Finally got a "Sweet Sixteen"

JMc

JMc

Super Moderator
For years, I've wanted a Belgium Browning "Sweet Sixteen" A5. Was at the Amarillo gun show this weekend and came across three of them. One was a '63 for $1675; one was a '67 for $1175; and one was unmarked but in great shape. Beautiful blonde wood with very few marks and bluing was good. A young (24) kid was at the table with his dad. I was carrying around the last of my Benelli experiments (M1 20ga) and stopped to look at the Browning. Bingo, bango, he took the Benelli and I walked out with the Browning. I have a gunsmith taking it down and giving it a thorough cleaning and validation of age. The gun had vent rib but had a recoil pad added but still very nice. Will post up pics ASAP.
 
Congrats, Jim. I bought a Sweet Sixteen ('60) last year and it also had a vent rib and a recoil pad. The recoil pad was brown with a white line and didn't look too good so I purchased a black recoil pad from Browning and had it installed. Improved the looks of the gun a lot and the back of the pad says "Browning". I know that if the stock has been cut to add the pad it decreases the value but mine's just a shooter anyway.

I'm a little confused when you say it was "unmarked". Their had to be a serial number and that should tell you the year of manufacture. Although I'm thinking I read some place that the very early Sweets may not of had a serial number. Let me know what you find out. What did you have to pay for it?
 
I would bet that you will be very happy with it. While I have none now, I have owned a couple in the past and they are fine guns. I have just trended to double guns for upland.
Lets see some pics ASAP!:)
BobM
 
I didn't make myself clear...unmarked as in no price tag. I had $600 in the M1; added a crisp $100 bill so I've got $700 in it. DZ...how did you get that Browning recoil pad? I'll pick it up in a week or so and get some pics.
 
Thank you very much

Glad to hear it, I've been wanting another one for a while, now I know someone that will bring it along this season. Very kind of you.:cheers:
 
JMc, the shotgun magnet. You sure have a way of finding them, don't you?:)

How are things in your part of the world? Dry as a bone at my place.

Congrats on the trade!
 
Going great, actually seeing quite a few roosters, most of them have several hens around so we may have a season this year.
 
M. R. Byrd said:
JMc, the shotgun magnet. You sure have a way of finding them, don't you?:)

How are things in your part of the world? Dry as a bone at my place.

Congrats on the trade!
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It's been good here but getting dry. A rain would help. Couldn't pass on the 16; couldn't shoot the Benelli worth a damn, so it wasn't doing me any good and became trade bait.
How's the KS crew?
 
Murry is back in fine form, but me, well not so much. Ankle is really a problem. Researching docs to do a total ankle replacement. That will have me down for awhile. Way behind on my work and need to get a bunch more done before I schedule down time. Doing decompression on the bulging disc and it is helping. Some upcoming tests related to the cancer issues. I wore out way too early.

Thankful though for what I can do and a great family, including Murry Dog, good friends and a merciful God.
 
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I just thought of Murry today. We have a snake clinic next month. I'll never forget the vertical 'ol Murry had that day. As always, call me when you need to. I'm about do for a road trip. Thoughts and prayers from Pam and I.
 
Needed judges on the sidelines with number cards like at the slam dunk contest for his move. I really think I should take him through the class again as he has been a little too interested lately. He was really interested in the odor left behind and maybe the blood from a big rattler my hired man killed recently. I killed one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Where we are working now we wear snake gaiters and Murry doesn't get on the ground.

As always, thanks for your kindness.
 
What will you be shooting in that Sweet Sixteen?

I picked up quite a few 16 gauge Remington shells(black body) at Dick's after I bought my Sauer 16 gauge side by side. Really don't like seeing a 16 gauge shell in black though. I started loading Remington black unibody 12 gauge years ago and still use them for my field loads and have switched to the green and the gold Remington's for my dove and trap loads. I uncased the Sauer at the recent Bust-A-Clay at Flint Oak and let my sons shoot it, but it bothers me having black 16 gauge shells and with Federal furnishing black 12 gauge shells for the shoot. Too much risk for me.

Once I get these black 16 gauge shotshells used, pitching the hulls, I will probably look at B & P. Provided I keep the Sauer.
 
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Same thoughts from us up nort there MR Byrd. I was un aware of your predicament. Good luck to you. With the heart and sole you show, I bet you will feel like a 20 year old soon. Unless your only 18 now of coarse. Take care of your self down there. FCS
:cheers:
 
JMc said:
I didn't make myself clear...unmarked as in no price tag. I had $600 in the M1; added a crisp $100 bill so I've got $700 in it. DZ...how did you get that Browning recoil pad? I'll pick it up in a week or so and get some pics.
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I bought the recoil pad along with new frictions rings and a recoil spring from Midwest Gun Works. Here's a link to the pad.
http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/mgwi/prod/A-02-G-22/B0008466

At $700 you got a great deal depending on condition. I paid around $875 for mine. But is was exactly what I wanted. 26" vent rib barrel choked IC. Like I said, you should be able to tell quite easily the year of manufacture from the serial number.
 
Jim, here's some pics of my Sweet Sixteen with the black Browing recoil pad. Also see the pic of the serial number. The "0S" above the number indicates it was made in 1960 and the "S" means it's a Sweet Sixteen.

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Called my buddy to check manufacture date code; G - 1967. Love the black recoil pad. Mine has a White Line (brown) on it now. Will be changing to the black. Also, the 67 was the first year of the square grip cap from what I was told. It's in great condition and as you said "exactly what I wanted". Mine has a modified barrel or at least it has two x's which I assume is modified. Looks great, pics soon from me.
 
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JMc said:
Called my buddy to check manufacture date code; G - 1967. Love the black recoil pad. Mine has a White Line (brown) on it now. Will be changing to the black. Also, the 67 was the first year of the square grip cap from what I was told. It's in great condition and as you said "exactly what I wanted". Mine has a modified barrel or at least it has two x's which I assume is modified. Looks great, pics soon from me.
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G is not a date code. The G stands for "light weight". The number preceeding the letter G is the date of manufacture. i.e. - 69GXXXX would mean it was made in 1969. If it's 7GXXXX then the date of manufacture is 1967. Browning changed the numbering between 1967 and 1968. Check out this link as is explains how to identify the date of manufacture on A5's.

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=13

I'm not sure how long they used the "S" in the serial number to indentify the Sweet Sixteen.
 
From what I can find I believe that 1969 was the first year that the Belgium made guns came with the sqared off pistol grip instead of the round knob. So if yours has the squared grip it can't be a '67.
 
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