Pics of the new (to me) Superposed!

jaughtman · January 22, 2011, 04:51 PM

OK, I went ahead and bit on the offer to buy this "project" Browning Superposed. It is roughly 1958 manufactor, 3" chamber, Briley thin-wall chokes. What do you think? These are some before pics before the wood gets refinished (the worst is the long scratch in the forend pic - other than that, it just needs a new - I am thinking Satin - finish).

pabuckslayer08 · January 22, 2011, 05:11 PM

looks like a nice gun from the 50s. How are you going about removing the scratch since its in the checkering and looks deep

jaughtman · January 22, 2011, 05:18 PM

but probably the best my guy (I am not refinishing it) can do is slightly fill it in before refinishing - it will still be noticable, just not as much. I will call it "character".

J

Microgunner · January 22, 2011, 05:20 PM

How did they retro-fit screw in choke tubes?

oneounceload · January 22, 2011, 05:38 PM

The head of the stock at the receiver looks "proud" enough for a good refinish - if you have the wood-working skills, it should come out looking fine.

Good luck, and DON'T forget the "after" pics!

oneounceload · January 22, 2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

How did they retro-fit screw in choke tubes?

Briley can install their "thin-wall" chokes if there's enough barrel wall thickness

jaughtman · January 22, 2011, 06:39 PM

it is a 1957 on closer inspection (i.e. "actually looking it up"). I have been told that "long tang" is a good thing with Superposed?

J

oneounceload · January 22, 2011, 06:50 PM

The RKLT designation....meaning Round Knob, Long Tang seems to have an interest with collectors and shooters; although I have never heard anyone having an issue with short tang guns.

Are those 26.5" barrels?

jaughtman · January 22, 2011, 07:28 PM

to be only 25" - I wonder if someone in the past had them reduced and then installed the chokes?

J

oneounceload · January 22, 2011, 07:38 PM

Typically.......and that is a loosely used term, Belgian Browning barrel lengths were 26-1/2, 27-5/8, 28, 30, 32 depending on model.

Usually, the 26.5 were either SK/SK weighing about 8+ pounds, or SK/IC weighing about 7-1/4# pounds (field gun)

(I'm looking at a bunch right now on GunsInternational - your pics got me wanting one again! - wife's gonna kill me)

The 27 and 28" barrels were typically field guns chokes anywhere from IC/IM to M/F, while the 30 and 32 were usually trap double guns choked M/F or IM/F

jaughtman · January 22, 2011, 07:48 PM

but I got that baby for the whopping sum of $630 so even if I put a couple hundred into refinishing the wood, I have a Belgian Superposed for under a grand....keep looking - deals are out there!

J

oneounceload · January 22, 2011, 07:57 PM

You should be arrested for grand theft!........

Great deal

Dave McC · January 23, 2011, 06:40 PM

Good score!! Good luck with it.......

johnbt · January 24, 2011, 09:53 AM

I think it looks great like it is. It's barely broken in .

Saltydog235 · January 24, 2011, 10:11 AM

Why would you want to refinish that gun? The marks and scratches give that fine old gun character and a patina of life. To me refinishing the gun would rob it of its history and wouldn't make it shoot any better.

BigJimP · January 24, 2011, 02:37 PM

If it were mine ....

a. I would strip off the old finish ....

b. sand some of the rough spots a "little" bit ( 300 grit or so / and not too aggressively ) .. I'd also try some damp heat ( wet cloth and a steam iron ) to get some of the dents out as best you could...

c. I would not use any "filler" because I don't care what the can says ...it will never stain like the original wood ...!!

d. Depending on what might hide the scratches better - I would probably darken the wood a little with stain / and use a good varnish --- about 6 coats ...and probably a semi-gloss rather than a Satin ....

a product I like is -

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=5...UNSTOCK_FINISH

and I've used it on several Browning O/U's. The marketing label says "oil" - but its really a "varnish". It takes patience / 3 days per coat / let it harden - light sand in between - and then another coat. So it takes about 3 weeks just to do the finish.

UniversalFrost · January 26, 2011, 06:41 PM

DO NOT REFINISH that gun!

I already posted in your other thread about the options to refinish and i was under the assumption that the gun was a mess. Now that I can see the gun i would say leave it.... the scratches add character to a fine old hunting O/U and any prospective buyers or admirers will appreciate the current condition of the gun.

The briley chokes are a big plus (and about a $475 value right now) and hopefully you got a few spare choke tubes with the gun because briley tubes are not cheap.

and yes there are deals to be had..

I picked up a browning citori trap model from 1978 last friday that had less than a case of shells thru it in its entire life... lets just say I walked out the door with the gun for way less than what it is worth... see my thread for pics..

jaughtman · January 26, 2011, 09:50 PM

I never realized chokes were that much to install as I never retro-installed any. As far as the gun not being "a mess", not it isn't, but I am still leaning to refinishing it (actually having it refinished) as the finish it just about totally gone in some spots - showing bare wood. That does not show up in my amatuerish pics. I will post some after pics and then we can vote on if I made a mistake. Haha.

J

jaguarxk120 · January 26, 2011, 10:12 PM

Before you start stripping off the old finish give it a chance. Clean it and a coat of wax will go a long way.

Use something like Meguiar's cleaner wax, then a coat of regular wax. the finish will come up very well. This won't take out the dents/scratches but will make the finish look good.

silvercorvette · January 27, 2011, 01:51 AM

Quote:

b. sand some of the rough spots a "little" bit ( 300 grit or so / and not too aggressively ) .. I'd also try some damp heat ( wet cloth and a steam iron ) to get some of the dents out as best you could...

Good advice

January 22, 2011, 04:51 PM	#1
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 868	Pics of the new (to me) Superposed! OK, I went ahead and bit on the offer to buy this "project" Browning Superposed. It is roughly 1958 manufactor, 3" chamber, Briley thin-wall chokes. What do you think? These are some before pics before the wood gets refinished (the worst is the long scratch in the forend pic - other than that, it just needs a new - I am thinking Satin - finish).

January 22, 2011, 05:18 PM	#3
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 868	Not sure..... but probably the best my guy (I am not refinishing it) can do is slightly fill it in before refinishing - it will still be noticable, just not as much. I will call it "character". J

January 22, 2011, 05:20 PM	#4
Microgunner Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,324	How did they retro-fit screw in choke tubes? __________________ *Proud NRA Benefactor Member*

January 22, 2011, 05:38 PM	#5
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	The head of the stock at the receiver looks "proud" enough for a good refinish - if you have the wood-working skills, it should come out looking fine. Good luck, and DON'T forget the "after" pics! Last edited by oneounceload; January 22, 2011 at 07:01 PM. Reason: added comment

January 22, 2011, 06:39 PM	#7
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 868	Oops.... it is a 1957 on closer inspection (i.e. "actually looking it up"). I have been told that "long tang" is a good thing with Superposed? J

January 22, 2011, 05:11 PM	#2
pabuckslayer08 Senior Member Join Date: December 18, 2010 Location: South Central Pa Posts: 692	looks like a nice gun from the 50s. How are you going about removing the scratch since its in the checkering and looks deep

January 22, 2011, 06:50 PM	#8
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	The RKLT designation....meaning Round Knob, Long Tang seems to have an interest with collectors and shooters; although I have never heard anyone having an issue with short tang guns. Are those 26.5" barrels?

January 22, 2011, 07:28 PM	#9
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 868	They appear.... to be only 25" - I wonder if someone in the past had them reduced and then installed the chokes? J

January 22, 2011, 07:38 PM	#10
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Typically.......and that is a loosely used term, Belgian Browning barrel lengths were 26-1/2, 27-5/8, 28, 30, 32 depending on model. Usually, the 26.5 were either SK/SK weighing about 8+ pounds, or SK/IC weighing about 7-1/4# pounds (field gun) (I'm looking at a bunch right now on GunsInternational - your pics got me wanting one again! - wife's gonna kill me) The 27 and 28" barrels were typically field guns chokes anywhere from IC/IM to M/F, while the 30 and 32 were usually trap double guns choked M/F or IM/F

January 22, 2011, 07:48 PM	#11
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 868	Well, not to brag.... but I got that baby for the whopping sum of $630 so even if I put a couple hundred into refinishing the wood, I have a Belgian Superposed for under a grand....keep looking - deals are out there! J

January 22, 2011, 07:57 PM	#12
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	You should be arrested for grand theft!........ Great deal

January 23, 2011, 06:40 PM	#13
Dave McC Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 13, 1999 Location: Columbia, Md, USA Posts: 8,811	Good score!! Good luck with it.......

January 24, 2011, 09:53 AM	#14
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	I think it looks great like it is. It's barely broken in .

January 24, 2011, 10:11 AM	#15
Saltydog235 Senior Member Join Date: October 20, 2010 Location: Pawleys Island Posts: 1,563	Why would you want to refinish that gun? The marks and scratches give that fine old gun character and a patina of life. To me refinishing the gun would rob it of its history and wouldn't make it shoot any better.

January 24, 2011, 02:37 PM	#16
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	If it were mine .... a. I would strip off the old finish .... b. sand some of the rough spots a "little" bit ( 300 grit or so / and not too aggressively ) .. I'd also try some damp heat ( wet cloth and a steam iron ) to get some of the dents out as best you could... c. I would not use any "filler" because I don't care what the can says ...it will never stain like the original wood ...!! d. Depending on what might hide the scratches better - I would probably darken the wood a little with stain / and use a good varnish --- about 6 coats ...and probably a semi-gloss rather than a Satin .... a product I like is - http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=5...UNSTOCK_FINISH and I've used it on several Browning O/U's. The marketing label says "oil" - but its really a "varnish". It takes patience / 3 days per coat / let it harden - light sand in between - and then another coat. So it takes about 3 weeks just to do the finish.

January 26, 2011, 06:41 PM	#17
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	DO NOT REFINISH that gun! I already posted in your other thread about the options to refinish and i was under the assumption that the gun was a mess. Now that I can see the gun i would say leave it.... the scratches add character to a fine old hunting O/U and any prospective buyers or admirers will appreciate the current condition of the gun. The briley chokes are a big plus (and about a $475 value right now) and hopefully you got a few spare choke tubes with the gun because briley tubes are not cheap. and yes there are deals to be had.. I picked up a browning citori trap model from 1978 last friday that had less than a case of shells thru it in its entire life... lets just say I walked out the door with the gun for way less than what it is worth... see my thread for pics.. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

January 26, 2011, 09:50 PM	#18
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 868	Thanks.... I never realized chokes were that much to install as I never retro-installed any. As far as the gun not being "a mess", not it isn't, but I am still leaning to refinishing it (actually having it refinished) as the finish it just about totally gone in some spots - showing bare wood. That does not show up in my amatuerish pics. I will post some after pics and then we can vote on if I made a mistake. Haha. J

January 26, 2011, 10:12 PM	#19
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,619	Before you start stripping off the old finish give it a chance. Clean it and a coat of wax will go a long way. Use something like Meguiar's cleaner wax, then a coat of regular wax. the finish will come up very well. This won't take out the dents/scratches but will make the finish look good.

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