1949 FN Browning Auto-5 Sweet Sixteen 16 Gauge — Belgian-Made, 27.5 in Special Steel Vent-Rib Barrel, Scroll-Engraved, 2-3/4 in Chamber
Manufactured by Fabrique Nationale in Liège, Belgium in 1949, this Browning Auto-5 Sweet Sixteen represents the early postwar return to Belgian production. Collectors value these FN-made examples for their Belgian proofed Special Steel barrels, distinctive humpback receiver profile, and factory scroll engraving. This Sweet Sixteen features a ventilated rib with a single front bead, a blued-steel trigger, and the left-side magazine cut-off that defines the platform.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Fouling: Mild Fouling - Light buildup of fouling or dirt.
Specific Condition Notes: The firearm shows heavy finish loss with heavy rust present throughout. The bore has lost most of its shine and exhibits noticeable scratching.
What’s Included
- FN Browning Auto-5 Sweet Sixteen 16-gauge semi-automatic shotgun
Built in 1949 at FN’s Liège factory, this Sweet Sixteen comes from the first wave of regular Belgian production after World War II. During the war years, Auto-5 manufacture paused in Belgium and shifted to Remington in the U.S. (1940–1946); by 1949, FN had resumed standard operations. This timeline adds clear historical interest for collectors focused on postwar Belgian-marked examples.
The shotgun retains classic Auto-5 design elements: the long-recoil operation with adjustable friction components for light and heavy loads, the recognizable humpback receiver profile, and a left-side magazine cut-off lever. Its tubular magazine holds 4+1 rounds of 16 gauge.
The 27.5-inch Special Steel barrel is fitted with a ventilated rib and a single front bead for a clean sighting plane. The chamber is marked 16–70 for 2-3/4-inch shells. Belgian proof marks and barrel rollmarks include MADE IN BELGIUM and BROWNING ARMS COMPANY ST LOUIS MO, confirming its period-correct origin and distribution.
Stocked in walnut, the gun features a round-knob pistol grip, cut checkering, a long forearm with a finger groove, and a knurled steel magazine cap. The blued steel receiver shows factory FN-style scroll engraving, and it has a blued-steel trigger.