Browning Auto-5 Sweet Sixteen 16 Gauge, Belgian-Made (1953), 28" Solid Rib, Fixed Modified Choke, Factory Engraved
This 1953 Browning Auto-5 Sweet Sixteen is a Belgian-made, factory-engraved 16-gauge with classic FN styling and correct Liège proofmarks. It features a 28" steel barrel with a solid matted rib and a fixed Modified (M) choke, plus period-correct rollmarks and the J.M. Browning bust on the receiver. Its excellent overall condition, collectible Sweet Sixteen configuration, and matching barrel legends make it a standout example.
Condition
Overall Condition: Excellent condition, showing only faint signs of any prior use or handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Excellent - Clean, mirror finish, no signs of wear.
Specific Condition Details: There are a few light scuffs and minor scratches. The most evident wear appears to come from routine assembly and takedown over the years.
What’s Included
- Original Box
- Paperwork
Built in Belgium in 1953, this Sweet Sixteen carries Liège proofmarks and "Made in Belgium" markings, with the Browning Arms Company St Louis Mo. & Montreal P.Q. address rollmarked on the left side of the barrel near the chamber. The receiver is rollmarked "Sweet Sixteen" above "Browning" and shows the J.M. Browning bust, with FN-style scroll engraving framed by a zig-zag border.
It is factory-engraved, with a deep, even blued finish on steel components.
The 28" steel barrel is marked "SPECIAL STEEL – 16 GAUGE – SHELLS 2 3/4"" and stamped "16–70" at the chamber. It wears a solid matted (non-vent) rib with front sight provision and retains a fixed Modified (M) choke—an excellent, period-correct setup for the Sweet Sixteen. The bore is bright with a mirror finish.
Mechanically, it is the classic Auto-5 long-recoil system with friction-ring tuning, right-side ejection, and an external magazine cap with grasping grooves. Capacity is 5 rounds. The trigger is gold-colored, and the buttplate is the black hard type with the FN oval logo and "AUTOMATIC" script.
The furniture is checkered walnut with a round-knob pistol grip and a long forend, providing a traditional Browning profile and a measured 14.25" length of pull. The S-code Sweet Sixteen serial prefix format is correct for this configuration and era, aligning with the provided 1953 provenance.