Beautiful 1959 Funken engraved 28" Diana Grade Browning Superposed 20 Ga. O/U Over Under Shotgun 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 a post-war FN produced Diana Grade from 1959, in about Fine condition, retaining about 96% of its metal finish. Only sixty five of these were made in Diana Grade! The barrels are 28" vent ribbed and choked Full over Skeet. The bores are bright and the mechanics are crisp over 50 years since this work of art left the factory. However, the safety/selector will need some attention. The engraving was done by master engraver Funken. This a beautiful shotgun and would be a fantastic addition for anyone who fancies themselves a true collector. Please see our photos and good luck!
Make: FN, In Belgium, for Browning
Model: Superposed Diana Grade
Serial Number: 14854
Year of Manufacture: 1959 (https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/superposed-shotgun.html)
Gauge: 20 Gauge 2 3/4" & 3" Shells
Action Type: Over / Under, Top Break Shotgun with ejectors & Single Selective Inertia Trigger.
Markings: The right of the forend latch, the latch spring-loaded release, and the cocking lever lifter are all marked with the serial number. The top tang is marked "14854". There are proofs on the water table. The receiver has Diana Grade engraving done by master engraver Funken. The receiver has scroll relief engraving with game scenes. Both sides of the receiver are signed "Funken". The left of the top barrel is marked "BROWNING ARMS COMPANY ST LOUIS Mo. & MONTREAL P.Q. / SPECIAL STEEL - 20 GA - SHELLS 2 3/4" AND 3" . The right side of the top barrel is marked "PATENTS No 2.203.378 – 2.233.861 / MADE IN BELGIUM". At the breech on the left, the top barrel is marked "*" and the bottom barrel is marked "**-" and with the serial number. There are inspector marks on the bottom of the monoblock between the lugs.
Barrel Length: 28" with a vent rib.
Choke: Fixed Full over Skeet
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a plastic bead at the muzzle. There is a white plastic alignment bead midrib. The top of the rib is checkered for glare reduction.
Weight: 6 lbs. 4.6 oz.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a round-bottom pistol grip, straight comb, and a ventilated White Line recoil pad. There is an initial plate in the belly marked "P / J / H". There are some tiny compressions and faint lines throughout. The checkering is well defined. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 14" from the front of the trigger to the back of the White Line recoil pad and 12 7/8" to the wood. The drop at comb is approximately 1 3/4" and the drop at heel is approximately 2 3/8". The pad has light wear. The cast is neutral. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine-Plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blue & French Gray
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bores are bright. There is no erosion. In this writer's opinion, the bores rate 10/10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 96% of its metal finish. The French gray portions have some areas of discoloration and oxidation, the most noticeable areas are on the trigger guard and safety. There are some light marks on the barrel set and light streaks of finish loss on the lower barrel at the rear from contact with the forearm. There is some faint thinning on the edges at the muzzles and rib. The markings are clear. The screw heads are sharp to lightly used with strong slots. Overall, this shotgun is in about Fine condition. (See Mechanics)
Mechanics: The action functions correctly including the ejectors. However, the safety switch seems to be stuck. It may just be gummed up and require proper cleaning and lubrication. The safety does NOT set automatically when the action is opened. 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: A soft Boyt case is included.
CA LEGAL: C&R: YES, CA PPT: NO
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