Browning Sweet Sixteen

Old TexMex · Apr 22, 2015

My sweet sixteen has a Cutts Compensator. All the rage back then... Question is: would bbl replacement increase the value comperable to leaving the original with the Cutts on there.
(I may have to put it on the market)

federali · Apr 22, 2015

The Cutts Compensator was not original equipment far as I recall. An original barrel would probably enhance it's value. I don't know if Browning auto-5s have strong collector interest or if they're in demand as they're such fine hunting arms.

I owned a Standard 12 and a Light 20, two really great guns.

JJEH · Apr 22, 2015

Not sure if I would do it. Buying a new barrel just for the purpose of selling it is a big gamble. I'd clean it and take good pictures. That plus a good description should do it.

Fishinfool · Apr 22, 2015

Unless it is a mint specimen, or a rare model, Auto-5's do not seem to have big collectors interest. I have seen some nice ones in the $500 - $700 range. For what it would cost you to find an original Belgian barrel, you are better off selling it as is. The Cutts is period correct, and will appeal to a lot of people as is.

I still have my 1950's round knob Light 12 that was gifted to me as a kid by an uncle. Still shoots like a house afire. You don't see that kind of build quality in todays semi shotguns.

Larry

ken158 · Apr 22, 2015

As previously stated, spending money in order to make something more valuable - such as a Browning shotgun that they made zillions of is not my idea of a good move. If you want to sell it, just market it and go from there. Not knowing what you expect in value, I would not expect a whole lot. Just do a sold search on Gunbroker to get an idea.

jdlii · Apr 22, 2015

Cutts Compensators were sometimes offered as options, available from the factory. I have seen old copies of catalogs offering installation of the Cutts by the factory. I have seen many Winchester Model 12's with Cutts Compensators installed but, the only want to know for sure is to have the original box or paper work that came with the shotgun.

Belgium Browning barrels are expensive, $250+. New, unfired Sweet Sixteen A5's can command high prices of $1,250+, depending on location. You best option is probably to look closely at firearms auction sites and price it accordingly.

22hipower · Apr 22, 2015

Depends on the condition of the Sweet Sixteen. A round knob gun from the late '50s/'60s in 98% condition with VR barrel and open (improved cylinder/skeet) choke will go for up to $2k. A well used version, say 80% but otherwise original (no butt pad), $800 to $1200. 80% condition with plain barrel with Cutts Compensator, maybe $600, likely less. So, to your original question, should you replace the barrel to enhance value? If you can find a 26-27.5 inch VR barrel with open choke for less than $300 and the gun is 80% or better condition, I'd say buy the barrel. You can probably sell the barrel with compensator for $100 to $150 (check eBay or GunBroker recent sales). Sweet Sixteens are sought after by pheasant and quail hunters but they like them in original configuration and good to excellent condition for premium prices. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

gwpercle · Apr 22, 2015

If you absolutely have to sell her, sell as is. That's the way it came to you and who knows, having a Cutts might just be a plus to someone...I would like it because I like older stuff.

Gary

italiansport · Apr 22, 2015

A purist will want one w/o the Cutts compensator but a Sweet Sixteen is a very desirable gun in the bird hunting community. The Belgian made guns are virtually indestructible and go on forever. You might want to check but if memory serves me correctly the barrel may be numbered to the gun.
Jim

redlevel · Apr 23, 2015

We have a round-knob, vent-rib Sweet 16 with a poly choke on it in the rack at the shop where I work. Like the Cutts, the poly choke was "the thing to have" back in the 50s/60s. I would say our gun is about 85%. It would make a wonderful "bird gun" for someone. I killed a lot of quail with a plain barrel, round knob, 26" IC Sweet 16 in the early/mid 70s. They are wonderful guns.

We have ours marked at $499 with little interest since it has been out. Several people have remarked about the poly choke stopping them from being interested.

Big Cholla · Apr 23, 2015

The sweet deal for a Sweet 16 would be a Belgium barrel with a removable choke system installed. You would probably spend upwards of $400/500 getting that done and unfortunately as stated it would not increase the value that much. Good advice.........sell it as is. I purchased one for my Dad in 1959 while working in the gun store and attending college. I believe that I paid just under $200! After he passed, I sold it for my Mom and got about $450 in 1978. ...........

.455Eley · Apr 23, 2015

The Sweet Sixteen is the queen of the shotgun world, IMHO. I pretty much stopped using my 12s after I got my standard-weight 16. A Belgian 16ga barrel would cost nearly as much as a whole gun, however. The Cutts was available from the factory, although most are aftermarket. They're not overly pretty on the end of the barrel but they're real handy, especially because Belgian barrels are about 1/2 a choke tighter than they are marked, metric measurements as opposed to American. Just ask the doves I missed how I found out my Mod is actually on the Full side of I/M

. Long story short, I'd leave it as is.

Old TexMex · Apr 28, 2015

Many thanks gents. I'm happy to say I have numerous sets of Cutts Compensator tubes, in all gauges and chokes from extra full to spreader, and mine seems to be a factory option installed new, so it'll stay as is, and hopefully won't have to go on the block.

shouldazagged · Apr 28, 2015

I've wanted a Sweet 16 for over sixty years. If you're determined to sell that one, I'll just sit and drool quietly while wishing I had some money.

Big Cholla · Apr 29, 2015

It Works!

Old TexMex said:
Many thanks gents. I'm happy to say I have numerous sets of Cutts Compensator tubes, in all gauges and chokes from extra full to spreader, and mine seems to be a factory option installed new, so it'll stay as is, and hopefully won't have to go on the block.

The Cutts Compensator was a fine performing design of its time in changeable chokes. It works and works well. Some shotgunners found it an advantage in shooting passing birds like ducks and doves to have that 'tube' out in front as it gave them a better picture of just where the end of their barrel was pointing. I certainly never had any problem with a Cutts being on the end of my shotgun barrel and wouldn't today either.

As I mentioned I purchased a used Sweet 16 for my Dad in 1958. It was about 5 years old at the time. From then until his death, I replaced the recoil spring three times for him. I don't know if this is a common problem in S-16s or it was just peculiar to his. I know that in 4 years in the gunsmithing store during college and then in 12 yrs in my own gunsmithing shop, I never replaced another for anyone else. I just checked and GunParts is "out of stock" on that spring, so it is anyone's guess. IMHO, if you are going to do a lot of shooting of that great old shotgun, you might look into purchasing a spare when available. They don't cost that much. Nothing else ever went wrong with his and he and I both shot the heck out of it. ........

Old TexMex · Apr 29, 2015

Big Cholla said:
The Cutts Compensator was a fine performing design of its time in changeable chokes. It works and works well. Some shotgunners found it an advantage in shooting passing birds like ducks and doves to have that 'tube' out in front as it gave them a better picture of just where the end of their barrel was pointing. I certainly never had any problem with a Cutts being on the end of my shotgun barrel and wouldn't today either.

As I mentioned I purchased a used Sweet 16 for my Dad in 1958. It was about 5 years old at the time. From then until his death, I replaced the recoil spring three times for him. I don't know if this is a common problem in S-16s or it was just peculiar to his. I know that in 4 years in the gunsmithing store during college and then in 12 yrs in my own gunsmithing shop, I never replaced another for anyone else. I just checked and GunParts is "out of stock" on that spring, so it is anyone's guess. IMHO, if you are going to do a lot of shooting of that great old shotgun, you might look into purchasing a spare when available. They don't cost that much. Nothing else ever went wrong with his and he and I both shot the heck out of it. ........

Big, I've been shooting this one for around thirty years, with no problems. (Not that many boxes through it, but it gets shot annually). I grew up shooting a model 58 Remington with a cutts adjustable, and that's still a great 20ga! I'm Going to do my best to keep this Sweet Sixteen in the stable, as it's one heck of a quail gun.
Thanks for the spring tip

Jim.

loc n load · Apr 30, 2015

Sweet 16 A-5

I bought this one in the 70's, when I lived in S. cal., it is a 16 ga., and is chambered for the 2 9/16" shell, rather than the 2 3/4". It had been well used before I bought it, evidenced by the rounded smooth corners on the butt pad & the fact that the extractor was worn out. I replaced the extractor/spring and bird hunted with this gun for 40 years, handloading for it. I have harvested hundreds of quail, chukkar, doves and pheasants with this gun. Other than the extractor issue, I have cleaned it and shot it.
I have always been fond of the 16 ga., it was the dominate field gun in our area when I began hunting with my dad and uncle's in the60's.
It has the polychoke on it, which actually works pretty well when you pattern the gun. I have shot everything from bird loads to slugs through it.
The last photo is of a polychoke with the cuts compensator, which is on a Remington 48 12 ga., that my Uncle hunted with for over 50 years, it has accounted for untold numbers of squirrels, rabbits, fox and deer.
These devices may not be sleek and streamlined, but as pointed out above, they are effective. And they were an attractive option for the working man who wanted to own a shotgun that "could do it all".

Old TexMex · Apr 30, 2015

Loc n load, my rack of shotguns includes a model 12(with a Cutts): my 58 in 20 ( also w/ Cutts) the Browning Sweet 16 we've been talking about, so my dad was pretty much sold on them Cutts. ( his dove gun was a 58 in 12 ga. w/ Cutts)

loc n load · Apr 30, 2015

A5

Old TexMex said:
Loc n load, my rack of shotguns includes a model 12(with a Cutts): my 58 in 20 ( also w/ Cutts) the Browning Sweet 16 we've been talking about, so my dad was pretty much sold on them Cutts. ( his dove gun was a 58 in 12 ga. w/ Cutts)

It's great that you still have those guns.....I have a 60's vintage 870 wingmaster and a model 12 ( both in 16 ga.)that my dad and uncle bought when we were rabbit hunting in the 60's.....my A-5 was probably somebody's dove gun before I adopted it. The 12,48,58 & A-5's, 870's are all "best of breed" for their time in my book.

Old TexMex · Apr 30, 2015

Indeed, I also still have my dear old Moms 1148 in 28 ga. No telling how many people have tried to buy that one (it's not got a Cutts)....all clay bird shooters, btw.

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