ID.Browning Superposed 12GA.

afolsomb17

I have inherited a Browning 12ga o/u and was interested in Grade ballpark worth. I have tried the Browning web site w/ no luck. Their history only goes to 70's. I also queried the web for info and all I could come up with was a Diana grade or Pointer grade. But the scroll work does not match exactly ether of their descriptions. A quick description is sn #148xx with no suffix lettering or number. (Pre WWII?) Trigger tang almost to end of wood grained grip cap. Extensive scroll work on receiver with two dogs with pheasant on right and left side has two dogs and fox/wolf with dove/pheasant. All receiver area metal is like pewter/silver. Barrel"s vented rib has three words,(Pimmmal Gum or Gunn ^ toain ?. Cant quite make last word out. Also barrel is marked Browning Arms Company St. Louis M.O. and is 26" long. Also there is a * on upper barrel and ** lower barrel inside of the action. Any help?

GuvamintCheese

Can you get a photo of it up? How fancy is the wood?

afolsomb17

I believe I can give me a few to take the pic and down load.

drl50

Serial number is from 1938 and chokes are Full (*) and Modified(**). Engraving would indicate a grade higher than Grade I. Without pics, thats as far as I know.I would'nt venture to guess value. Have to identify it specifically and then condition must be specific.Then research recent sales and demand.Sounds like a nice inheritance though.

afolsomb17

Pics are coming out too fuzzy for printing. Have to wait for the wife and her camera. As far as condition using the NRA criteria between fine and excellent. The only real wear of bluing is the slide portion of the forearm. and that is just faded to pale blue. I will try to get pics asap.

drl50

Here is a GunBroker Completed auction of a gun that might be similar. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=159034658

afolsomb17

See if these will work for now. If you would like better ones I probably would have to e-mail
http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad252/afolsomb17/Browning/001.jpg
http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad252/afolsomb17/Browning/002.jpg
http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad252/afolsomb17/Browning/003.jpg
http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad252/afolsomb17/Browning/005.jpg
http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad252/afolsomb17/Browning/006.jpg
http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad252/afolsomb17/Browning/007.jpg
ttp://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad252/afolsomb17/Browning/010.jpg
Hope this helps
Alex

drl50

It is a pretty gun, but I believe the butt stock is not original. The flat knob grip, cheek piece, recoil pad and checkering were not part of Brownings offerings in the 1930's. Although nice looking, it detracts from its value as a collectable. Still it has some value but I could not predict it. This is just my opinion. I am not an appraiser. Maybe others can comment on it. Good luck.

afolsomb17

Thanks I would figure it would be a custom fit job for my dad.

badsbsnf81

It might be a Diana grade. Pointing dogs and birds were an option, but, the dogs with fox/wolf and birds doesn't ring any bells. Could have been custom ordered which might account for the pad and stock carving.. Could have been done after. Browning now offers historical letters. IMO, worth the @ 50 USD to get one on it.

GuvamintCheese

I think it is a standard field grade superposed that was engraved and had a new stock added. The forearm looks original (from what I can see) and I believe a Diana grade would have had finer checkering with all of that engraving.

It just doesnt look like any Browning engraving I have seen. Usually they would be more scroll engraved. This is like an relief oakleaf. Also the trigger guard is a standard superposed engraving and does not match the rest of the gun.

Here is the last photo of the underside, you cut the H off in the address line.