1359

*EXCEPTIONAL BROWNING EXHIBITION GRADE SKEET GUN.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:7,500.00 USD Estimated At:15,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
*EXCEPTIONAL BROWNING EXHIBITION GRADE SKEET GUN.
SN 2522S71. Cal. 12 ga. 2-3/4" Chambers. This unique gun embodies all the finest work available from the factory, starting with finely polished 26-3/8" ventilated rib bbls, choked "Skeet" and "Skeet", gold inlaid with "BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q." and "MADE IN BELGIUM" on left side top bbl and "BROWNING SUPERPOSED" "SPECIAL STEEL 12 GA. SHELLS - 2-3/4"" and "BROWNING PATENTS" on right. Coin finished action is fitted with specially filed, checkered, and gold-plated single selective trigger. Action is engraved and gold inlaid by two of Browning's most highly regarded engravers, in a design executed by Andre Watrin pictured on p. 223 of THE BROWNING SUPERPOSED by Ned Schwing, and captioned "This Watrin sketch was executed on November 16, 1962, and illustrates an almost perfect blending of scroll and birds in an imperceptible motion of swirls and flowers. This design is art in its purest form." (This sketch is in the FN archives.) On this particular gun the exceptionally well cut, deep relief, floral scroll is by "J. Baerten" whose signature appears at bottom rear right side of action. The finely sculpted and detailed swooping pheasants are by Louis Vranken whose signature is on bottom rear of left side of action. The only place in which engraving on this gun departs from the Watrin sketch is that the birds on bottom of action are quail instead of pheasants. The flushing pheasant on trigger guard bow is in the original design. Very fine stump figured claro walnut long tang, square knob buttstock measures 14-3/8" over Browning composition buttplate. The fine point pattern checkering at grip is bordered by nicely carved, small fleur-di-lis with floral highlights. Bottom of grip is also low relief carved with floral accented, scrolled acanthus in stippled background. Matching rounded field forend has some floral carving at tip. Drop at heel: 2-5/16", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Weight: 7 lbs. 0 oz. LOP: 14-3/8". CONDITION: Excellent. Wood and metal retain essentially all of their fine factory finishes. Bbls have some slight marks mostly from contact with forend. Coin finish of action is slightly darkened. Stocks have a few minor marks and light scratches, most noticeably on left side along sharp edges of side panels, and a little fingernail size compression at rear of checkering of forend. Bores are excellent. Mechanics crisp. 4-49110 MGM303