September 5-7, 2023 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/5/2023
Circa 1967; during this time frame, Browning used a mixed named-and-number grading scale rather than just numbers, with Diana being a step just below the Midas. Barrels with narrow vent rib with anti-glare matting, steel front bead, and marked with "BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q. / MADE IN BELGIUM" on left; "BROWNING SUPERPOSED / SPECIAL STEEL 20GA. SHELLS - 2 - 3/4" 3" BROWNING PATENTS" on right. Choke markings are "*" on upper barrel and "**" on bottom barrel, indicating Full and Modified. Rounded nose field forearm with point pattern checkering and 2-part Deely release. French grey action engraved in Diana grade with bevy of pheasants on left side, 2 nesting, 2 standing, and 1 descending in a wooded scene, 2 quail in flight on bottom of action, and a group of 4 ducks on right, 2 airborne, 1 on the shore, and 1 on the water; supporting floral scroll and punch dot throughput, with an additional vignette depicting a pair of hares alerting on the trigger guard. Engraving is signed by Marechal on both the left and right sides of receiver and is excellent, well cut. Single selective inertia driven trigger with iconic Browning gold wash, non-automatic safety. Round knob short tang stock made of feather crotch walnut with sidepanels and point-and-wave pattern checkering at the grip. Browning hard rubber buttplate. In the Browning leather wrapped tan case with keys and manual. CONDITION: Barrels retain virtually all of their bluing with very minor marks from handling and use; most noticeable where forearm reciprocates along bottom barrel. Engraving is crisp and well defined, with some light handling marks. Stocks are excellent, free of cracks or chips, and showing superficial scratches to finish and light marks from the field. Mechanically fine, ejectors are in time, bores are excellent with very light frosting. Extremely minor oxidation at edges typically seen on saltwood guns; silver nitrate test reveals salt. Case is very good with one partition damaged.