Runner-Up Superposed

[Setter Man]

Well, if we’re on the topic of 20ga. Superpose from 1959.

This specimen was purchased in 1959 by John Thompson, a close friend of the family and someone I looked up to a gentleman and sportsman. The gun shows honest wear from 30-years chasing quail and setters in cornfields and along fence rows in Indiana. Several years ago one of the firing pins started to stick so I sent it to Midwest Gun Works for repair and a thorough cleaning. They called me after receiving the gun, commented on the wear, and ask if I was interested in having the gun refinished while in the shop. I thanked them for their interest and told them that ever time I pick up the gun and look at the wear I think of John Thompson, the stories the gun could tell if it could speak, and the gentleman he was.

[Bill Murphy]

Another of my favorites is my 1953 A-1 grade 20, still in the box. Unfortunately, it has 26" barrels, just two inches short of perfection. They are probably the only two guns I own that I don't shoot.

[Big D]

A friend has a 12 gauge D3 built for the European market which is the liveliest Superposed I've ever held. Never had the chance to measure the barrels but they appear to be thinner walled than American guns. Is that possible?

[George "Scott" Davis]

I which Browning had made Superposed in 16 gauge!!!!

[James L. Martin]

Browning did some 16ga superposed, I heard about 50. That was about 10 years ago I believe. Most likely very pricey.

[Bill Murphy]

Yeah, you can buy a 16 Super today. Kind of like buying a new Purdey for $95,000 when you can buy a mint condition 1930 Purdey for $20,000.

[Jack Kuzepski]

The first 16 ga Superposed I ever heard about was one written about by Charles Askins Jr. It seems that someone he knew had a 12 gauge Superposed with a burst barrel, Askins acquired the gun and had both barrels cut and sleeved to 16 gauge. I think he let his wife have that gun.

Jack Kuzepski

[Kevin McCormack]

Originally Posted by John Dallas

A friend has a 12 gauge D3 built for the European market which is the liveliest Superposed I've ever held. Never had the chance to measure the barrels but they appear to be thinner walled than American guns. Is that possible?

Absolutely - years ago I bought a spectacular pre-War Grade 5 Superposed from Steve Barnett, 12 ga. 30" Straight grip, small Euro style 'banana" forend, and full coverage Funken engraved. The best I've ever seen. True midbore diameter measured with a Hosford gauge came in at .723, very typical for early Supers.

I never measured the outer bore diameters, but I can tell you it handled almost exactly like the very early (c. late 1960s - early 1970s) Perazzi Comp 1 guns, which had individually tapered barrels. It handled like a fine fly rod - I shot it on live birds, a couple of rounds of bunker, and a LOT of clay birds. Tight chokes (.027 & .038), it was a real killer.

Steve made me promise when I bought it from him that if I ever sold it that I offer it back to him first, which I did a couple of years before he died.

[Big D]

Super! Apparently my mind isn't fully gone yet! Thx