Browning Model 12, 42 Five-Gun Grade I and V Set 20, 28 GA, .410 Shotguns

SOLD FOR: $6,369.99

WOA#: WY240415EH001, WY240415EH002, WY240415EH007, WY240415EH008, WY240415EH012

Make: Miroku in Japan, for Browning

Model: 12 & 42 High Grade (Grade V, Grade 1) Limited Edition

Serial Number: 00104NM972, 00104PN932, : 00104NZ982, 00104NM872, 00104NZ882

Year of Manufacture: 1988-1991

Gauge: 20 Gauge 2 3/4?, 28 Gauge 2 3/4?, .410, 2 ½ & 3” Shells

Action Type: Pump / Slide Action, Tube Magazine Fed Takedown Shotguns

Markings: 

00104NM972: The left side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING MODEL 12 28 GA – 2 3/4? SHELLS ONLY MOD.”, with a “NP” proof, found again on top of the receiver to the left of the rib extension. The right side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL, P.Q. / MADE IN JAPAN”. The underside of the barrel extension is marked “00104”, the underside of the magazine tube and extension have indexing arrows. The bottom of the receiver is marked “00104 / NM972?. The butt plate is marked “BROWNING”. The left side of the receiver has a scroll engraving surrounded dog and pheasant scene, the right a similarly surrounded waterfowl scene with the animals in both gold-plated.

00104PN932: The left side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING MODEL 12 20 GA – 2 3/4? SHELLS ONLY MOD.”, with a “NP” proof, found again on top of the receiver to the left of the rib extension. The right side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL, P.Q. / MADE IN JAPAN”. The underside of the magazine tube and extension have indexing arrows. The bottom of the receiver is marked “00104 / PN932?. The butt plate is marked “BROWNING”. The left side of the receiver has a scroll engraving surrounded dog and pheasant scene, the right a similarly surrounded waterfowl scene with the animals in both gold-plated.

00104NZ982: The left side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING MODEL 42 .410 BORE – 2 1/2? AND 3? SHELLS FULL”, with a “NP” proof, found again on top of the receiver to the left of the rib extension. The right side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL, P.Q. / MADE IN JAPAN”. The underside of the barrel extension is marked “00104”, the underside of the magazine tube and extension have indexing arrows. The bottom of the receiver is marked “00104 / NZ982?. The butt plate is marked “BROWNING”. The left side of the receiver has a scroll engraving surrounded dog and pheasant scene, the right a similarly surrounded waterfowl scene with the animals in both gold-plated.

00104NM872: The left side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING MODEL 12 28 GA – 2 3/4? SHELLS ONLY MOD.”, with a “NP” proof, found again on top of the receiver to the left of the rib extension. The right side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL, P.Q. / MADE IN JAPAN”. The underside of the barrel extension is marked “00104”, the underside of the magazine tube and extension have indexing arrows. The bottom of the receiver is marked “00104 / NM872?. The butt plate is marked “BROWNING”.

00104NZ882: The left side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING MODEL 42 .410 BORE – 2 1/2? AND 3? SHELLS FULL”, with a “NP” proof, found again on top of the receiver to the left of the rib extension. The right side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL, P.Q. / MADE IN JAPAN”. The underside of the barrel extension is marked “00104”, the underside of the magazine tube and extension have indexing arrows. The bottom of the receiver is marked “00104 / NZ882?. The butt plate is marked “BROWNING”.

Barrel Length: 26”

Choke: 00104NM972, 00104PN932 & 00104NM872: Modified, 00104NZ982 & 00104NZ882: Full, all fixed

Sights / Optics: These shotguns are each mounted with a steel bead fixed to the front of their ventilated ribs. The ribs meet at extensions slotted onto the receivers; the tops are serrated for glare reduction.

Stock Configuration & Condition: 

00104NM972: The stocks are a two piece checkered, gloss finished select walnut set. The forend has checkering on each side with three diamonds on the bottom, the front and rear are checkered, the middle diamond is smooth. The butt stock has checkering on the pistol grip with a fluted comb, blued steel grip cap and textured black plastic buttplate. The stocks have no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the butt plate; the plate has no notable wear or damage, rating in Excellent condition. The stocks rate in Excellent overall condition.

00104PN932: The stocks are a two piece checkered, gloss finished select walnut set. The forend has checkering on each side with three diamonds on the bottom, the front and rear are checkered, the middle diamond is smooth. The butt stock has checkering on the pistol grip with a fluted comb, blued steel grip cap and textured black plastic buttplate. The forend has no notable wear or damage, only light handling marks. The buttstock has a few small, very light compressions and a few scattered faint marks which do not go through the gloss finish. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the butt plate; the plate has some light scuffing at the heel and minor residue in the texturing. The stocks rate in Excellent overall condition.

00104NZ982: The stocks are a two piece checkered, gloss finished select walnut set. The forend has double diamond and surrounding checkers on both sides. The butt stock has checkering on the pistol grip with a fluted comb, blued steel grip cap and textured black plastic buttplate. There are a few tiny marks on the bottom of the forend and on the comb near the heel. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the butt plate; the plate has light scuffing at the heel and toe. The stocks rate in about Excellent overall condition.

00104NM872: The stocks are a two piece checkered select walnut set with extended slide handle, blued steel capped pistol grip, straight comb and textured black plastic buttplate. The buttstock has a few minor marks in the belly and comb. There is no other notable wear or damage in the stocks, only light handling marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the butt plate; the plate has light scuffing at the heel and toe. The stocks rate in about Excellent overall condition.

00104NZ882: The stocks are a two piece checkered walnut set with extended slide handle, blued steel capped pistol grip, straight comb and textured black plastic buttplate. The slide handle has some scattered light nicks and drag-lines. The buttstock has only a few scattered minor marks. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the butt plate; the plate has no notable wear. The stocks rate in about Fine overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blue with Gold Accents on Grade V Guns

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bores are bright. There is no erosion in the bores. In this writer’s opinion, the bores rate 10 out of 10.

Overall Condition: 

00104NM972: This shotgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is minor operational wear consistent with disassembly/assembly. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Excellent condition.

00104PN932: This shotgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. There is a spot of minor oxidation on the left of the barrel about 2″ from the muzzle. The action shows minor operational wear including a little wear from disassembly/assembly. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp, the markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Fine-Excellent condition.

00104NZ982: This shotgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is very minor operational wear consistent with infrequent disassembly/assembly. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Excellent condition.

00104NM872: This shotgun retains about 97% of its metal finish. There is a tiny spot through the finish on the left receiver flat. The action shows minor operational wear, mostly appearing to be from disassembly/assembly. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Excellent condition.

00104NZ882: This shotgun retains about 98% of its metal finish. There is very minor operational wear consistent with infrequent disassembly/assembly. Otherwise, there are only light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in about Excellent condition.

Mechanics: The actions function correctly. These shotguns take down in seconds for easy storage and maintenance. We have not fired these shotguns. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Each gun comes with a two-piece black cardboard Browning box with serial matching labels and manuals.

Our Assessment: What a set! When Browning had these shotguns produced by Miroku, Winchester had discontinued both the Model 12 and 42, making this a first opportunity for some and a last opportunity for many to get their hands on new production guns. Some of this production run was given over to standard Grade I guns, but there were also a limited number of Grade V guns produced. The production runs for the 20 and 28 gauge Model 12s were separate while there was some overlap of production of the Model 42, which meant that there weren’t all that many three-gun sets sold together as some didn’t want to wait to get their guns. So imagine how rare a five-gun set is! This set includes all three Grade V guns as well as a Grade 1 28 Gauge Model 12 and Model 42. The set is in Excellent condition with all five original boxes and these guns are beauties! From the select walnut stocks to the beautiful engraving and gold accents, these shotguns will take a prized place in any collection. If you’re a collector of Winchester or Browning shotguns, don’t let this set pass you by. Please see our photos and good luck!

Please forgive any typos, I was educated in California. -Bud