Browning FN Superposed Lightning Skeet 28″ 12 GA O/U Shotgun, MFD 1967 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1600

LSB#: 220427TH001

Make: FN, In Belgium, for Browning.

Model: Superposed Lightning Skeet, Grade I

Serial Number: 82615S7

Year of Manufacture: 1967 (https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/superposed-shotgun.html)

Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 3/4? Shells

Action Type: Over / Under, Top Break Shotgun with Ejectors & Single Selective Trigger (inertial).

Markings: The left of the top barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY ST LOUIS Mo. & MONTREAL P.Q. / MADE IN BELGIUM”, the right is marked “SPECIAL STEEL – 12 GA – SHELLS 2 3/4? / PATENTS No. 2.203.378 – 2.233.861”. Concealed by the forend when assembled, the left of each barrel is marked with Belgian proofs. At the breech on the left, the top barrel is marked “**$”, the bottom “**$”. The left of the bottom chamber is marked “82615 S7” and there are inspector marks on the bottom of the monoblock between the lugs. The left of the forend latch is marked “82615S S5”, the top of the cocking piece is marked “82615S7”. The spring-loaded finger piece for the forend latch is marked “82615”. The top tang is marked “82615 S7”, the bottom of the receiver is marked “Lightning / BROWNING” with a bust portrait of John Browning, and the water table is marked with Belgian proofs. The receiver has Grade I engraving.

Barrel Length: 28″, Vent-Rib

Choke: Both Fixed Skeet

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a red bead in a base at the front of the rib. There was a mid-bead, but it has broken off. The top of the rib is checkered for glare reduction.

Weight: 7 lb., 8.0 oz.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a wide, flat-bottom forend, pistol grip, straight comb, and ventilated brown rubber Browning recoil pad. The stocks have light handling wear with some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches, mostly in the buttstock. The finish has scattered crazing, also mostly in the buttstock. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 14 1/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the recoil pad, 13 1/8″ to the back of the wood. The pad is alternately slightly proud and slightly shy to the wood. The pad has light wear and has hardened slightly with age. Drop at comb is approximately 1 3/8″, drop at heel 2″Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition. There is no evidence of saltwood erosion.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bores are bright, there is no erosion.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 95% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges, most notable at the bottom edges of the frame. There is light wear on the barrels in front of the forend from disassembly/reassembly. There are some scattered light scratches, most notable on the left of the top barrel toward the rear and the top-front of the receiver to the right of the rib. There are some other light handling marks. The top tang has wear from the safety/selector and lever and the action has operational wear. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good-plus condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The action closes with a satisfying ‘clunk’, indicative of FN’s legendary craftsmanship, resulting in zero movement between the barrels and frame. The safety does NOT set automatically when the action is opened but functions properly when manually set. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: After the death of John Browning, his son Val would complete an over under shotgun with a single selective trigger and ejectors; the Superposed was introduced in 1931, it was an instant success. The factory did not produce any of these shotguns during WWII but just after the war ended, the factory came roaring back to life, creating some of their best product to date. This is a post-war FN produced 12 Gauge in 1967, in about Very Good-plus condition, showing tight metal and wood fit, retaining about 95% of its metal finish with great bores and strong mechanics. Val’s SST is still known as one of the most reliable and ingenious of its kind, even though the patent is nearing 100 years in practice. With 28? barrels each choked Skeet, this is going to make for a nice skeet gun. The Lightning is a slightly lighter weight variant of the Superposed and this one should be a great shooter for decades to come. Please see our photos and good luck!

Browning FN Superposed Lightning Skeet 28" 12 GA O/U Shotgun, MFD 1967 C&R
Browning FN Superposed Lightning Skeet 28″ 12 GA O/U Shotgun, MFD 1967 C&R