16ga.com ~ View topic - Browning A5 Sweet Sweeter and Sweetest Sixteens Question

It is an unmolested, all matching numbers gun. Barrel, receiver, screws, fore hand/arm, and stock. I did not pull the trigger to check the tang...at this point I don't want to know Wink

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2168 Location: Florida

If you ever decide to part with it let me know , I could go as high as $475.00 Laughing

No matter how many where ever produce in1936 , ( not sure if anybody really knows ) You have very nice very rare gun !

If it were mine I would never part with it, just as I will never part with my 1939 VR 3 shot. I shoot sporting clays and bird hunt with it all the time, it is just a fatastic gun.

One thing I have never understood , is why , it is considered that a converted pre war 16ga is worth more than an unconverted gun . If you cut the stock off and ad a recoil pad its worth less or if it has poly choke its worth less, but if you do the 7 or 8 steps it takes to convert one correctly to 2 3/4 chamber its worth more. Not in me eyes. I own five pre war 16s and none have been converted , I wouldn,t own one that was.

Have you noticed how different the three shot swings through the air? It is as natural a feel as pointing with your finger. A standard 12ga A5 with a rib feels like swinging a log by comparison. The price guides were written for retailers. The 2 3/4 guns move faster. That is more important than original. We who appreciate original have a different set of values. It's an apples and oranges thing. Our worlds are not better or worse...just different.

I like mine Very Happy

Nice condition. Is the blue original? The date guides say it was born in 1939. Did you cross check it with Browning sale date? Not that it is important but inquiring minds wanna know.

???
I just like to shoot it
Have done no research.
So many guns, so little time Very Happy

Mike

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

Were the 3-shot models manufactured in "standard" and "sweet" versions?

And all this time (that is a couple of months now) I felt like I was all alone in 1947 16 gauge Browning 3-shot camp!

Belgian browning, 1947, solid rib, standard weight. Nice to meet another one!

In 1936 engraved receivers were listed as Grade II. In 1938 the engraved receiver became Grade I and standard on most A5s. Does anybody here know the difference in Grade II 1936 and Grade I 1938 engraving? Is it exactly the same?

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2168 Location: Florida

Morngstar,

Just curious Is your gun the same gun that was listed on gun broker . begining of the month , think the auction ended on the 1st .

I did find the gun on GB last mo. I don't remember when it ended but it did not sell. I contacted the seller and made an offer cause it seemed to be an original early Sweet Sixteen. He told me the reserve he set was 1,299.00. We talked trade and barter for two weeks. I got two A5s and a Winchester 12 16ga from him for some cash and one of my rifles. This jewel was one of the A5s. I called Browning for the history on both A5s. I almost fainted when he told me this gun sold in April of 1936. He said it is a "very very very early Sweet Sixteen." I called him again the next week and asked him to double check the date for typo or other error. He said I have all the documents in front of me. He read from the order, invoice and shipping order. He assured me it was sold and shipped in April of 1936. I ordered and have the letter from him.

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