A-5 historians--- Help
I have the opportunity to buy an A-5 Sweet Sixteen, all matching #s, with an "S" prefix and s/n 179xx-- that 's right, 17 thousand. In researching it, I can't find an "S" prefix listed, either in the Blue Book or the Browning web site. Can anyone tell me year of manufacture, and, so I'm told, if this is a first year gun ?
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The sweet sixteen was introduced in 1936 and cancelled in 1976. The major changes being only the speed load feature, cross bolt safety, markings on the frame and barrel, chamber length, flat knob stock, frame pins and cancellation of hollow matted barrels.
Originally these were not marked "Sweet 16", but they can be separated by the gold triggers and engraving. The Standard 16 didn't have a gold trigger throughout production. The "Sweet 16" engraving on the left side of the frame started to show up about 1953. Serial numbers were inter-mixed with both models and the 12 gauges until 1953 when they were seperated. After that they were designated by the codes "R" for the standard and "S" for the Sweet 16.
The first 16 gauge A5 was shipped by FN to the U.S. on August 17, 1909. Browning will not give out any information, and these are taken from old sales records and notes from Val Browning. The standard weight was made from 1909 until discontinued in 1968, the "Sweet 16" Belgium from 1936-1976. Many guns were shipped to countries that designated their own serial numbers, which may cause numbers produced to not coincide with serial numbers as listed. Good accurate records were not released by Browning during the entire production run.0 -
Rembrandt, if this is of any help, the gun is a round knob with the "S" appearing above the serial number at the loading port. It has a gold trigger, safety in the later position, and has the magazine cutoff, as well as "Sweet Sixteen" on the left side of the frame above the engraving. It has a non-ribbed 28" barrel with cross-hatching and a single bead sight, and the original Browning buttplate. Does this narrow the search any? Thanks 0 -
Hard to say, but I'd guess it's post war production. 1953 engraving began to show up on the left side of the frame.
After about 1951-1952 the barrels no longer needed to be custom fitted, hence many guns no longer had serial numbers on the barrel and receiver that matched...but some still did.
On units made from 1951-1958 markings will read:
BROWNING ARMS COMPANY ST. LOUIS, MO.
(left side of barrel)
MADE IN BELGIUM
(right side of the barrel)
On units made from 1959-1968 markings read:
BROWNING ARMS COMPANY ST LOUIS MO & MONTREAL P.Q.
(left side of barrel)
MADE IN BELGIUM
(right side of barrel)
On units made from 1969-1975 markings read:
BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN UTAH & MONTREAL, P.Q.
(left side of barrel)
BROWNING AUTO-5
(right side of barrel)
On units from 1976 and later, markings read:
BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN UTAH & MONTREAL, P.Q. MADE IN JAPAN
(left side of barrel)
BROWNING AUTO-5
(right side of barrel)0 -
Laxcoach, I have struggled with this very thing recently. I have a SweetSixteen very similar to yours that I was very fortunate to come across not too long ago. Like yours, mine is Round Knob, 28", Modified Choke, no-rib cross hatched barrel. It is s/n S14XXX. I believe this number sequence to be circa 1956-1959. Rembrant is absolutely correct about the numbering system...highly confusing and almost mystical sometimes. The numbering scheme changed periodically, several times. If you come across something authoritative I would appreciate hearing from you. Best regards, Jim (timbroman@aol.com)
timbroman@aol.com0
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