GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
EXTRAORDINARY ORIGINAL TWO MILLIONTH BROWNING AUTO-5 PRESENTATION SHOTGUN.BROWNINGAUTO-52,000,00012GAMODERN28" hand filed vent rib bbl, sgl brass sighting bead, MOD choke, 2-3/4" chamber. Left side of bbl is marked "BROWNING ARMS COMPANY. MORGAN. UTAH & MONTREAL. PQ.", all inlaid in gold. Right side is marked "**SPECIAL STEEL-12 GAUGE-SHELLS 2-3/4", all inlaid in gold. Each side of rib has gold inlaid Phoenix. The receiver has hand filed top to match rib of bbl, the engraving is extremely elaborate and entirely gold inlaid and is an interpretation of a 1930 exposition model by master engraver "Felix Funken". According to Matt Eastman's book "Browning Sporting Arms of Distinction 1903-1992", this pattern was created by F.N.'s master engravers "J. Watrin" and "Louis Vrancken", and the gold inlay work was executed by master engravers "Jose Baerten" and "G. Vandermissen". The pattern is foliate scrolls entwined with Phoenix and Griffins, center left side has a bust of "John Browning" and upper left side a flowing ribbon marked "BROWNING AUTOMATIC SHOTGUNS 2,000,000". The top tang has a gold inlaid signature of "John Browning". Forward left side of trigger guard is signed "A. WATRIN". Mounted with highly figured walnut, small raised side panels with tear shaped drop points, checkered pistol grip with gold grip cap, inscribed "MANUFACTURED BY BROWNING/ARMS COMPANY/6-6-70/INVENTED BY/ JOHN M. BROWNING/OCTOBER 9, 1900". Hard rubber buttplate, marked "FN BROWNING AUTOMATIC". Standard A5 forend checkered with un-checkered diamond in middle of pattern. Accompanied by a custom Browning Prosteel Gold Series presentation vault. This fireproof safe is fitted with a lighted and lockable lexan fronted interior with rotating pedestal. The exterior surface of the safe door features a hand painted Browning logo with gold pinstriping and a painted vignette of three flushing mallards signed "Leon D. Burrows '85".
The story of this milestone legendary shotgun is well known. Originally intended for presentation to President Richard Nixon in 1970 by Senator Bennett, who would in turn gift it to the Smithsonian for permanent display with the John M. Browning Memorial. Ultimately, Nixon declined the presentation and the gun was returned to Browning Arms. The gun resided in the Browning archive vaults for 15 years and in 1985, Browning gave the gun to the National Shooting Sports Foundation for display and promotional use. Ultimately the gun was auctioned at the 8th Annual Shot Show in Houston, Texas. The auction was held as a sealed bid with minimum bid being $20,000. When all said and done, the gun was purchased for $50,001.00, the clever bid of the additional $1.00 broke the tie of multiple $50,000 bids. There were actually two similar guns built, second gun bearing serial number 2,000,000X, with lesser engraving, is in the Fabrique Nationale Museum in Herstal, Belgium. PROVENANCE: Browning Factory; NSSF; Private Coll. of a Gentleman. William Henkel Collection. CONDITION: As New and unfired. Both wood and metal finish are 100%, with a couple of very minor handling marks, and a very short finish crack off the right corner of top tang. Gun safe has a few light surface rubs to exterior finish and is otherwise, as new. 49398-1 BDT115 (65,000-95,000)