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Quick Browning Superposed Facts:

First years of Production:

1931 - 1940

Second years of Production:

1948 - 1960

Manufacturer
Browning Arms Co.
Fabrique Nationale

Designer
John Browning, Val A. Browning

Browning Superposed

Over Under, Shotgun, 12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge and .410

The Browning Superposed was last firearm to be designed by John Browning and one of the first over-under shotgun designs to be commercially produced. John Browning had envisioned it as the last gun the government would ban from private ownership and was designed to be the first over under shotgun that was affordable to the general population.

Superposed Specs:

Weight: 6 pounds ish

Barrel length:

20", 26", 28"

Capacity:

Action Type:

Boxlock Shotgun

Gauge:

12 gauge, 16 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge and .410 bore

Browning Superposed serial numbers, Lightning, Standard, Pigeon, Diana, Midas, semi-auto, 12 guage, 20 guage, .410, values, prices

Previous guns of a similar design had been priced out of the average man's reach.

After his death in November 1926, the design work was completed by his son Val A. Browning. Most importantly, the single selective trigger mechanism that he wanted for the Superposed had been finished by Val. Initially, and until 1939 the Browning Superposed fired via a double trigger set up. Val Browning's SST remains one of the very best and most reliable such triggers ever designed.

The Original production grades were offered in the following: Grade I (Lightning/Standard), Pigeon, Diana and Midas.

In 1975 the Superposed was dropped from the regular Browning catalog but is still available through Browning International's Custom Shop.

It should be noted that all Superposed guns are hand engraved and the engraving on the high grade models can be very detailed, and the select French Walnut stocks are also of very high quality.

Superposed Variations:

Browning Superposed guns have been offered in all gauges from 12 to .410 guage, as well as in multi-barrel skeet sets. Typically barrel lengths are 26", 28", 30" and 32", and choke borings range from Cylinder to Full.

Browning Superposed Owners Manual:

Owners manual is available from Browning (.PDF):

Superposed B-25 and B-125, Continental Superposed Shotguns and Express Rifles Owners Manual

Browning Superposed Serial Numbers and Serial Number Lookup:

(From Browning)

Date

Historic Information

Serial Number Info

1931-39

Production of the Superposed 12 ga. began in 1931.

1-17,000
Exact production figures are not available. Year of manufacture on Pre-World War II production is strictly a guess at best.

1939-1947

Production ceased during World War II

1948

17100-17200

1949

Production of the 20 ga. began. First series of numbers are for the 12 ga. Second series of numbers are for the 20 ga.
These serial numbers for each year from 1949-63 are best guess.

12 ga.: 17201-20000
20 ga.: 100-1700

1950

12 ga.: 20001-21000
20 ga.: 1701-2800

1951

12 ga.: 21001-27000
20 ga.: 2801-2100

1952

12 ga.: 27001-33000
20 ga.: 3201-5300

1953

12 ga.: 33001-37000
20 ga.: 5301-6700

1954

12 ga.: 37001-43000
20 ga.: 6701-8400

1955

12 ga.: 43001-48000
20 ga.: 8401-9400

1956

12 ga.: 48001-54000
20 ga.: 9401-10500

1957

12 ga.: 54001-59000
20 ga.: 10501-11500

1958

12 ga.: 59001-68500
20 ga.: 11501-14180

1959

12 ga.: 68501-76500
20 ga.: 14181-17060

1960

12 ga.: 76501-86500
20 ga.: 17061-20640

1961

12 ga.: 86501-96500
20 ga.: 20641-23820

1962

12 ga.: 96501-99999
20 ga.: 23821-27300

1963-68

From 1962 serial numbers were followed by the date of manufacture.
2S=12 gauge for the year 1962.
2V=20 gauge for the year 1962.
2F=28 gauge for the year 1962.
2J=.410 bore for the year 1962.
Example: 6556S2 = A 1962 Superposed 12 ga. shotgun with serial number 6556.

S=12 gauge
V=20 gauge
F=28 gauge
J=.410 bore

1969-75

1969 started using two digits for the date of manufacture:
S=12 gauge
V=20 gauge
F=28 gauge
J=.410 bore
This was then preceded by the serial number beginning with 1000.
Example: 1000S69 = A 1969 Superposed 12 ga.. shotgun with a serial number of 1000.

S=12 gauge
V=20 gauge
F=28 gauge
J=.410 bore

1976-1986

In 1975 Browning standardized its serial number identification which it followed until 1998.

1. Superposed Type	213=12 gauge 233=20 gauge 173=28 gauge 183=.410 bore
2. Date of Manufacture is a two digit code	Z=1 Y=2 X=3 W=4 V=5 T=6 R=7 P=8 N=9 M=0
3. Serial Number beginning with 01001at the start of each year.

Serial
Number Example:

213RT01001

This would be an Superposed 12 ga., manufactured in 1976 with the serial number 01001.

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