Browning Superposed paint under forend

SEHunter · February 22, 2025, 07:51 PM

Anyone familiar with the Superposed ever seen what appears to be black paint on the barrels under the forend? I can scrape it off with my fingernail. It’s blued under it, just curious if it was supposed to be some kind of protection in that area? It’s a 1969 lightening.

bamaranger · February 22, 2025, 09:47 PM

Not sure if your gun is a candidate, but there was a period in time where Browning used some type of salt based curing for their wood, which quickened the process. Problem was, when the guns got exposed to moisture/humidity, the salt, still present in the wood to some degree, reappeared from the wood pores and could then effect the finish on any metal parts touching said cured wood.

Such guns were referred to as "saltwood Brownings" and it was a thing. I'm thinking your barrels may have been painted to reduce the possibility of effects by salt wood.

It is likely possible to determine the era/years when saltwood was a problem and see if your Superposed falls into that era.

I've seen a Citori ( and should have bought it) that had been coated in some manner (Parkerized I think) due to saltwood rust.

SEHunter · February 22, 2025, 10:59 PM

Yes, I’m familiar with the salt guns. This gun is within that time frame but I’ve disassembled it and there’s no rust. To my understanding, the high grade guns were more affected than the grade 1s. Arts Gun Shop has some great videos about the salt wood. What a shame that so many guns were ruined by that.

Back to your suggestion, i suppose it could have been a protective coating. I hadn’t considered that.

baddarryl · March 12, 2025, 11:34 AM

What years were the saltwood? I have a 1983 BPS that has been painted by someone.

SEHunter · March 12, 2025, 02:01 PM

You don’t have anything to worry about. The BPS was never affected by the salt wood as far as I know. It primarily affected the Superposed and some to the BAR, and some found their way to Weatherby and Winchester. The main years of the salt wood was 1966-1970 although there have been reports of some sprinkled out here and there through the 70s.

February 22, 2025, 07:51 PM	#1
SEHunter Senior Member Join Date: October 6, 2009 Posts: 337	Browning Superposed paint under forend Anyone familiar with the Superposed ever seen what appears to be black paint on the barrels under the forend? I can scrape it off with my fingernail. It’s blued under it, just curious if it was supposed to be some kind of protection in that area? It’s a 1969 lightening.

February 22, 2025, 09:47 PM	#2
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,788	salt wood Not sure if your gun is a candidate, but there was a period in time where Browning used some type of salt based curing for their wood, which quickened the process. Problem was, when the guns got exposed to moisture/humidity, the salt, still present in the wood to some degree, reappeared from the wood pores and could then effect the finish on any metal parts touching said cured wood. Such guns were referred to as "saltwood Brownings" and it was a thing. I'm thinking your barrels may have been painted to reduce the possibility of effects by salt wood. It is likely possible to determine the era/years when saltwood was a problem and see if your Superposed falls into that era. I've seen a Citori ( and should have bought it) that had been coated in some manner (Parkerized I think) due to saltwood rust.

February 22, 2025, 10:59 PM	#3
SEHunter Senior Member Join Date: October 6, 2009 Posts: 337	Yes, I’m familiar with the salt guns. This gun is within that time frame but I’ve disassembled it and there’s no rust. To my understanding, the high grade guns were more affected than the grade 1s. Arts Gun Shop has some great videos about the salt wood. What a shame that so many guns were ruined by that. Back to your suggestion, i suppose it could have been a protective coating. I hadn’t considered that.

March 12, 2025, 11:34 AM	#4
baddarryl Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Location: Cape Fear! Posts: 1,700	What years were the saltwood? I have a 1983 BPS that has been painted by someone.

March 12, 2025, 02:01 PM	#5
SEHunter Senior Member Join Date: October 6, 2009 Posts: 337	You don’t have anything to worry about. The BPS was never affected by the salt wood as far as I know. It primarily affected the Superposed and some to the BAR, and some found their way to Weatherby and Winchester. The main years of the salt wood was 1966-1970 although there have been reports of some sprinkled out here and there through the 70s.