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BROWNING SUPERPOSED WATERFOWL SERIES "BLACK DUCK"

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 9,000.00 USD
BROWNING SUPERPOSED WATERFOWL SERIES  BLACK DUCK
ISSUE NO. 32 OF 500 WITH SIGNED ENGRAVING BLUEPRINTS FOR THIS GUN. Cal. 12 Ga. S# 8J4PY00032. When this gun came out in 1983 it sold for $8800.00. It was a very popular Browning issue & these guns are quite sought after today. This gun is accompanied by its original engraving blueprints w/ number for this gun. All guns in this series had 28" bbls., choked Mod & full, w/ narrow ventilated ribs. The guns were made in Belgium & were supplied in a full length walnut display case. This gun has all correct factory markings on bbls. French grayed receiver is fully engraved w/ well cut open shaded scroll surrounding semi relief gold inlaid scenes of black ducks; pair rising from marsh on left side of action, settling into a marsh on right & flying, wings down, on bottom. Locking block is engraved w/ another black duck taking wing amidst cattails. Side portrait of the ducks head is on trigger guard bow. Bottom action scene is flanked by ribbons engraved "BLACK DUCK" "ANAS RUBRITES". A ribbon at bottom of duck is inlaid "032 of 500". Engravers signature, "J. M. Boulanger" is at rear of left side of action & "J. Schurger" is on right. Dark oil finished crotch figured American walnut buttstock measures 14 1/4" over checkered wood butt. Fancy pattern checkering w/ flourish into butt wraps over top of grip. Field forend matches well. DAH: 2 7/16". DAC: 1 1/2". WEIGHT: 7 lbs. 4 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: walnut display case lined in red velvet, contains 2 keys along w/ five 18" x 24" blueprints of the engravings for this gun w/ this guns number on bottom receiver detail. Other sheets include left & right receiver, bottom receiver detail, left side receiver detail & right side receiver detail. It is interesting to note that the gold inlaid ducks match the details but the engraver took license w/ backgrounds & they are somewhat different. Each of these blueprints is physically signed by the designer, Leon P. Burrows & dated "86". Also many of these blueprints are hand colored & have areas of whiteout, some w/ design changes. These are suitable for framing. CONDITION: very fine w/ little evidence of having been fired, w/ congealed oil on mating surfaces & some scattered pinprick oxidation on bright polish of breeches. There are 1 or 2 minor marks on buttstock & some light scratches on left side of forend. Mechanically excellent but a bit gummed. Ejectors are out of time. There are numerous scratches on exterior of case. Interior has compressions. Top blueprint is very slightly foxed, otherwise all are excellent. (20-875/MGM66). MODERN. $6,000-9,000.