GUN FALL 2016
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
BROWNING SUPERPOSED "MIDAS" GRADE SHOTGUN THREE BARREL SMALL GAUGE SET ENGRAVED BY KOWALSKI AND BLEUS WITH EXHIBITION BURL WOOD AND CASE. BROWNING SUPERPOSED OU MIDAS 080V71 410, 20, 20 MODERN Cal. .410/ 20 ga/ 20 ga. Three sets of 26" bbls marked "1" "2" and "3" on bottoms, with two 20 ga. bbls, mareked "1" and "2", and .410 bbl set, "3". 20 ga bbl set "1" is marked for "modified and full" and set "2" is marked for "I Mod and Modified". The .410 set ("3") is marked for "Mod and Full". All sets are fitted with narrow, matted, ventilated ribs, and have Morgan, Utah and Montreal, PQ addresses, along with "MADE IN BELGIUM" on left side of tops. There are 2-1/2" triangles of well cut open scroll on breech ends, which continues onto ejector housing bolsters. Small sized, blued Browning action features non-automatic safety and selective single trigger. Action is engraved with well cut large, open, shaded scroll and acanthus with fine stippled background surrounding vignettes of birds, major subjects relief gold inlaid. Scenes are surrounded by gold wire inlay with flourishes at bottom, as designed by noted Browning engraver, Louis Vranken; three pheasant on left side, three ducks on right, and a quail flies across central scene on bottom of action. Pheasant scene is signed "R. Kowalski" at bottom right, and engraving is signed "Bleus" on both sides at bottom rear. Matching trigger guard has vacant shield on bow. Undoubtedly special order, wonderfully burl figured claro walnut long tang square knob buttstock measures 14-5/8" over open sided brown Browning white line pad. Exhibition checkering at grip has carved beaded borders, and relief carved scrolled acanthus at front portion. Bottom of grip is carved in similar motif. This fine carving extends to fairly well matched one piece forends, one for each bbl set. BBL set "1": Bore diameter: top -.620, bottom - .620. Bore restrictions: top - .026 (full), bottom - .011 (mod). Drop at heel: 2-3/16", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Cast: approx 1/4" off. Weight: 6 lbs. 3 oz. LOP: 14-5/8". BBL set no "2": Bore diameter: top -.620, bottom - .620. Bore restrictions: top - .020 (Imod), bottom - .011 (Mod). BBL set no. "3": Bore diameter at muzzles: top -.380, bottom - .390. Drop at heel: 2-1/4", drop at comb: 1-7/16". Cast: approx 1/4" off. Weight: 6 lbs. 7 oz. LOP: 14-5/8". Three bbl Hartmann case specially made for this set with two 20 bore slots, contains instruction booklet and warranty. PROVENANCE: Remarkable William Larkin Moore Private Estate Collection of Fine Sporting Arms. CONDITION: Excellent, very close to new, with only a few light handling marks, and a few deep marks, most notably a 1" scrape on right front of the .410 forend, and a light bump on left side of butt. Checkering on all pieces still light in color. Case is excellent. A superb field choked top of the line Browning set. 50594-114 mgm88 (17,500-27,500)