Belgum Browning Superposed

I have a Belgum Browning Superposed in 12 gauge made circa 1956 based on the serial number.

I'm interested in gaining knowledge of this fine shotgun and would appreciate addresses to any websites that will help me identify the grade of the weapon, how to judge the "condition" for sale and other pertinent information.

Any help is appreciated. I live in the Puget Sound Area of Washington State and if someone knows of a qualified appraisor, that would be nice too.

RDF

Bump, I'm really looking for help here folks.

RDF

shootingsportsman.com is a good place to start.

HTH...

You could try the book:
Browning Superposed: John M. Browning's Last Legacy
by Ned Schwing
It is available at Amazon & other sources. It is a good read.

I don't know of a site with enough info to identify a Superposed - there are too many variations. I have some books at home that would be of help, but I'd need to see some pics to try and identify the level of engraving, etc. One book I don't have is Ned Schwing's Superposed book. It has about 100 pics and over 500 pages of detailed info. In addition to the overall condition, the value is affected by the barrel length, chokes and quality of the wood.

You could try www.gunsamerica.com and type superposed into the search box to see if any of the 4 pages of guns are a match or near match. There are some really nice ones - I just spent 15 minutes looking at the high grade guns.

John

start at shotgunworld.com... ask some questions there.

Also try at http://www.gunshop.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi .... this is the DoubleGun BBS. Wonderfuly knowledgeable group of people.

The Superposed is JMB's partial masterpiece, I say partial because his son finished the work on it when he died. It imho the most beatiful and best handling o/u made. That being said, I am not a o/u fan usually but a nice super always makes me stop to look at it. They can be fragile, especially the trigger selection mechanism which is recoil activated. Depending upon quage, grade, condition and barrel length I have seen supers go for $1500 to eye popping numbers.

Lovely guns.... you could get a good idea of it's value from the above sites as well as gunbroker.com. If it is for sale.... post it here let us have a crack at it first.

Gentlemen,
Thanks for the info. I've pretty much narrowed it down to Grade 1 engraving, 28" barrels in Modified/Modified choke.

I'm getting a local gunsmith to help in in Percentage evaluation.

I might sell it, but have not made up my mind as yet.

Ralph

I'm suprised no one has mentioned "Blue Book of Gun Values". Kinda the standard that most dealers use. It is "complete" in that it gives a very high percentage of variations, but there are so many that it misses a very few.

FWIW....don't be suprised if it is worth less than you'd like to think. Nearly all gunners today expect to have screw in chokes. They may never change them in the 20 years they own the gun, but they still want them.

I had a friend that had a chance to buy a NIB (and I mean in the box) A-5 for $650. I asked the local dealer had he said it was about right. 10-15 years ago it would have brought $1,200-1,500 no problem.

Call Browning 1-800-333-3288, ask for Glen the historian. Knowledgeable guy who might be able to help.