The Browning Superposed | From A Browning Gunsmith

I have handled and shot countless shotguns. Many seem to be too clunky or robust. The pumps and semi autos while utilitarian, lack a certain style. However, a well-stocked over and under, now that’s a different story and none have a story quite like the marvelous Browning Superposed or “Super” as those who love this gun call it.

John Moses Browning’s concept firearm was an over and under that shot and felt like the expensive European models at an affordable price.

Browning began work on the Super in 1922 during the afterglow of his wildly popular Auto-5. Browning applied for the patents and the shrewd businessman that he was, began shopping for a manufacturer of the gun. He finally sided with FN who was also producing his Auto-5. Though the bulk of the shotgun was finished, Browning’s son Val put the final touches on the trigger system after his father’s death in 1926.

In 1931, at the height of the Great Depression, the 12 gauge Super hit the market. The 20 gauge made its appearance in 1949. In its nearly 50-year production there were more than 250,000 Supers produced.

These were not merely firearms but rather works of art; the Standard Grade, Pigeon Grade, Diana Grade and Midas Grade. Each piece of the firearm was hand fitted.

The Standard Grade sold for $107.50 equivalent to $2107 in today’s prices and was well received. In 1934, Browning dropped the price of Standard Grade to help boost sales.  The price drop worked in spite of the poor economy and demand for the Superposed increased to nearly its first year sales.

Every Superposed was engraved. The Standard Grade was engraved by the least experienced engravers and each of the engravers produced four works of art per day. Higher grades had more elaborate patterns and higher grades of wood.

In 1949, the Superposed received a name makeover and was known as Grade I through Grade V. The Grade V had near full coverage engraving on its receiver and took a skilled engraver 35 hours per gun to complete.

A Grade VI was introduced in 1957. It featured a hand matted rib; gold plated firing pins and ejector pins and was stocked in high grade walnut. The engraving on the Grade VI featured elaborate patterns complete with 18 karat gold inlays and deep relief birds on the receiver.

The introduction of the small gauges in 1959 was highly anticipated and the 28 gauge and .410 sold out in six weeks.

In 1961, the Superposed was re-labeled again back to its old monikers of Standard, Pigeon, Pointer, Diana and Midas Grade.  

The Salt Wood Fiasco

Salt was used in an effort to speed up the wood drying process. This didn’t bode well as salt and steel do not mix.  Once Browning discovered the effects it was having on their guns they ceased the practice, but the damage had been done. Over the course of a decade Browning righted its wrong by fixing more than 11,000 firearms annually and even running two shifts for several years to keep up with the influx of service guns coming through the repair facility. 

A salty Superposed is enough to make a grown man cry. The metal must be rewelded and re-machined and the stock and forearm must be replaced. Unfortunately, much of the high-grade wood could not be replaced with the same quality wood as it no longer existed.    

Sadly, by the late 1960s the extensive labor costs caught up with the Super. The proverbial writing was on the wall. By the early 70s another Browning classic, the Citori, was ready to carry on the Browning over and under legacy. The Superposed had endured the Great Depression and World War II but couldn’t squeeze its way through the recession of the mid-70s. 

When FN purchased Browning in 1977 production of the Superposed ceased, however the custom shop still produces a handful today. 

While many argue John Browning’s swan song was not his finest design, the Superposed handles and shoots like a masterpiece even after nearly 100 years.