I'm looking for date of manufacture and other info on a S&W model 916A 12 gauge shotgun, looks like a police model, barrel length about 20 inches. Serial number is 527BXX. It was obtained many years ago by an elderly friend who doesn't recall any specifics of its history.
Any info appreciated!

Have one I bought in late 70's I think? Purchased it new from a large local gun store that supplied many police departments. Mine has a regular length barrel,modified choke I think,was told they had a truck load of them when I got it. Sorry I can't help more.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Here are some excerpts from the SCSC (Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson):
"...it has been reported that the earlier Model 916 pattern shotguns were made in the U.S. based on the Nobel Shotgun Company's Eastfield model. They were made by S&W in a separate facility after Nobel declared bankruptcy c. 1969."

Model 916 Slide Action Shotgun with Fixed Barrel was produced in 18", 20", 26", 28", and 30" barrels. Introduced 1972. My inference from the text of the SCSW was this was produced 1972-1978 but it is not clear if this was produced after 1978.

The fixed barrel version had a plain pistol grip, was either plain or ventilated barrel, offered in various chokes in 12, 20, and 16 gauge, and was chambered for 2-3/4" and 3" magnum shells.

The SCSW, third edition, copyright 2006, lists $185 value in excellent condition.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

The 916 was the worse shotgun we ever had in my dept. Failure to feed from magazine issues. So bad that the factory could not repair and took them back for credit. Replaced with the 870 and never had another issue. I understand they still take them back and issue a voucher of some amount for another product.

I had a 916T that was pretty decent looking with the factory short barrel (18", I believe, could've been a 20". Either way, that particular shotgun could not go 20 rounds without a feed issue. I thought it was just me, short stroking the action, but apparently it's the slide design. Too bad, with the factory barrel, it looked like it had some history to it.

I GUESS I GOT LUCKY. I BOUGHT ONE OFF THE SITE HERE A FEW YEARS BACK. WORKS JUST FINE. WITH SLUG AND BUCK IT KICKS LIKE A MULE, BUT THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED. I THINK I PAID $135 SHIPPED. JP

i bought a 916a at a gun show in the 80s. that thing would slaughter the rabbits and was a perfect combat shotgun

I bought one for $100.00 at the Tulsa Show a few years ago. It looked nice. When I got home and tried to shoot it I found out the firing pin was broken. I tried two firing pins before I got the right one. I sold it for what I had in it after telling the buyer the problems I had with it. I won't buy another.