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Need Browning Sweet 16 info

J

jamned

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A friend has a Browning Sweet 16 with a three digit serial number, and an "A" for a prefix to the number. Like A123. I think this gun was made 1936 or 37, but can't find a confirmation for it. The Browning sight only specifies Auto 5 production, but doesn't separate the Sweet 16. Can any one help? Thanks, Jim.
 
16 ga. A-5

I have a Belgium A5 16 ga....from around that time frame...call Browning....they will be able to tell you whatever you want to know abt your SGN....find out if it is chambered for 2.5" shells.....a lot of them back them were....as is mine....I have hunted with mine since I bought it back in the 80's when I was bird hunting in Az.....don't let the 2.5" shell scare you either, there are sources for them and if you reload shotshells, it is not a problem. This gun was part of the "learning curve" for me....it would shoot 2 3/4" shells, but not eject them all of the time....replaced extractor/spring, etc...same thing.....then did some research and found out it was chambered for the European length shell. If you need sources for 2.5's and components..PM me.
 
Try shotgunworld.com. They have a " I love my Browning"section. If anyone can answer it it will be those guys. Look at the threads and I'll bet your answer will be there. Look for Goad's thread on the guide to 16 ga. A5 Serial no's.
 
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Your gun sounds like it may be a post WW2 Remington mfg'd M11 made for FN to shore up their mfg.

These were made from '46 to '52 by Remington to supply the A5 to the commercial market.
FN was unable to do so immediately post WW2 because of military arms contracts required of them to supply NATO primarily. FN did produce some A5's in Belgium immediaetely post War, but not nearly enough to meet demand.

So Remington built guns to meet FN's standards (some say they don't, but that's collectors arguing) and supplied them made and looking as FN's

The FN style cut-off was added to these Remington built M11's.
Browning advertised these guns as 'The American Browning'.
They made no attempt to hide the fact that they were made in the USA in that time frame.
The finish was sometimes coarser than the usual FN product and the engraving pattern was simpler on them.
BBl is marked Browning Arms Co, St Louis, Mo. Uses the same *** type choke code markings as the FN made model.
'Browning Trade Mark' on the left side with the JMB portrait engraving.
I think the proof mark on the bbl is a simple BP in a circle.

They are ser#'d in with the Remington Model 11 production which continued to be made at the same time.

These 'American Brownings' used the following ser# prefix letters (I don't know if regular Remington M11 production did, but I think so):
B-12ga
A or X- 16ga
C-20ga.

I can't think of any other A5 or variant that would have a letter prefix like that plus the FN & Browning Arms Co markings.
I could be wrong though...

About 80 or 90K total were made by Remington I believe in that time.
 
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I have a Remington Sportsman 16 ga. Has the duck on one side and pheasant on the other. Made in 1946(maybe '48) when my dad bought it new. The BBL says Remington Arms Company ...etc.....Browning's Pats.....
 
Here ya go:


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
 
Got The Answer

This gun was made in 1953, the first year Browning put "Sweet Sixteen" on the receiver & the fancy engraving. Serial numbered from A1 to A958. Actually a transitional gun between the X prefix & the R/S marked guns. They were built by FN, in Belgium.

Got this from the Shotgunworld web site, as suggested in a previous reply to my post. Thanks all, for the help & insight, Jim.


correction-first year with the "Sweet Sixteen" on the rec was 1948, but that was an "X" prefix gun.
 
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