Browning Superposed Field Grade Skeet 12GA 28” O/U Shotgun C&R MFD 1954
SOLD FOR: $1,262.00
LSB#: LSB250729TC066
Make: Browning
Model: Superposed Field Grade
Serial Number: 40821, all serialized parts match.
Year of Manufacture: 1954 (https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/superposed-shotgun.html)
Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2¾ ” Shells
Action Type: Over/Under, Top Break Shotgun w/ Ejectors, and Single selective inertial trigger.
Barrel Length: 28” Vented Rib.
Choke: Fixed Skeet Over Skeet.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Red bead fixed to the rib. There is also a small white mid bead. The rib has checkering for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The furniture is a two-piece checkered walnut set. The stock is a prince of wales style with a round bottom semi pistol grip, fluted straight comb, and a Pachmayr Vented rubber butt pad. The length of pull is 14.5”. The drop at comb is 1.5” and the drop at heel is 2”. The cast is slightly right handed. The shotgun weighs 7lbs 14 OZ. The forend in the rounded traditional style Superposed non removable forend. The wood shows scattered compressions, lines, and minor rub marks. There is a small chip at the rear right edge of the upper tang. There are no visible cracks in the wood. The butt pad is pliable and shows only very minor wear. The checkering has some flattened areas mainly on the right side of the forend. Overall the wood is in Good+ to Very God condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original.
Bore Condition: The smooth bores are mirror bright with barely visible lines from use, no visible plastic fouling and no erosion. In this writer’s opinion the bores rate 9.75/10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is a notable scratch on the left side of the upper barrel. The fourth section of the rib on the right side shows a marr in the metal edge. The inside of the action shows some minor rub wear from use. The balance of the exterior finish shows some minor scattered handling wear. The trigger retains its finish. The lower barrel shows the typical rub mark from the non removable forend and the upper tang shows the usually thinning under the safety. The markings are clear and the screw heads are sharp with light marks. The bores are awesome for a gun of this age. Overall this shotgun is in Very Good to Very Good+ condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly including the ejectors. The shotgun features a single selective trigger. The forend is the Browning Non removable style forend. There is 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: This Browning Superposed Field Grade SKEET 12 gauge from 1954 is a fine example of mid-20th-century shotgun craftsmanship, designed by the legendary John Moses Browning and completed by his son Val Browning after his death. As one of the last designs John Browning personally worked on, the Superposed is deeply respected for its elegant lines, robust engineering, and smooth handling characteristics. This particular model features 28 inch barrels with fixed SKEET chokes making the shotgun ideal for SKEET. The 2 3/4″ chambers make it ideal for the standard sporting loads associated with SKEET shooting.
The walnut furniture is a hallmark of the Superposed’s beauty, hand-checkered and richly finished, and this example includes the graceful Prince of Wales grip, a semi-pistol grip that blends control with elegant styling. The result is a shotgun that shoulders naturally, balances well, swings easily and quickly while carrying the dignity of a fine European-inspired sporting arm. Field Grade SKEET models like this were the more “affordable” version of the Superposed, but even so, they carried fit and finish well beyond most production shotguns of the era. Made in Belgium at FN’s Herstal factory, this 1954 Superposed is both a shooter and a collectible, an enduring symbol of Browning’s genius and the post-war golden era of sporting arms. Please see our high quality photos via the link and best of luck with your bidding!!!-R.L.
