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

Is the early browning superposed with double triggers more desirable than the single trigger guns?

Edited for clarity: I'm asking about the very early traditional double trigger guns before Val's double/single trigger invention.

I like them. BUT I am OLD


The gun is not plastic, black, and will not hold 8 shells.

Seems like all of us old fellas that like Superposed guns are dying off,

Mike

It's all in the condition. Neither one is more desired, both are very coveted in high condition. Late guns past 1966, not so much. Double trigger supers in high condition have become cult guns.

I thought the salt wood started about 1964

Maybe Salty bOb Cash will straighten us out.

My double-trigger Superposed has a serial number less than 500, so I guess that counts as early... the first guns were beautifully made and marketed directly by FN, and are so marked. I can�t speak from experience anout later 12 gauge guns, but I have a Superposed in 20 gauge with the single trigger, from the first year that version was available. I have to say that I prefer the double trigger configuration, as I don�t have to think about the barrel selector button.

I agree with the other comments, either one is a fine gun in the field, and desirable to own.

Calgary Bill, your memory is correct. The 20 gauge Superposed dates from 1951, and the 12, a field grade pictured here, is from 1930 or so (it is hard to pin down dates from the very early FN production, it seems - but it is before they were marked with a Browning barrel address and marketed in the US).

#1725

The earliest 20 gauge Supers were shipped in late 1949, but 1949, 1951, who cares? The 20s started with their own serial number series. My #605 was probably shipped in early 1950. Schwing lists some early numbers by shipping date. In my experience, no early 20s were built with double triggers. Later on, probably some special order guns were made with double triggers.

I had always wanted a double trigger Superposed, so when someone here had one for sale, I bought it. It was nearly new. I found that I didn't like the ergonomics of the gun. It didn't seem to fit me as well as the later, single trigger Superposed guns that I had owned. It was bulky and felt generally oversized. So I sold it on with no regrets. There were some early "double-single" Superposed guns in which if either trigger was pulled, it could be pulled again to fire the other barrel. Or the other trigger would do the same thing. I've never used one so I can't say how they performed.

Bill, back in the 1970-1980 era, when I had a fair to middling grouse dog, my steady hunting partner had an early Browning 20 Superposed- solid rib, single selective trigger-- Like many of us without a hunting oriented father or grandfather, he bought his first shotgun with paper route or bus boy hard earned dollars-

His first and only shotgun was an early production M12 in 16 gauge, with a Poly-Choke. He developed the bad habit of, when missing a pheasant or grouse, he'd change the choke on the "Steam-Whistle"-- When he graduated HS (1959) his father, a well-off doctor, gave him this Browning as a present- turns out, one of his patients, a serious hunter, had financial problems, and Doc Rogers took this 20 in payment of the bill-

John has long since moved from MI- now resides in GA, and hunts quail with that same gun. Best hunting trip story with him I recall- early Nov. 1970- Saturday, perfect grouse hunting day- John drove, had his wife's Ford station wagon, parked on the farm 2-track, and over my Setter, missed every pat and woodcock he kicked up over Mollie's solid points-was getting discouraged (understand that feeling) and walking back towards the station wagon, right in the center of the 2-track, a big rooster pheasant flushed and flew right "up the alley" towards the car- Bang, Boom- John fired the 20 twice, the bird dropped in a cloud of feathers, and the rear glass window of the car shattered- Pretty quite (and windy) ride back home. RWTF

Very true! I can�t imagine a day in the field with a black plastic gun.

Or a camo plastic gun. I like to admire walnut while waiting for ducks.

Is there any place for an autoloader or pump in the field, in the minds of those who only use S x Ss? If so, is there any place for one that is weather resistant, to be used when it is raining constantly and one does not want to subject his nice walnut gun wood to such treatment?

Can it be possible that a gunner could fully appreciate beautiful walnut on his guns, but love to duck hunt so much that he will go and hunt half a day in the rain with a black stocked gun, to keep his nice walnut dry, and just to get to hunt? Is it possible he is just as much a sportsman?

I know what my answer to that is. Anyone else willing to offer an opinion?


SRH

Agree- I won a Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag at a DU Banquet about 18 years ago- 28" ventilated rib, ported, choke tubes, the "whole enchilada. At first, I felt a bit "put off" by the plastic stock, much as I couldn't believe the M-16 when I first handled on in the Main Armory at Camp Pendleton CA- being used to walnut stocks on the M-1 Garands and the M-14's (except for the plastic front handguard on the M-14-- I grew up with the older Winchesters and Colts-- blued steel, walnut- and a solid feel to the gun--

But sportsmanship is in the quality of the man, how he treats his dog, should he be fortunate enough to have one at his side in the duck blind, or ahead of him working a swale for pheasants-- I have never felt out-classed with my well-worn Model 12's at our area pheasant hunting club- on the tower release shoots, I have seen a good variety of doubleguns (Woodword, H&H, Piotti, Parker and Parker repros- and plenty of Italian auto-loaders--they will all do their "job" if handled correctly- results being dead birds on the ground (for the dogs to pick up)--

I don't hunt too often on rainy days, mainly because, at almost 78 years of age, I don't need too- but if I had to shoot a goose or turkey in a drizzly day, I just as lief shoot that plastic stocked Mossenburger, and give my Winchesters a day off. RWTF

As much as I adore the classics including my Browning Superpose shotguns, I always remember how well someone shot rather than what they shot.

Amen. I have some great memories of hunting with fine shots. Few of those recall the gun he used. More often, the gentleman he was. If I am remembered by them, I hope it is as a gentleman, also.

SRH

I agree with other comments, a sportsman is defined by their actions and skill, not by the gun they shoot with.

I admire the craftsmanship of a fine double gun. But I also admire the ingenuity and engineering brilliance of the auto-loader and pump gun. I�ve probably put more rounds through an older Ithaca Model 37 (which I sadly no longer have) than with anything else; I consider the old Auto-5s to be wonderful; and I thoroughly enjoy Val Browning�s Double-Auto.

But I just can�t get my head around black plastic stocks. I recognize they must have very practical properties, but they just don�t feel or look right to me. Old age, I guess.

I saw No 37 .

i understand Steve.

I'm not crazy about the black plastic either.

Yes, I think age and the period we grew up in makes a difference. I don't play video games nor walk around with some sort of ear phone in my ear listening to music.

Not that any of this is wrong, just not for me.

I don't like them either, Steve. But, I have come to accept them for very limited applications. I own exactly two "black" guns. One is a Beretta 390 that is used for ducks when the weather is so bad that I just refuse to carry my nice doubles out in it. If I'm home that isn't much of an issue, as I can stay home. If I'm away on a hunting trip, it's a bit different, as I hate to "waste" a day. The other is a hog rifle, with thermal optics. Just a tool to help rid this part of our country of a nuisance.

Nothing quite like the warmth of beautiful wood, engraving, damascus, bluing and patina. I'm thankful to be the caretaker of many more than I need.

Best, SRH

I have two "rainy day" guns. My Wingmaster 12 gauge and a Citori White Lightning 16 gauge. Both have walnut stocks so they aren't impervious to weather but I don't mind if they get wet and dirty. The Wingmaster, once my go-to, do everything gun, is reserved for the worst of days and conditions. I've already done everything bad to it I can and it still keeps on ticking. Love that gun!

You are in good company with the Remmie 870 Wing-Master pump gun- The late master wingshot, Rudy Etchen, shot one-and from what I have read about him, rather well. His father, Rudy (a "big-wheel" with the defunct Studebaker Motor Co.) shot M12's-- man of discerning taste, IMO. RWTF

The 870 Wingmaster 3" is the best all-around shotgun ever built by anyone, anywhere, at any time in history, at any price point. I don't shoot mine much these days, but it is the absolute last gun I would give up if it ever came to that.

I bought a Wingmaster 12 ga. last week from a friend who said I told him years ago I wanted it if he ever decided too sell. It has a Remington 2 3/4" chambered, 36", full choke barrel that has been backboard to .745". The muzzle measures .682", giving it a choke constriction of .063". It should be tough on a card "X" at the local turkey shoots this fall. Thinking of giving it a go on crows, too ............very soon. Just got to learn to shuck that forearm.

SRH