to approximately 228,000. Exact production figures are not available. Year of manufacture on Pre-World War II production is strictly a guess.
    1940-1946 From 1940 to 1946 production of the Auto-5 was turned over to Remington. Serial number is on the side of receiver. "ABC" for American made Version. (A=16 gauge, B-12 gauge, C=20 gauge) 1946+229,000-237,000
    1947 237001-249000
    1948 249001-270000
    1949 270001-285000
    1950 285001-315000
    1951 315001-346000
    1952 F.N. took over production of the Auto-5. 346001-387000
    1953 387000-438000
    1954-55 Serial Numbering System changed. H=Standard Weight. L=Light Weight. H1-H83000
    L1-L83000
    1956 Serial Number designation for the Light Weight changed to G. H83001-H99000
    G1-G23000
    1957 Serial Numbering System changed again. M=Standard Weight. G=Light Weight. M22000-M85000
    G23001-85000
    1958-67 From 1958 serial numbers were preceded by the date of manufacture. 8M=standard weight for 1958. 8G=light weight for 1958.
    Example: 8M1000 = A 1958 Auto-5 standard weight shotgun with serial number 1000 G85001-G99000
    8G1-8G2000
    M=standard weight
    G=light weight
    1968-76 In 1969 Browning started using two digits for the date of manufacture which was followed by a four digit code that identified the type of Auto-5:
    M=standard weight
    G=light weight
    This was then followed by the serial number beginning with 1000.
    Example: 69G1000 = A 1969 Auto-5 Lightweight 12 ga.. shotgun with a serial number of 1000. M-standard weight
    G=light weight
    1976-1997 In 1976 Browning standardized its serial number identification which it followed until 1998.
    1. Auto-5 Type 151=Magnum 12 gauge
    161=Magnum 20 gauge
    211=Light 12 gauge
    221=Sweet 16
    231=Light 20 gauge
    2. Date of Manufacture
    is a two digit code Z=1
    Y=2
    X=3
    W=4
    V=5
    T=6
    R=7
    P=8
    N=9
    M=0
    3. Serial Number
    beginning with 01001
    at the start of each year.



    Serial
    Number Example:
    01001RT151

    This would be an Auto-5 Magnum 12 ga.,manufactured in 1976 with the serial number 01001.

    1999 The Auto-5 will be discontinued for 2000. To commemorate this historic event for the Auto-5, Browning released the "Final Tribute" version in 1999.
    1. Serial Number
    beginning with 1001
    at the start of each year.
    2. Date of Manufacture
    is a two digit code 2000 (distribution began in 1999)
    3. Auto-5 Type FT="Final Tribute" 12 ga.



    Serial
    Number Example:
    2000FT1001

    This would be a Auto-5 "Final Tribute" 12 ga., manufactured in 1999 with the serial number 1001.






    It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
    0
  • timbroman
    Fairgame - What is the number or alpha+number on the forward surface of the loading port on the under part of the receiver? Does your shotgun say "Sweet Sixteen" on the left side of the receiver? Does the trigger appear to be gold plated? What has clued you to the year 1956?
    0
  • fairgame
    Thanks to all who replied.
    tombroman, Sweet Sixteen is on the left side of receiver with gold plated trigger. Number on loading port of receiver is S above it with the numbers 89768. Gun is in excellent condition. All original. I paid 800.00 and I am well pleased. Thanks again for reply
    0
  • timbroman
    Fairgame - 1955, 1956, 1957 - You probably nailed it with 1956, certainly pre-1958 - $800.00 is a lot of money but if you are happy it ia a bargain and given your description as original and in excellent condition, it should continue to be a source of good feelings for a long time.

    I paid a little less than that for a 1954 model (s/n S14672) - it has original steel and stocks, retains about 90 percent finish, plain barrel with that cross-hatched strip along the top, modified choke. Also, I bought it a few years back before the steep rise in prices for that gun.

    We should have been buying these shotguns instead of those silly cd's in our retirement accounts.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity