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1965 Browning Superposed Midas Grade Broadway Trap, engraved by Mary Lou Magis – 12ga, 32” barrels choked Mod/Full
Guns International #: 100804303 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Browning Belgium Shotguns - O/U Superposed Midas - Browning Belgium Shotguns - O/U Superposed
Seller's Information
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Seller: JMBwastheBest
Company: Private Seller
Member Since: 5/17/16
First Name: Sean
State: Wyoming
Country: United States
Number of Active Listings: 0
Total Number of Listings: 22
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Shipping: Buyer pays actual shipping cost, plus insurance.
Payment Types Accepted: Cashier's Check or USPS Money Order
Description:
John Moses Browning, from the frontier town of Ogden, Utah, was the greatest firearms inventor the world has ever known. With his invention of the iconic Browning Superposed (his final design before his untimely death on Thanksgiving Day in 1926), Browning provided the ideal canvas for many an engraver to perform their artistry. Starting in the early 1930’s, it was the engravers at Browning/FN in Belgium, engraving Browning-authorized scenes, that brought the Superposed to life. The brilliance of Browning’s gun design is sometimes lost on the beautiful artwork of the engravers.
According to several authorities, the hey-day of the Browning Superposed production high grades (Pigeon, Pointer, Diana, and the Midas) began in the early 1960’s. Each grade is an engraved work of art, and each has a story of its creation. But, of the production high grades offered by Browning in the 1960’s and 70’s, the crown jewel . . . the cream of the crop . . . the Cadillac of Superposed shotguns, was the Midas. And of the Midas line, the cream of the crop was the Broadway Trap. Browning spared no expense on the Midas Broadway Trap. It received the best engraving, the best and deepest bluing, the highest grade of wood stocks with impeccable checkering.
Browning commissioned Louis Vrancken to design the new Midas design. Vrancken succeeded Felix Funken as Chief of the Engravers at FN/Browning in Belgium upon Funken’s retirement. The classy engraved design with the limited and tasteful use of gold inlay is a testament to Vrancken’s genius. It has been said that only Browning’s master engravers were allowed to engrave a Midas Superposed, and that it took Vrancken himself over 60 hours of intensive labor to engrave a Midas grade Superposed.
I have studied the works of the Browning/FN engravers for some time. Among the best of them is Mary Lou Magis. And that’s not just my opinion. The Blue Book of Gun Values named Magis as one of the “Big Six” master engravers at Browning/FN. Her version of Vrancken’s design of the Pointer grade was personally selected for production by Val Browning himself. Her incredible talent is manifest in the engraving of this Midas. The accompanying photos do not do the engraving on this Midas justice. I looked for years to find a sample by Magis, and this is the one I chose. Look at the detail of the feathers, the leaves of the trees, the cat-tails, and the anatomically correct birds. The rarity of works by Magis creates a corresponding increase in demand and, it follows, her work demands a pretty penny.
Provenance – this particular Midas is from the Rod Fuller collection. Mr. Fuller had a large and wonderful Browning collection in Nebraska, and I was indeed fortunate to deal with him personally and acquire this one before he passed away.
This sample has been lightly and tastefully restored by the Browning experts at Art’s Gun Shop in Missouri to 100%. As you can see, I got rid of the white-line recoil pad (not a fan), and Art’s installed a Browning period-correct Midas pad. But I still have the original white-line, if you want it.
As an associate once said of collectable Superposed guns, “we are only caretakers,” preserving them for the next generation. It’s time for me to part with this one, and search for my next acquisition. This is your opportunity to own a truly unique Superposed Midas sample by one of Browning’s best engravers.
I realize my price is on the high end of the market on this gun. As they say, you must see it to appreciate it. Magis’ engraving work is incredible. The wood on the stock is amazing. This magnificent Superposed is a gun that you would be proud to own and display. It is an excellent sample of Browning's highest production high grade.
This Midas comes with a Letter of Authenticity from the Browning Historian (Glen Jensen, now retired).
Please, serious inquiries only.
SOLD