GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
BROWNING MIDAS BROADWAY TRAP ENGRAVED BY LODEWYC AND WITH EXCEPTIONAL GOLD INLAY BY L. VRANCKEN WITH CASE. BROWNING OU MIDAS 4535S2 12 GA MODERN Cal. 12 Ga. 2-3/4” Chambers. 32” Bbls are marked for mod and full. Bbls have raised, matted, ventilated broadway rib fitted with gold front, and white mid, beads, and are marked with "BROWNING ARMS COMPANY" on left, with chamber, patent info, and “MADE IN BELGIUM” on right. There are 2” triangles of well-cut, relief, open, shaded scroll at breech ends. Blued standard Browning OU action with gold-plated sgl selective trigger, is engraved in typical Midas style, as designed by Louis Vrancken, and in this case game scenes are engraved by Vrancken. This design consists of near full coverage of large open shaded scroll with acanthus highlights surrounding game scenes with semi-relief gold inlaid subjects. These scenes are inside gold inlaid ovoid borders with flourishes at bottom. Three pheasant fly into open meadow on left side of action, and a trio of ducks take wing from marsh on right. A bird flies across bottom of action. Trigger guard, with matching scroll, has vacant shield on bow. This fine engraving has initials "JL", (most likely Jacquez Lodewyc) at bottom rear of both sides of action. L. Vrancken's signature is at bottom rear of pheasant scene. Well marbled, stump figured European walnut long tang flat knob buttstock measures 14-3/8” over open sided Browning white line pad. Modified point pattern checkering wraps over top of grip, and has flourishes into butt. Matching forend is of beavertail type. Bore diameter: top -.724, bottom -.723. Bore restrictions: top -.038 (full), bottom -.020 (mod). Drop at heel: 1-5/8", drop at comb: 1-5/16". Weight: 8 lbs 0 oz. LOP: 14-3/8". Tan vinyl Browning case is lined in fuzzy fur and contains small Browning catalog. CONDITION: Excellent, near new, with a hint of sharp edge wear along rib, and a few light marks in glossy stock finish which is lightly crazed. There is slight evidence of having been fired. Gold of trigger is excellent. Mechanically crisp. Case is excellent. A very fine 1962 vintage Browning with beautifully detailed game scenes by Browning's top engraver. 49628-2 MGM359 (6,000-8,000)