doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com superposed questions

A friend of mine has two Browning Superposeds, passed down to him. I have found all I can from Blue Book and the Browning website. He is not looking to sell, he just wants to know more about them, valuation would just be icing on the cake. I have not seen them for several months, but it has taken since then to get the serial numbers out of him.
One is what I would say is a higher end Browning. I couldn't find a serial number match at either of the references cited above:
"20 GA - Browning Superposed Special
Shells; _3"

Browning Arms Company Morgan Utah & Montreal P.Q.
Made in Belgium

Over Under
Over **
Under *_
(I figured out the chokes)

P33RR1342 - on left side
86 - on right side
Diamond 4 underneath"

What I was able to deduce is that it was made in 1977. We are most curious about the grade / model.

The other is:
"12 GA - Browning
Shells; 2-3/4"

Browning Arms Co., St. Louis, MO
Made in Belgium

54729 - on left side"

From what I can tell this one is from 1957.

Thanks in advance for more information or a place to do further research.

Lou M

P33RR1342 indicate's a 1977(RR) manufacture of a 20 gauge Lightning(33), Presentation Grade(P), 1342 of that year.
The serial # will not tell you the actual Presentation Grade and pictures and references are needed or contact the Browning Historian(Glen Jenson).
Presentation Grade Superposed started in 1977 and were a way for Browning to control prices as many are a combination of engraving and acid etching. Many of the engravers refused to sign thier work on these Grades. When first offered, you couldn't give them away. Now the stigma seems to have been lost with time and values are climbing.
Even if the P Grade was known without detailed condition even an estimate is not accurate.
The other 12 gauge is an early gun and appears fairly standard. Again condition is everything.
Ned Schwing's book 'The Browning Superposed' is a good starting point but Glen should be able to research the # and give you the grade easier.-Dick