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Joined: 18 Feb 2010 Posts: 37 Location: Tennessee

What would you do?

Got my first Sweet 16 yesterday! Although it's not a Belgium, it's a great gun, NIB unfired made in 1989. Now the dilemma - should I shoot it or buy another "shooter"?

Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 219 Location: Sussex Wisconsin

if you were not planning on shooting it why did you buy it?????...not like a Japan made A5 is collectable.....use it , take care of it and save the box....

IF, the gun's particulars fits your method of shooting as well as the cover hunted and the birds you shoot toward then......shoot it.
If not, sell it and buy something that does work....and shoot that one.

Unfired = unfulfilled.

Joined: 18 Feb 2010 Posts: 37 Location: Tennessee

I bought it with the intention of shooting it. I didn't think it was particularly collectable but when it arrived at the gun shop where I had it transferred, it was so nice and the guys there told me it was worth about twice what I paid. So I began to wonder...

Joined: 05 Nov 2005 Posts: 219 Location: Sussex Wisconsin

if you need the money....try to sell it ...if not and you really wanted this type of gun then you got a good deal and even after you shoot it for a few years you should still be able to easily sell it for what you paid..should you decide you don't like it.... good situation to be in with a gun....

Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Posts: 1358 Location: Twin Cities, MN

Keeping a gun "unfired" (it was proofed at the factory, you know) is like marrying a gorgeous woman and then not consummating the marriage.
Regards,
Jeff

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1698 Location: Minnesota

You don't tell us what you paid for it so its not possible for us to know if your gun shop buddys comments about it being worth double what you paid for it would be true. In general, for collectable guns, the absolute NIB will command a premium over the even LNIB and even more so over like new but no box, papers,etc. Another thing that may influence values is that Browning is coming out with a new version that they are going to use the sweet sixteen name on. Who knows what that will do to the value of the "real"Sweets. Are you in a position where you can have both? If so, more is better Razz

Joined: 18 Feb 2010 Posts: 37 Location: Tennessee

I was so excited about the gun, I didn't think to check the gun values book at the gunshop to see if they were correct. Anybody know what the "book value" is?

Joined: 28 Aug 2014 Posts: 924 Location: Eastern Tennessee

My feeling is the 'steel' era A5's that pre-date the soon to be released inertia system will be hard pressed to hold value.

They don't have the following of the 'pre-steel' era and won't have the sought after advantages of the newly created models (light weight and back boring to name a few).

You bought it to use it. That is exactly what I would do, who cares what the value is or might be 5 years from now.

Member Joined: 09 Jan 2013 Posts: 2170 Location: Florida

Just shoot it !!!

Joined: 18 Feb 2010 Posts: 37 Location: Tennessee

Thanks for all the advice guys. You are correct, I should shoot it. I hope to "consummate" my relationship with it Friday and use it in the field trial this weekend if I can hit with it.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=519042532