[dgludwig]

The discussion regarding the merits of manufacturing qualities between the countries of Belgium and Japan brings to mind a comparison test conducted by Bill Resman between the Belgium made Browning Superposed and the (then) new Japanese made (in the Olin Kodensha plant) Winchester 101, reported on in the 1968 issue of The Gun Digest, titled "Browning Versus Winchester; the Upstart Against the Veteran". Though both guns fared well in this comparison (the Winchester was even found to have much better engraving), Mr. Resman concluded, "What the comparison boils down to is this: If you want a gun with top workmanship, an excellent bluing job and glasslike stocks, the first choice is definitely the Browning. If, however, you are interested in a gun with very good workmanship, and perhaps better handling qualities than that found in the Superposed, you can save yourself about a hundred dollars by buying the Winchester 101."

Though this article is decades old and both guns long discontinued (at least in their original forms), I found it interesting that the "Great Debate" continues to this day in a format (the internet) never dreamed of by the prognostics of yore.