Browning Superposed B-25 Exhibition Grade, Custom Engraved 20ga. What a fantastic Browning Superposed we have here! Not only is it a fantastic piece of art visually, but it is the nicest handling Browning I have ever experienced. The balance between the hands is very dynamic, and at 6lbs. 2oz it is a delight to carry. Serial number N32715, this is a Belgium Superposed engraved by Angelo Bee, one of Browning’s best known engravers, the balance hand crafted by other past FN factory employees. With the sideplated action, extensive bulino game scene engraving, gold wire inlays, beautiful scroll work (done by DuBois another Browning engraver), pierced and sculpted top lever, figured Exhibition grade Turkish walnut, 3 piece forearm, this gun is a showcase of the gun maker’s art. Angelo Bee’s work commands high prices and he has a very substantial following, so this is an investment quality firearm that is a joy to shoot and carry. The 26 ½” barrels are as new, with all of the blue, mirror bores, tight ribs, 3” chambers, choked IC/LM (.008/.016, can be altered to your specs for $55 per barrel), bore diameter .623/.624, minimum barrel wall thickness 25 thousandths, no dents or dings, polished and machined lug area, tight ribs, barrels tight on breech face and hinge like a new gun. The receiver is spectacular, with scenes of pheasants on the left, ducks on the righ, and a gold inlaid pheasant with a pointer on the bottom. The screws are perfect, with trigger guard screws “clocked and locked” by smaller locking screws, a nice touch. The gold wire inlay adds just enough gold to catch the eye, but in no way to the point of being gaudy. Browning Superposed with the sideplated action are very rare, and just gorgeous to look at. The trigger is crisp and checkered, and the trigger guard is nicely engraved. The work is signed by Angelo Bee on the right side, and P. Dubois near the trigger. The wood is boldly figured Turkish walnut with 28LPI checkering, oil finished, round knob, long tang, 3 piece forend, sculpted drop points, skip line checkered butt, LOP a generous 15 1/16” from rear trigger position, 2” drop at heel, 1 ½” drop at comb, no splits, chips, cracks or repairs, a few light handling marks on right side of butt stock, no wear to the checkering at all. Wood to metal fit is superb, and the wood is simply knock out in all respects. The Browning Superposed is avidly sought after by collectors and shooters alike. At the close of Browinin production the Exhibition grade guns with the features commensurate with this one were being sold for nearly $15,000. That was more than a decade ago. This is a rare, one-of-a-kind Superposed engraved by an acknowledged Browning master engraver that will make a fine investment. The workmanship is comparable to the finest work ever put out by Browning during their production years.
