I'm looking at a Browning Superposed 12 ga at a local shop. It has two sets of barrels, both 12 ga, I'm guessing that they have different chokes (no tubes). One barrel appears completely stock, but the other has an additional name stamped (engraved) near the chamber, it says "George Targee, Chillicothe Ohio". It's a consignment and the shop knows nothing about the gun. A previous owner, or a gunsmith who worked on that barrel? Wondered whether anybody out there might know or have an idea. I found nothing in an internet search of the name.
Name stamped on a Browning barrel
- Thread starter wgp
- Start date
Jim Watson
Member
Could be a previous owner... but not the consignor.
Could be a gunsmith who tinkered it.
BROWNING CHOKES AND THEIR CODES (ON REAR LEFT-SIDE OF BARREL)
* designates full choke (F).
*- designates improved modified choke (IM).
** designates modified choke (M).
**- designates improved cylinder choke (IC).
**$ designates skeet (SK).
*** designates cylinder bore (CYL).
INV. designates barrel is threaded for Browning Invector choke tube system.
INV. PLUS designates back-bored barrels.
Could be a gunsmith who tinkered it.
BROWNING CHOKES AND THEIR CODES (ON REAR LEFT-SIDE OF BARREL)
* designates full choke (F).
*- designates improved modified choke (IM).
** designates modified choke (M).
**- designates improved cylinder choke (IC).
**$ designates skeet (SK).
*** designates cylinder bore (CYL).
INV. designates barrel is threaded for Browning Invector choke tube system.
INV. PLUS designates back-bored barrels.
rabid wombat
Contributing Member
Though not proof positive, this may be a clue:
www.findagrave.com
What date does the serial number come back to?
www.browning.com
George Targee (1895-1969) - Find a Grave Memorial
George Targee, 74, of 338 E. Main St., a retired State Highway Department employee, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1969, at Chillicothe Hospital following an extended illness. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Ware Funeral Home, with the Rev. Lloyd W. Tuttle officiating. Burial will follow in...
www.findagrave.com
What date does the serial number come back to?
Date Your Firearm - Browning
Learn here how to find the date your Browning firearm was manufactured by using the serial number found on your gun. This page will help you read the serial number.
dfariswheel
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2002
- Messages
- 6,721
If it's actually engraved or etched on with a pantograph machine it's most likely the name of the owner who had it personalized.
Stamped with an actual stamp would be a custom gunsmith or company mark.
Stamped with an actual stamp would be a custom gunsmith or company mark.
dieselchief
Member
with any luck someone can break a few more clays or hit a few more birds for george....
RetiredUSNChief
Member
It's probably the name of a previous owner.
According to Wikipedia, Browning produced the Superposed between 1931 to 1940 and 1948 to 1960.
So George is likely to be an elderly gentleman, if still alive. So I did a bit of searching.
The name is apparently pretty rare, as a search of the name itself doesn't bring up much at all. The Targee surname is exceptionally rare.
A grave search at findagrave revealed a George Targee, born 9/19/1895, died 12/2/1969. Buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio.
I'd say this is your man.
EDIT:
I'm always a bit curious about these matters...where did you find this? Be interesting do know how far it's traveled and what condition it's in after all these years.
According to Wikipedia, Browning produced the Superposed between 1931 to 1940 and 1948 to 1960.
So George is likely to be an elderly gentleman, if still alive. So I did a bit of searching.
The name is apparently pretty rare, as a search of the name itself doesn't bring up much at all. The Targee surname is exceptionally rare.
A grave search at findagrave revealed a George Targee, born 9/19/1895, died 12/2/1969. Buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio.
I'd say this is your man.
EDIT:
I'm always a bit curious about these matters...where did you find this? Be interesting do know how far it's traveled and what condition it's in after all these years.
If you want to post a pic of the name on the barrel, I can probably tell you if it's pantograph engraved, hand engraved, or stamped. I'm retired, but I was a professional engraver for over 40 years.
