doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Superposed

I've been looking at 1950-60's Browning superposed shotguns. Especially the grade ones. I'm under the assumption that they are hand made. Is this true? Or are they simply a Belgian made Citori? Thanks -IM

These guns were manufatured by FN but Browning had quality control teams that spent a lot of time making sure that they were essentially hand fitted. They did this in the 50's and early to mid 60's before the salt wood disaster that almost sank them. Many believe that these were their best made guns both manufacturing wise as well as engraving. As far as being a Belgian made Citori stop right there. The Citori is a modified design made for easier manufacture and assembly with out nearly as much hand fitting. All you need do is look at how the forearm assembly differs to see the difference. Some parts are similar but they definitely are not the same. You can get a new "Superposed" from the Browning custom shop in Belgium. It is the B-25 model. Entry level is around $12,000.00 or more depending on the value of the Euro to the Dollar and goes up to however thick your wallet is. Browning had a lifetime guarantee for the original owners of the superposed. They can be restored to near 99% by Midwest Gunworks or Art's Gun Shop and keep going forever(?). They are well worth it too, because you will get your money back if not right away in only a year or two, as they continue to appreciate. GJ

I don't know how much hand fitting is required to justify calling a gun "hand made" but I don't think the Superposed guns were ever "hand made". Not much has been truly hand made since the late 1800s, IMO. Other than the cheapest cottage industry junk from Spain or India or maybe some other 3rd world countries. Most of the better guns have been made using a lot of machine work for well over 100 years. As to being a "Belgian made Citori", the Citori didn't appear until the Superposed had been on the market for over 30 years. So it might be appropriate to call the Citori a Japanese made Superposed, but certainly not the other way around. Joe Shiozaki, maker/installer of Air Cushion stocks, served his apprenticeship at the Miroku factory. Joe has stated that the Citori, at least the early ones, are better made or better designed than the Superposed.

Western eyes and a western gun-making tradition built the Super. The Takahashi-come-latelys build a durable gun also but it's different in more ways than whether you can loose the forend.

jack

Folks can argue endlessly about the mechanical design. It was John Browning's last one and as such he designed it using 1920's engineering and materials. They are essentially "overbuilt". Where you can really see the difference between the Citori is in the quality of the engraving in the Super. All hand done vs roll or laser generated. Because its done by human hands there are a few inperfections to be seen, but I just enjoy them for what they are, a great gun and piece of history. GJ

Improved: A 20-ga. Superposed from the early 50s to early 60s era is a real pleasure to own and shoot. Unfortunately, the market for them, which I have long believed unable to go higher, keeps going higher. You'll have to spend about $2.5k for a nice, issue-free one these days. Nonetheless, there are many, many worse shotgun "investments" to be made. Forget the Citoris and get yourself a Super. TT

I agree with the Superposed lovers. They are great guns and the ones you are looking at were made back before the stamping out parts and cheap computerized engraving. I bought a cased, 12 gauge two barrel set three years ago at the Grand American from Jaqua's for $1799.00 and sold it recently in Louisville for $2500.00. So they are great investments, too. Just stay away from the salt year guns and you will have a great gun to enjoy for many years.

Thank you for all of your nice comments. I have a question for Rabbit. If your first name is Jack, does that make you Jack Rabbit??? -IM

You caught me. I'm not really a bonfide talking jackrabbit. Using upper case is always a dead giveaway that's it's your real name so I don't. Eddy says Hello.

il Coniglio

Not all "salt year guns" have problems. You just have to educate yourself on what to look for. Actually very few Grade 1s have salt issues. It does become more of a problem in higher grades. I have three 1968 "New Model Skeets" without a hint of salt. Next to the sound of a slick Model 12 being pumped on Skeet doubles, the opening, ejecting and closing of a Superposed is the sweetest sound on the Skeet field.