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641 - 652 of 652 Posts
Discussion starter · #641 ·
Ravenanme:

Sure would like to see more photos of your Midas.

It's interesting that the barrels appear to have a narrow rib, but the stock and butt pad appear to be for trap. Maybe it was special ordered that way?

The engraving is very nice. Signed by Mr. Vrancken, no less. I believe it was he who designed the Midas Grade engraving used from the early 1960s forward.

Congrats!

CFB
 
Ravenanme:

Sure would like to see more photos of your Midas.

It's interesting that the barrels appear to have a narrow rib, but the stock and butt pad appear to be for trap. Maybe it was special ordered that way?

The engraving is very nice. Signed by Mr. Vrancken, no less. I believe it was he who designed the Midas Grade engraving used from the early 1960s forward.

Congrats!

CFB
Thanks it is a special Midas with both signed engravers on the finished receiver !
With Both Vrancken and Dierckx as a true Trap gun my only info so far goes back
to 1965/1967 ! I also believe it was a special order !
 
Looking forward to seeing it and hearing about it. There were a couple other Midas grades in the 1391x’s range. A Trap model by Dierckx and a 2-bbl by Vrancken - both are 30” guns.

When did you acquire this one? What’s the configuration?
Just to have some idea the value of a double signed Midas 30" with a 8mm rib
in good condition , what would your expertise guess ?
 
I just finished reading 33 pages of this thread. ...Sadly, many of the pics are no longer visible.

The knowledge conveyed in this thread is monumental. ....The attention to minutiae demonstrates the passion of the posters.

Assuming the same pattern was engraved by a named engraver, was there much variation in the quality of his/her work over the years?
 
Assuming the same pattern was engraved by a named engraver, was there much variation in the quality of his/her work over the years?
Very thought-provoking.

Their only requirement was to maintain the workshop standard (no more) and remain an asset to production and the Master(s) of the workshop - while securing, maintaining, and contributing harmonic balance in an ever-changing social dynamic and work environment.
 
Dear Fellow Browning Lovers:

Lately some of you have posted pictures of the engraving of your Superposed shotguns, especially Fugotti, who has shared some beautiful pictures. This inspired me to post a new thread or topic.

I love seeing quality pictures of Browning shotguns and the works of art created by "The Engravers" at Browning/FN in Liege. I spend hours combing the Internet looking for engravings on Browning guns by Funken, Vrancken, Magis, Greco, Bee, Baerten, Dewil, and the others. I thought it would be cool to have a place where we can all go to see pictures of engraved Brownings, and hear about the famous engravers in Belgium that created these works of art for Browning.

Post your pictures. Tell us who your favorite Browning/FN engraver is and why. If you have a Superposed or other Browning gun with engraving by your favorite Engraver, give us a history of the gun, why you like the engraving, and tell us the story how you acquired it. If you don't own one, but have a good story, some photos, or just love to talk about the Engravers and Superposed guns, please share.

I will get it started . . .

Of the engraved Superposed guns, the various pre-1960 "grades" are wonderful. Post 1970s work in several patterns by Baerten, Perfido, Greco, Lallemand and others . . . Pre 60s engraving by Funken, Watrin, and Vrancken . . . wow!

But of all the Browning Superposed engraving patterns, I like the production high-grade patterns (Midas, Diana, Pointer, and Pigeon) produced from about 1960 thru 1967 (when, unfortunately, the Pointer pattern was dropped, and available after that time only as a custom order) the best. Of the production hi-grades of that time period, my favorite is the Diana Grade, followed closely by the Pointer Grade, then the Midas.

This story is about a Diana Grade. As you know, each Diana Grade piece is a work of art, each distinctive from the other. I searched years for a Diana that just reached out and grabbed me. Although I saw stunning Diana Grade works of art by many of the Master Engravers, it was this Diana engraved by Angelo Bee that caught my eye . . . here it is.

Notice the detail and intricacy of Mr. Bee's work . . . the blades of grass, the feathers of the pheasants and ducks, the leaves of the trees, the tucked-in feet on the ducks, the scrollwork, the detail on the long tang and trigger guard, the feather on the grouse on the bottom of the receiver, and so on. The shadowing used by Mr. Bee makes his game scenes come alive. No wonder Mr. Bee is a favorite of many. Take a look:

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Ok. Now it is your turn. Tell us about your favorite engraver. Share a story. Post some pictures.

Let's make this thread a place where we can all go to to see pictures of beautiful engraving on Browning guns by the Master Engravers!

Thanks!!

CFB
BEAUTIFUL SHOTGUN ENGRAVINGS
 
Man there sure is a lot of information here about superposed. I have learned a lot more that I didn't already know about the ones I have and some I would like to keep an eye out for in the future. Thanks to the experts.
 
Discussion starter · #652 ·
D214, thanks for posting pics of your Midas grade.

Not all Midas grades (or other high grades) are signed by the engraver. Just because it isn't signed by the engraver doesn't mean that it isn't a Midas. It seems to have some engraving characteristics of a Midas, but I cannot and will not say whether it is indeed a Midas. A true expert would have to do that.

I suggest that you contact the historian's office at Browning in Morgan, Utah and invest in a Letter of Authenticity for the gun. If the gun was indeed manufactured as a Midas, it will say so in the LOA.

Good luck!

CFB
 
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