Browning FN Superposed Grade 1 Long Tang 1957 C&R Blue 30″ Vent-Rib O/U Double Shotgun, 12 Gauge

SOLD FOR: $1,175.00
LSB#: 
180918JR40

Make: FN, In Belgium, for Browning.

Model: Superposed, Grade I Long Tang

Serial Number: 57530

Year of Manufacture: 1957 (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.

Markings: 

28″ Barrel Set: The left of the top barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY _ ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI / SPECIAL STEEL – 12 GA. – SHELLS 2 3/4″”, the right is marked with patent numbers and “MADE IN BELGIUM”. Concealed by the forend when assembled, the left of each barrel is marked with crowned “E / LG / *” in oval and “12-70” in oval, the right of the top barrel and the bottom of the bottom barrel are each marked with a Belgian proof and “18.5”. At the breech on the left, the top barrel is marked “*” and the bottom “**”, the bottom-left of the monoblock is marked “57530” and there are inspector marks on the bottom of the monoblock between the lugs. The right of the forend latch is marked “57530”, “A8” and “RO”. The top tang is marked “57530”, the bottom of the receiver is marked “BROWNING” with a bust portrait of John Browning and the water table is marked with Belgian proofs.

Barrel Length: 30″, Vent-Rib

Choke: Fixed Full over Modified

Sights / Optics: There is a white bead mounted in a base at the front of the rib. The bead appears to have been painted red with much of the red paint worn off. There is a smaller white mid-bead. The top of the rib is finely checkered to reduce glare.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are checkered walnut with round-knob pistol grip, straight comb, brown-orange ventilated rubber Fray-Line Deluxe recoil pad. The forend has only a few scattered light compressions outside the checkering. The buttstock has a few more light compressions than the forend with the notable examples being on the right near the heel and on the bottom-left approximately 2″ behind the grip and there are a pair of very short, very thin cracks at the rear of the top tang. The checkering is well defined, nearly sharp, showing light handling wear. There are no chips. The LOP measures 13 3/4” from the front of the gold-plated trigger to the back of the recoil pad, 12 3/4″ to the back of the wood. The pad has hardened and begun to crack with age and has wear around the edge, in about Fair-Good condition. The drop at heel is approximately 1 1/2″ and the drop at comb is approximately 2 3/8″ with both barrel sets. The stocks are in about Very Good-plus overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

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

Overall Condition: This shotgun set retains about 96% of its metal finish. The barrels have very light wear forward of the forend from disassembly, a few scattered light marks and a small patch of very faint freckling on the bottom of the bottom barrel approximately 6″ forward of the forend. The receiver has only light handling marks. The trigger guard has lightly thinning finish at its edges and the bottom tang shows handling wear. The top tang has light operational wear from the safety. The screw-heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun set rates in about Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly including the ejectors. The shotgun features a single selective trigger which is inertially set. The action closes with a satisfying ‘clunk’ with both barrel sets, indicative of FN’s legendary craftsmanship, resulting in zero movement between the barrels and frame. 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 from 1957, in about Fine condition, showing tight metal and wood fit, the action is still spot on and the trigger is crisp. 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. This shotgun is in about Fine condition showing evidence of light and responsible use. This shotgun has clearly served its former user well for a good long time and there’s no reason to think that it won’t do the same for lifetimes to come. Please see our photos and good luck!

CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable: This C&R eligible shotgun can be transferred in California. All cartridge firing firearms including C&R and Antiques must be DROS’d at an FFL. This does not apply to out of state residents.

Please note, the Markings section should not include “28” Barrel Set:” and should start with “The left of the…”. Sorry for any confusion.

Browning FN Superposed Grade 1 Long Tang 1957 C&R Blue 30" Vent-Rib O/U Double Shotgun, 12 Gauge
Browning FN Superposed Grade 1 Long Tang 1957 C&R
Blue 30″ Vent-Rib O/U Double Shotgun, 12 Gauge