Make: Browning

Model: Superposed Pigeon Grade Skeet

Serial Number: 15457S69

Year of Manufacture: 1969

Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 3/4” Shells

Action Type: Over/Under, Top Break Shotgun w/ Ejectors and single selective inertial trigger.

Markings: The left side of the upper barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY St LOUIS MO & MONTREAL PQ. MADE IN BELGIUM”, the right side “SPECIAL STEEL-12 GA.-SHELLS 2 3/4” PATENTS No 2.203.378-2.233861”. The left of the monobloc is marked “15457S9” and “**$/ **$”. The left side of the barrel set has Belgian Proofs. The forend tab is marked “15457S69” and the lever “15457S”. The top tang is marked “15457 S69”.

Barrel Length: 28”

Choke: Fixed Skeet / Skeet.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a large white bead with a smaller white mid bead. The top of the rib is finely checkered for reducing glare.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two-piece checkered gloss finish high grade walnut with a tapered full finger shelf forend and a semi pistol grip fluted straight comb stock with ventilated brown rubber Browning recoil pad. The wood shows hairlines and light crazing with some minor compression scattered throughout. There is a notable marr on the right leading edge of the comb and a notable line on the right side leading edge of the stock. There are small grainline cracks on the left side at the receiver edge, the rear edge of the upper tang and on the left lower edge of the lower tang. This wood also appears to be salt wood as there is discoloration from the wood where it meets metal. There is a small chip in the wood on the leading edge of the lower left side of the stock. The length of pull is 14.25”, the drop at comb 1.5” and the drop at heel 2”. The cast is almost neutral / slightly off. The shotgun weighs 7lbs 13oz. The pad shows minimal wear and is still semi-pliable. Overall the wood is in Good+ condition as salt wood.

Type of Finish: Blue & French Grey (Coin) finish.

Finish Originality: Original.

Bore Condition: The smooth bores are bright with no erosion and only minor visible lines from use. There is no plastic fouling. In this writer’s opinion the bores rate 9.75/10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains 95% of its metal finish. The barrels show some small scattered nicks and some finish thinning around the muzzles. The bottom barrel and left side of the upper shows the characteristic rub marks from the forend. On the edges of the coin portions of the receiver you can see where the discoloration in the wood runs into the metal and in those areas surface rust is beginning to develop, most notably the right side where the stock and receiver meet, where the rear edges of the forend meet the forend iron, and the leading edges of the receiver. The gold toned trigger has lost most of its finish. Overall the shotgun is in Good-Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly including the ejectors. The barrels lock up with no play. The safety does NOT set automatically when the action is opened but functions properly when manually set. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This 1969 Browning Superposed Pigeon Grade Skeet model is a beautiful example of FN craftsmanship paired with Browning’s classic design. It features 28" barrels choked Skeet over Skeet, optimized for quick instinctive target engagement ideal for close-range clay shooting. The coin-finished receiver is elegantly engraved with Browning’s distinctive Pigeon Grade game scenes, adding an artistic touch to this finely tuned sporting shotgun. The high-grade walnut stock is shaped in a semi-pistol grip with a straight comb, paired with a tapered full finger shelf forend, both deeply checkered for sure handling and control. The balance and smooth swing make it a standout in the skeet field.

Notably, this shotgun dates from the era of Browning's infamous salt-cured wood issue. Between 1966 and 1971, Browning used a new salt-curing method to rapidly dry their high-grade walnut stocks. Unfortunately, the salt sometimes remained in the wood and caused corrosion where the stock contacted steel, particularly at the action. The issue was most common on high-grade models like this one, where premium walnut was prioritized. Browning eventually halted the practice and replaced many affected stocks, but original examples with salt wood remain a known quirk of the era. Despite that, many shooters and collectors still admire these guns for their quality, beauty, and the legacy of John M. Browning’s final shotgun design, hand-assembled by FN’s skilled craftsmen in Belgium.