Browning Sweet Sixteen

[DorGunR]

I stopped by my favorite gun store this morning to pick up a new pair of electronic hearing protectors that I had ordered..........and while BSing with the owner I mentioned that I would like to have a 16ga Browning humpback to go with my 12ga Browning humpback.........he brought one out of the back room and said "like this one"???............damn him......I bought it .....$350.
It's Belgium made and it's the Sweet Sixteen, the wood looks OK but would look much better refinished so I'm gonna strip the wood and give it a hand rubbed oil finish.

 

[Rupestris]

Congrats! Keep us posted and get some pix when you can.

 

[Wags]

$350.00 for a sweet 16 in the condition you mentioned is absolutely a fantastic deal! You did well, Sir.

 

[Brian Dale]

"like this one"???

Once in a while, the sun comes out, the birds start singing and it's a beautiful day. Well done, 'GunR.

 

[DorGunR]

Gentlemen, while I think the price I paid was a good price the owner had to spoil it by saying "let me show you something else". The "something else" was a NIB Browning Sweet Sixteen...........but another customer had already placed a down payment on it. However this one was made in Japan, I believe by B.C. Mirouku............now the B.C. Mirouku shotguns are very good as I have an O/U that was made under their name that I bought in Korea in 1975/76. I will have to do a little polishing on this one, but not a problem.........I'm happy found it.

EDIT: I forgot to mention the price of the NIB "Sixteen"........$1,200.

 

[mnrivrat]

Don't forget to check the chamber length on that 16 before you fire modern ammo. The early 16's had short chambers .

 

[Dave McCracken]

Good deal, post some pics after the restoration.

The Sweet Sixteen is one fine upland gun. Do check the chamber length, or rather have a decent smith check it when he goes over the shotgun. As with all older shotguns, this is mandatory.

T'were it mine, and not in pristine condition, I might send it to Briley for choke tubes and new springs...

 

[BigG]

The thing that is nice about those is that in those days the gun was scaled to the cartridge. The 16 ga was smaller than the 12 ga and the 20 ga was smaller still. Once they started building the 16 on a 12 ga frame like many makers did, it destroyed the need for a 16. Mize well get a 12. Good luck with your Sweet Sixteen!

 

[DorGunR]

Thanks for the advice on chamber length (something I forgot) and installing a new spring. The owner of the gunshop is also a fine gunsmith, so I'll have him check the gun completely, to include test firing.

 

[JohnBT]

Congratulations. Nice gun.

"NIB "Sixteen"........$1,200" Well, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. It is the 21st century after all and I haven't checked the prices in a long, long time.

John