doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Browning Lightning 20/28/410???

Good Morning, I have few questions concerning my Lightning marked Browning O/U three barrel, small gauge set that came from a U.S. Skeet Team Shooter. I have had it for some 40 years +/-. Here are my questions: I have been told that it can't be an original gun as Browning guru's mention that no Lightning 28 or 410's were manufactured. But now, a well known dealer has been making me ascending bi-weekly offers since I inquired what it was worth in trade against a smallbore Parker he had for sale??? This gun is 100% original, and all the barrel's serial stampings are indentical, except for the numbers 1,2,3 under each set's serial stamping. The 20 gauge bbls are three star marked(cyl), the both the 28's and 410's have star, star, S markings.(skeet) The gun weighs about 5 3/4 lbs in 20 gauge trim, and has a petite gripped round knob, cast-off field style stock and small field forend. It's serial number is 14369. The original owner informed me that it came from direct from Browning??? I also had a grade "V" 3 bbl small bore, light weight set with a straight grip that I sold some 20 years ago or more, as I don't care for straight grips out in the grouse covers. There was also a 12 bore Browning that was marked U.S. Skeet Team that came from the same source. Sadly, it is gone as well. Any help about my Lightning's value/rarity/??? would be sincerely appreciated. Always Remember: Life is Good, Treat it with Respect!

I would check with the Browning historian about your gun. US marketed three barrel sets used a different serial number series than normal twenty gauge guns. (Unfortunately, I have not been able to confirm the separate serial number theory. I will continue to look.) Your gun sounds like it is in the 20 gauge series (Schwing). If you can post a picture we would like to see it. Some three barrel sets were sold out of the UK and other countries. Who was the famous skeet shooter who owned your guns? If he goes back that far, I may recognize the name.

Perhaps it is a lightning 20, with two additional standard weight barrels in 28 and 410? As I remember the reduction in weight in the lightning series was accomplished by a reduction in receiver weight and slightly lighter barrels. Is there anything on the barrels indicating "lightning"?

Bill: Bob Rodale and friends, and my wife said they were on the U.S. 'Olympic' Skeet Team. My memory is not as sharp as it once was, so I will defer to hers.

Bob: Only the frame is marked with Browning's "Lightning" script. All barrels have what I believe to be normal Browning markings. The 28 gauge barrels do have pretty thin chamber walls though and the 410's aren't that heavy either. You may be correct in your thoughts. But, as I mentioned earlier, all the barrel number stampings appear to be have done by the same stamps???

Hello
I need specific info on the barrels
1. Does the forearm come off the barrels to be able to attach the
other barrels. Or does each barrel have it's own forearm?

2. Are the 28 and 410 barrels marked Cordy or have Simmons Rib
markings?

3. On the 28 and 410 barrels, is there a space between barrels?

Can you send a picture to us?

Thanks
Mike

Bob Rodale was a very talented skeet shooter as well as the head of the Rodale publishing empire, Organic Gardening being his flagship publication. He shot American skeet until he found "God" and took up the International Skeet game. He became the champion of the game and converted many American skeet shooters to the International game. He was well respected by his fellow shooters in the PA-DEL area where a memorial shoot in his honor was created. One year, 1991, I was runnerup in the Rodale Olympic Tryout. It was to be the only Silver Medal of my International Skeet career. I never met Mr. Rodale, but shot with some of his shooting partners. I believe he was killed in Russia.

Hello Mike,

Forearms only slide forward to remove the barrel assemblies and are not removable nor interchangeable.
Each barrel assembly has its own dedicated forearm assembly.
All barrel assemblies have standard Browning ribs between the barrels and standard Browning narrow ribs.
Each barrel has complete Belgium proofs and are marked Made in Belgium.
They are also marked Browning Arms Company - St. Louis, Mo.
This is a 100% Browning built gun, no Simmons or aftermarket work, hence the reason for the original post. This is the second early Browning smallbore three barrel set I have owned. The first is now 5 figures and I wonder what this one is worth, seeing as how people tell me that it wasn't made and then want to pay me a pretty hefty price for it??? The set could have been made up by Browning at a later date, but how does that explain the exactness of the serial number stampings on all three sets of barrels??? Inquiring minds want to know!

Bill,

Ardath and Bob were friends of ours, and yes, he was killed in Russia by an errant bus. He was a gentle giant. His wife recently passed away as well. Photos will only show that it is a standard marked Browning. My last Post, in response to Mike's questions, pretty much cover the finer points of the gun. Somewhere/someone told me that there were a dozen or two Lightning smallbore multi-barrel sets made early on, was this just some random ramblings or indeed fact??? I have the serial number out here, so maybe time will tell.

A simple phone call to Glen Jenson, the Browning Historian will end all this speculation if Browning has a record of the gun. Leave a message with serial number and Glen will call back with info if its in the record. If no record, then speculate all you want but it is what it is.-Dick

Hello Dick,

Thank You for the contact info for the Browning Historian. I will call him later today, heading over to the eye doc now. I have had the gun for a long time and it is my go to rain gun, so I doubt I will sell it. I will post Mr. Jenson's reply, good or bad. Oh, I just noticed that I don't have his contact info afterall? Oh Well, it was a nice gesture, Thank You.