Make: Browning
Model: Superposed
Serial Number: 16169, All serialized parts match.
Year of Manufacture: 1959
Gauge: 20 Gauge 2 3/4" and 3" Shells
Action Type: Over/Under, Top Break Shotgun w/ Ejectors, and Single selective inertial trigger. The safety does not reset automatically.
Barrel Length: 26.5" Vented Rib.
Choke: Fixed Chokes, Full over Modified.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a small silver bead affixed to the front of the rib. The rib has checkering for glare reduction.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The furniture is a two-piece checkered walnut set. The stock is a Prince of Wales grip, fluted straight comb, with a Browning butt plate made from horn. The forend is a rounded thin profile, non removable, forend. The LOP measures 14.25". The drop at comb is 1.5" the drop at heel is 2" and the shotgun weighs 6lbs 8OZ. The cast is essentially neutral. The wood shows very few surface level lines and minor compressions scattered throughout. The left side of the wrist has an expertly repaired crack and a very small chip in the finish. The horn butt plate shows very minor handling wear. Overall the furniture set is in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue with gold toned trigger.
Finish Originality: Original.
Bore Condition: The smooth bores are mirror bright with no erosion. The bores show some very minor lines from use and no visible plastic fouling. In this writer’s opinion the bores rate 9.75/10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 96% of its finish. The bottom barrel has a very faint signature Superposed rub mark from the forend. The barrels show very few light scattered marks. The inside of the action shows some minor rub wear. There is rub wear under the safety. The top left side of the action has a small scratch. The trigger, trigger guard edges, and tang show finish loss. The markings are clear and the screw heads are sharp however the screws have been turned. Overall this shotgun is in Fine-Fine+ condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly including the ejectors. There is zero movement between the barrels and frame. 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 Browning Superposed was manufactured in Belgium in 1959 and is a classic example of John M. Browning's final firearm design. Featuring 26.5-inch barrels with fixed Full over Modified chokes, this field-ready configuration is equally suited for upland birds, pheasants, and sporting use. Built by FN in Liège, the Superposed became one of the finest over-under shotguns ever produced, earning a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship, strength, and beautifully balanced handling that continues to make Belgian examples highly sought after.
This shotgun is stocked in checkered walnut with the elegant Prince of Wales grip, complemented by a traditional horn butt plate that perfectly captures the style of the era. The graceful lines, excellent balance, and timeless Belgian craftsmanship make this 1959 Superposed a joy to carry and shoot. Whether appreciated as a classic hunting shotgun or as a collectible piece of Browning history, it remains a superb example of one of the most iconic over-under designs ever built.
