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<  16ga. Guns  ~  Help with sweet 16 prototype? Lightened model?
Jta5er
PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 9:31 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 May 2020
Posts: 266
Location: Ky

Purchased the only one of these guns I have ever seen for sale.
Does anybody know anything about them?
I have only seen them in the “Browning Auto-5 Shotguns” book from Mr. Shirley and Mr. Vanderlinden. Page 236 and small pic pg 153 called 16ga lightened model.
Only 2 sculpted frames I have seen besides this one.
Any one know what fn used as a prototype mark?
NOT SELLING just want to have the info. Always looking for rare a5 16s but never really thought I would fall into these.




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WyoChukar
PostPosted: Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:06 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 16 Jul 2015
Posts: 2124
Location: Hudson,Wy

I wish I had an answer for you but I don't. Very interesting piece of Browning history...and a really neat gun.

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Savage16
PostPosted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 9:48 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 30 Nov 2011
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Location: Minnesota

Plus its a straight stock?? Very cool and rare indeed.

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Swampy16
PostPosted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:41 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 17 Oct 2019
Posts: 453
Location: New Jersey

Lucky dog !
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double vision
PostPosted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 5:50 pm  Reply with quote
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Interesting model, extremely useful, straight stock w/long trigger tang, it's an Auto-5 to cherish.
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Jta5er
PostPosted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:09 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 May 2020
Posts: 266
Location: Ky

21 3/4” ish barrel, 13 3/4 lop. Full choke 6.25 lbs
Great for a 13 year old kids squirrel or turkey gun.
Gun had chamber lengthened 2 3/4” but all numbers match.
It’s really light and really odd.
Was super surprised at factory choke and butt plate, I assumed both were cut but thankfully was wrong.
I assume it is a prototype sweet or I have seen hints of a lightened model early 1930s
Barrel has more steps at barrel extension than any other but has fresh stamps on the bottom of the steps that obviously was after milling. So it’s real but lost most of its value day bubba opened up ejector port. Thank goodness he left the barrel fixed ejector alone. I have shot 5 of my Belgium barrels on this gun now with both 2.5 and 2.75 shells and she ejected them so I’m very happy guy.
Just really can’t prove it’s a prototype unless I know what to look for?

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Jta5er
PostPosted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:16 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 May 2020
Posts: 266
Location: Ky




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skeettx
PostPosted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 6:51 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 9455
Location: Amarillo, Texas

Look at the barrel proof mark and see what year it was proofed

http://www.shotguns.se/html/belgium.html

http://www.hunting.be/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Belgian-Proof-Marks.pdf



'R' is 1939

Even better

https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=297760

Mike

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Jta5er
PostPosted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 7:16 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 May 2020
Posts: 266
Location: Ky

They are missing as well as acier, choke,address, etc. on barrel. Serial number on action is 1927 year with matching 3 digits on screws forend and breach block. No serial number on barrel only number 3 and D in square multiple places on barrel.
I read that they would pull older guns laying around and embellish them years later into special guns for events, assume they may have done this to lighten as well?

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Jta5er
PostPosted: Fri Mar 12, 2021 7:25 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 May 2020
Posts: 266
Location: Ky

All jokes aside gun does handle very close to a short barreled franchi straight 28ga.
It will be interesting in that beautiful norther Wisconsin national forest I can’t pronounce, shooting at grouse and woodcock with spreaders. I see that trip coming up this fall! Haven’t been back there in 14 years but it’s time Very Happy

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16'er
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 4:13 am  Reply with quote
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Joined: 08 Oct 2006
Posts: 1393
Location: Tappahannock, Virginia

Wow, that is a super cool Sweet Sixteen! Reminds me of a custom melt job on a carry pistol. Only thing it’s missing is being a three shot variant.

Awesome find.
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Savage16
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 12:21 pm  Reply with quote
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Joined: 30 Nov 2011
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Location: Minnesota

Jta5er wrote:
All jokes aside gun does handle very close to a short barreled franchi straight 28ga.
It will be interesting in that beautiful norther Wisconsin national forest I can’t pronounce, shooting at grouse and woodcock with spreaders. I see that trip coming up this fall! Haven’t been back there in 14 years but it’s time Very Happy


Are you referring to the Forest that sounds like this? Shuh qwa meh gun? Say it fast Laughing

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Jta5er
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 12:33 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 May 2020
Posts: 266
Location: Ky

Yes outside prentice

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Jta5er
PostPosted: Sat Mar 13, 2021 8:59 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 May 2020
Posts: 266
Location: Ky

I believe I camped in Phillips Wisconsin. Mid October was beautiful there. Watched my good friend kill his limit in ruff there. I have never accomplished that. I believe they are the most difficult game bird to bag. Our wild quail here in ky seem much slower than ruff grouse in the timber.

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Jta5er
PostPosted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 4:43 pm  Reply with quote



Joined: 22 May 2020
Posts: 266
Location: Ky

Prototype lightened model came back from cole haugh today.
Was restored as close to original as possible.


Found a nice 1929 a5 case to carry it in.

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