Browning Auto-5 Sweet Sixteen 16 Gauge, 26 in Special Steel Barrel, 2 3/4 in Chamber, Belgian FN 1949 — Blued, Solid Rib, Factory Scroll Engraved
This 1949 Browning Auto-5 Sweet Sixteen combines the classic humpback profile with an FN-made, Belgian-marked receiver and factory scroll engraving. It features a 26-inch Special Steel barrel chambered for 2 3/4-inch shells, a solid matted rib with a single front bead, and the Sweet Sixteen script on the receiver associated with the early roll-marked period. The long-recoil action uses Browning’s adjustable friction ring system and includes the magazine cut-off lever. Walnut furniture with a round-knob pistol grip and an FN-embossed steel buttplate completes the period-correct configuration.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Specific Condition Notes: There are significant markings, surface wear, and finish loss from previous handling and use. The stock is chipped near the top receiver tang. Please refer to the photos for a closer look at these areas.
What’s Included
- Browning Auto-5 Sweet Sixteen 16 Gauge semi-automatic shotgun
Made in Belgium by FN for Browning’s St. Louis import, this Sweet Sixteen carries Belgian proof marks and inspection stamps on the barrel flats, the FN oval logo, and the Browning Arms Company St Louis MO barrel address. The receiver shows factory scroll engraving, and the barrel inscription reads "SPECIAL STEEL – 16 GAUGE – SHELLS 2 3/4."
The 26-inch Special Steel barrel is topped with a solid, matted rib and a single front bead, offering a clean sighting plane. The long-recoil Auto-5 system includes the adjustable friction ring setup and the magazine cut-off lever, preserving the model’s hallmark functionality.
Walnut furniture features a round-knob pistol grip with cut checkering, a slender forend with a long finger groove and checkering, and an FN-embossed steel buttplate. The blued steel receiver presents the distinctive Auto-5 humpback profile with "Sweet Sixteen" script marking consistent with early roll-marked variants.
Configured in 16 Gauge with a 2+1 capacity and a 14.5-inch length of pull, this post-WWII example represents the Sweet Sixteen series as it was produced in 1949, with period-correct markings, finish, and features.