doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com James Flynn's article on the Browning BSS sidelock

This one, Larry:

http://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-fo...un_id=100566588

I doubt he will get that kind of money for it. The regular gun is more attractive. I'd have to have a house cleaning to put either version in my inventory, something I am always loath to do.

Ian sent me the article, and I enjoyed reading it this weekend.

Thanks, everybody.

Best,
Ted

"A friend, God rest his soul, owned every model made. That included barrel lengths, different engravings, etc.
David"

That Friend must have been Andy Anderson; he had some fabulous high-grade Remington 1894's also, and a really nice Quality 2 8-bore Smith. Andy was a character; and he will be missed.

I never could locate the copy I had of the BSS sidelock article. Anyone else have one?...Geo

I have it....Actually Flynn asked me if I had it today! Coincidence? I think not....
I will dig it up.

Yes Tom it was Andy. Jim S. told me that he and Andy were in Vegas years ago and Andy and he walked up to the Browning booth, the fellows in the booth immediately knew who Andy was.
He also had every grade of Remington 1899 hammer gun up to Grade 7, there were only a few made. He talked with Charlie Semmer on the phone but never met him in person.

Heading up to the 3rd Fulton Homecoming we stopped at the Remington Museum. Andy had told me he had his display there of the model 1899's and would be there for a year. Beautiful display.

He will be missed.

The article I remember that discussed everything about the BSS side lock was by Colin McLagan "Browning's Best Gun", Volume 13, Issue 3 Autumn 2003, page 141

I doubt he'll get that much either. However, maybe a Browning collector looking for a game scene sidelock. Not many of those out there. Occasionally you'll see a pre-BSS Miroku sidelock. Same gun without the Browning name, and sometimes very attractive prices. It's a darned shame the Japanese are no longer making sxs.

I've looked at a few Miroku sidelocks, Larry. It seems to be the same gun mechnically, BUT, I'd say the Brownings were built under more strict quality control, and the Mirokus all seem a bit porky by comparison.
The Brownings seem to have more even engraving and higher quality finish, and more consistant weights, gun to gun. Keep in mind it is a slim sample of each, and my opinion, but, that is what I've seen.
In France, I actually saw two 12 gauge BSS sidelocks. They had the required sling swivels fitted, and, I'd guess, it was a factory job.

Best,
Ted

Ted, there were different grades of Miroku sidelocks. Some, for example, didn't have ejectors. (One of my hunting partners owned one of those.) BSS sidelocks were all one grade, the only difference being game scene engraving on a few vs scroll on most of the 12's and all the 20's. But I agree there aren't enough Miroku sidelocks out there to make a really accurate comparison. But when you do find a Miroku-marked sidelock that has similar engraving coverage, features etc to a BSS, you'll also usually find a significant difference in price.

Here is a PDF copy...Sorry it took me a couple days to locate and rebuild it.

Also, the links to larger images are no longer functional.

Thank you for your patience.

Click here to get the PDF copy of the Flynn - Browning Side Lock Shotgun article.