Another Auto-5 Question.....original stock? help

Redches

February 19, 2003 08:40

Ok, my neighbor wants to sell his belgium sweet 16 Browning to me. He says he checked the serial number and it was about a 1954 model.. But, the gun has a "square" pistol grip, not rounded. It is exactly the same looking stock as my 1984 Japan made Light Twelve. But it does have the "old" but plate. So....has this stock been replaced? Did they even Make 54 models with a square plate????? Thanks again
Red

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  nord

  February 20, 2003 02:40

  My belief is that the gun should have a rounded pommel. Only the later guns were squared off as far as I know.
  
  I would be curious if the wood and checkering match on the stock pieces. Usually the checkering is a dead giveaway, but that's not always the case.
  
  As to value... I really don't know if it's all that big a deal if the work was done to the degree of perfection that one couldn't tell. There are those who know enough about guns to suspect a change, but I'm not sure it really matters.
  
  
  
  Nord

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  timbroman

  February 20, 2003 03:57

  Red, It sounds to me like you really want this shotgun. You know that it has probably been worked on over the years to the point that it is essentially a "shooter". A fifty-year old gun that has been restocked has, in all likelihood, been reblued as well (from your earlier description of how good the finish looked from a few feet away). Both are apparent attempts to make the gun as appealing and new-looking as possible. But I do like the Sw16 and I would offer the man a fair but conservative figure based on the fact that the gun is far from original and is valued only as a decent shooter and something of a curiosity. I would make the offer only after taking the barrel off the magazine tube and inspecting the friction pieces to see that they are all there and that the shotgun is mechanically sound. After all, you have addressed the cosmetics (stocks and finish) and now you need to know if it is indeed a functional shooter. Good luck.
  
  timbroman@aol.com

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