Long story short. My deceased FIL had a 20 ga Superposed when I met my wife in 1971. I was always in awe of it. Dad was meticulous caring for it. About 1973 he sent it back to Browning for a complete restoration He died in 2001 and the gun ended up with my SIL and she gave it to her dog trainer in Ohio as payment for training services She knew we were all angry since she did this and FINALLY the gun showed up at an FFL and my son was contacted for a package pick up. No one knew what the package was until it was picked up as it was marked secret gift. I printed out the Superposed "Date you shotgun" info from Browning but am still confused. The serial # is XX107 V3 Can anyone offer up some help? Thank you.

Browning numbers are more than a little confusing. I pulled my hair out too when I dated mine. After looking at the Browning chart, I wish you had blocked out the final numbers and not the first two. Also, are you sure it's "V3" and not "3V"? by their chart a 3V would mean 1963 vintage. Perhaps the order of placing the number with the V wasn't ironclad?

I am "almost" certain it is V3. I will double check when I get home. I just bought Ned Schwing's book to attempt to garner some understanding.

Wanted a long tang, round knob, 20 ga Super all my life, all ways seemed more than I could afford to pay.. LBK you're all lucky as hell to get it back. I'd probably have given the SIL to the Taliban. MB

Magnum_Bob. SIL is an idiot. Literally 70 years old and living in her truck. Rightfully it should have gone to mt BIL but there's jealousy among the siblings because he's the youngest and is executor of the will. We ALL thought it was gone forever. I actually trembled when my son took it out of the box. I KNOW I am lucky I know this isn't a very good picture but it's the best I can do for now.

Picture is fine, anyone can see it was mint and even if it wasn't, it is part of your family heritage. Fine jewelry, art , good liquor, beautiful women and any other thing one can dare to compare, that Browning Super 20 is one of the most elegant and useful things one could ever poesess if your a wing shooter and call yourself a shotgun man.You all better go buy some Powerball tickets your luck is rolling high. MB

Ditto. I lusted after a 20 gauge Superposed forever, but had to make do with a 12. You are a fortunate guy, LBK!

You can't measure this experience in dollars and cents, but the money that exchanged hands went to help two very special people and the gun is back in the family. As I say, Dad died in 2001. Before that he gave us a Ruger 77 in .257 Rbts, a Sako Vixen heavy barrel .222 Rem Mag, and his Ithaca SKB 20 ga. A year or 2 ago I was able to acquire his Ruger #1S in 45-70 with a red pad and 130 prefix. I AM a lucky man and I know it.

Gnoahh, that's me too .I've had a Broadway that I never should have let get away, a Magnum field, a field model and right now I have a long tang #99,xxx Lightning Trap 30" choked f/im and that one ain't getting away. Owning a Superposed makes a guy feel rich even when he don't have much money. MB

LBK I don't follow the V3 either. Those 5 numbers follow by S3 yes V3? I'll check again. Supers were number 1 -99,999 late November of 62 then they started over with a S1 after the number.MB

The V indicates it is a 20 gauge and the 3 is 1963 which is what I led myself to believe from what little I have to read and subsequently what I have been told. Trust me, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would EVER own a superposed 20 ga, let alone THIS one. My book by Schwing will be here tomorrow.

Ned says on page 481 that 1963 range was 25677V2-29057V3 and in 1964 the range was 29058V3-32054V4 so some where from 63-64. I only drink good wine while reading and looking at Ned Schwing's Superposed book. Lucky you. MB

When I get home, I'll take a picture of the actual number as it appears under the lever and you see what you think. BTW thanks for the interest.

I sent you a PM.

Hope this link is helpful:
http://www.nramuseum.org/media/940941/serialization-date%20of%20manufacture.pdf

Or you can go straight to the source....Invoice number, price, date sold and to whom....

https://www.browning.com/support/frequently-asked-questions/firearm-historical-information.html

Most excellent !!!

I will have to run the number of my 20 gauge Lightning past them. It's a 1963, I believe. But the additional info would be so nice to have.

I'd start out with candy and flowers.

Thanks EVERYONE for the information.

That's a GREAT Superposed!!!




I inherited my dad's 20ga Superposed and let my grandson use it for his first bird shot on the wing eight years ago. I was with my dad at The Sportsman in Reno NV in 1957 when he bought it new for $235.00. It's a bit unusual, as it has a solid matted rib. It's not nearly as clean as yours and shows decades of use.

You have something very special.

SO DO YOU, sir. I have a gun that my FIL showed me at our first meeting. He was a VERY particular man and he KNEW I was in the process of a divorce i 1971, yet he never questioned me. YOU otoh, have a picture and a memory that will be with you the rest of your life. We were married 7 years before my wife gave me my son. He took to hunting and fishing like a duck takes to water. I am so proud to finally have Dad's gun that has literally been lost for years, But WE are proud to have our sons. Thanks for your post.

Great book.

Another resource is shotgunworld.com blog. Lots of great folks and advanced knowledge.

Check it out. Go to “I love my...”. and “Browning”.

DF

Thank you DF

Lbk sorry about the long getting back to you... Looks like 1964. Hope you get lots of action with that this fall. MB