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Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 241

I handled a used Citori 16 today but need a bit of info.

The shop felt the gun was from the first production run. It has 28'' screw in choke barrels, blued frame with a golden pheasant on the side, great to OMG wood, pistol grip, recoil pad. The shop felt the gun was a grade 4/5 but they are unsure.

Price $2200. Which is why it didn't follow me home. At that price some of the flock would have to go and I always regret that.

Question #1 - Any way to tell the grade on this gun?

Question #2 - Price seems super high to me but I don't see many Citori 16's. Is it fair for a higher grade gun?

Thanks,
16 crazy

If it has a gold pheasant on it its a grade IV. Should be worth the money if its nice. Take it home.

Yup, I agree!

If the wood is as nice as you say (that is to say, if YOU like it that much), then it's worth every penny.

If this is a first series gun (1987-89), it is either a Grade VI or a custom gun. Browning only recently started a gr IV and gr VII series of guns. The Grade VI has a couple of flushing Pheasants on one side, and a couple of ducks in flight on the other, as well as engraving on every surface of the action and the barrel cheeks. The first series guns had long tangs off the rear of the trigger guards that went along the underside of the prince of wales grip. The new ones do not. The grip is all wood.

If this gun has but one pheasant, then it is custom and not factory. If you can get the serial# including the letter code and the suffix numbers, I can tell you what it is or was originally. the recoil pad is an add on. Check the oal length of pull. Because this gun is primarily a collecter grade, the recoil pad will compromize its basic value beyond any wear or damage. If the LOP is less than 14-1/4" this will be a further deduction in value.

Hmmm...didn't quite catch the "a golden pheasant", that's interesting, just figured it was a Grade 6 and assumed two birds...IV?...VI?...i before v except after $?
Confused

Still, quite a nice price for an engraved/inlayed Citori with fantastic wood in 16ga....as long as it's not beat.

16gg, is the new run of 16's going to have a Grade 7?

Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 241

I went back for a second look and found the the following:
The gun has a short tang.

LOP 14 1/4 to a black browning pad.

Not profusely engraved. The frame has a field type scene behind a tricolor pheasant on each side.

As I looked at the gun the local Browning collector was in. He said it was really a tricolor pheasant and not golden. (I guess I can see it) Also he felt it was grade 6 wood.

The gun did feel alive in my hands and would be bought to shoot.

16 crazy

Member Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 1257 Location: Nebraska

I believe I saw a gun just like that at the Scheel's store in Lincoln, NE several years ago. Only the one golden toned pheasant on a richly blued frame, the gun I saw had a note with it saying it was made exclusively for Scheel's. Might call a local store (or the one in Lincoln, NE) and speak to the gun room guys about whether that might be one of those guns.

Probably worth the money, and if it's something you'd really like to own then I'd call it a bargain. There's only one person here likely to berate your business acumen and overlook the joy that gun might give you, but he can be ignored for that as well.

Kirk

Hey 16 Crazy...

I concur with the good advice/info from fellow board members on this one. The gun probably is worth the asking price even without the wood upgrade. PLUS the gun feels good in your hands! PLUS it is a 16...not something you find everyday. I say go for it!

Of course, if you really don't want to buy it, why not tell ME where it is? Doubt that I would hesitate much to get it!

Good luck and good shooting!

OSL

Browning.com has a feature, "Date your gun."

http://www.browning.com/services/dategun/index.asp

According to the Citori page, Browning never ever made one in 16ga. We

know better. In any event, the serial number would yield a manufacturing

year.

Joined: 15 Oct 2004 Posts: 787 Location: Indiana

THANK YOU, onefun; it's interesting to know that my 16 Citori was made in 2004.....

Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 241

The rest of the story-

Thanks to all for the help.

KGB I did call the Lincoln Scheels and they confirmed that in 2002 Browning and Scheels teamed up and did a 16 gauge Citori on a 20 ga frame. They had two grades. I am not sure on the lower grade specs but the higher grade had upgraded wood and two options. First option a gold highlighted frame, Second option the tricolor pheasant on both sides of the frame. Also the choice of 26 or 28 inch barrels was offered. The higher grade guns both sold for $2800 in 2002.

After some hard pencil on paper I cannot swing the deal. ( my wife said great but you need to trade some in) This would mean parting with my LC Field Feathweight 16 and some others. Yes I am greatly pained.

So.. OSL and all the other faithful, the gun is at the Appleton WI Scheels. For what ever reason it is not out on the rack you have to request it !?! Kinda like a Playboy at the Drug store in the old days.

One caution the forearm is a little bit loose. I am not trying to scare anyone off but wanted any long distance buyer to be aware. The boys at Scheels said the issue could be addressed as part of the sale as they retain a Browning factory gunsmith.

Thanks,
16crazy

I think I can be of assistance to you. Send me the LC Smith I'll send you some money and you can buy the Citori.

Given this information, this gun is an unusual variation of an already limited production item. If the gun is very, very clean, I mean just new looking and has the box to boot, I'd say you have a winner. However, its strong suit is the rarity. Most Browning collectors would want the gun in as close to unused as possible. So if you are going to shoot it much, get a grade I or you will be spending money for an investment piece, then losing the value.

I would also bet the gold trimmed version was the big seller and the most desirable. Most collectors tend to be conservative and would think a tricolor anything is gaudy. However, gold is always nice. Be that as it may, rare is rare. Its a toss up. If I could wangle it for under 2K, I'd get the gun and put it back for a decade or so. It could very well double its wholesale value every 5 years or so for a decade, then flatten out IF Scheel's does not sell any more lots of the same gun.

PS, Its the same frame as all 16 ga. Citori guns. Its a slightly widened version of the 20 frame.

16 Crazy...

Thanks for the info, but since my post, I have gotten "sidetracked" by a gun I looked at today at a local dealer. It is a Browning "sporting" pigeon model by Moroku. Came in a nice fitted case with five chokes and is in really excellent condition with some pretty nice wood. Looks like a deal at $1100.00 and I need a gun for clays. Does this sound in the ballpark to you guys? If so, looks like my gun budget for the summer has just taken a hit...

Hope someone here gets the 16 from Wisconsin and posts pictures! I've never seen such a gun, but it sure sounds like a "looker"!!

Thanks, all.

OSL

Guest

16crazy..........Or, if that is the gun you like ("investment gun" or not), buy it and shoot the hell out of it. Lower grade guns are not the only ones to be used for shooting. I invest money in other items to gain appreciation, but not guns, I buy them to SHOOT. About any other of my investments I can think of do better than guns.

You started this thread stating your intention to shoot this gun, so disregard all the financial drivel......unfortunately it seeps into virtually every post. Confused

Also, I second Pudelpointer's offer, and I'll shoot the hell out of the Smith, too! Wink