Customer Reviews

Browning Superposed: John M. Browning's Last Legacy

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I enjoyed this book for it's illustrations and written content. I dissagree with the some of the other reviewers comments. The "Salt-Wood" problem was discussed, several paragraphs worth covering it's origin. There is also discussion of the design changes made during the course of production and well as a sidebar on the Simmons/Cordy & Sons barrel conversions. The text does focus alot on the financial dealings of the Browning family and the FN factory, but the Superposed was a commercial venture so the health of the company producing it is relevant. I also enjoyed the lengthy discussion of the engravers with samples of their workmanship. It was ammusing to compare the photos to my '69 Grade I Broadway. The book could have used more engineering drawings of the design. However, I didn't expect this book to be focused on the repair of Superposed shotguns.

I am an admirer of fine firearms and I own three double barrel shotguns; one of which is a Browning Superposed, SN 69172. I bought it used back in 1970 for $288. Wow! Say goodbye to the good old days. When I saw this book, I had to have it. The author went into great depth and detail regarding what has to be one of the finest double barreled shotguns ever made. Nothing is left to chance, from its first years as a production item through to the present, when it ended up becoming a custom made item. Chronological dates are provided concerning production and when they were made. Mine was made in 1959. I was especially impressed with the chapter on the engraving department for the FN Works. The number of engravers employed by the factory was extensive and it is no small wonder the higher grade Brownings are some of the most beautifully engraved guns I have ever seen. This is borne out by the very extensive use of color photographs of the engraving and custom guns found throughout the book. If you are an admirer of fine guns like I am, then you would enjoy sitting down in your favorite chair one evening and reading this book. This is a book to be read again and again and enjoyed. Buy it. It will be money well spent.

As an owner of a Browning Superposed, I was interested in the history of its' design. This book is, in many ways, an excellent overview of this popular over/under which combines American design with Belgian Fabrique Nationale Herstel craftsmanship. I did, however, find the details of Browning's business history excessive, boring and unnecessary; charts, sales figures, etc.. A few pages on this subject would have been more than adequate; I wanted to know about the gun. The color photos are excellent, although, of course, I would have liked more. Paper quality is also excellent. In short, everything is here for the Browning or double enthusiast. Just filter through the boring stuff. If you're interested in the Superposed there's really no alternative to this book. Plus it's reasonably priced for what you get. Hope this review helps anyone considering the purchase of this book.

The book is a good tabletop piece, with some well researched facts about the Superposed history and some excellent color illustrations. If you are buying the book to guide you in the purchase of a Superposed beware! There is no discussion of the salt wood problem that existed from 1966 to 1973. Unless you are excited about statistical data covering models, grades, etc. you will not be pleased with the large percentage of the book dedicated to charts and graphs. You can learn more about the Superposed from other books and articles than is available here. Caveat Emptor!

I am an admirer of fine firearms and I own three double barrel shotguns; one of which is a Browning Superposed, SN 69172. I bought it used back in 1970 for $288. Wow! Say goodbye to the good old days. When I saw this book, I had to have it. The author went into great depth and detail regarding what has to be one of the finest double barreled shotguns ever made. Nothing is left to chance, from its first years as a production item through to the present, when it ended up becoming a custom made item. Chronological dates are provided concerning production and when they were made. Mine was made in 1959. I was especially impressed with the chapter on the engraving department for the FN Works. The number of engravers employed by the factory was extensive and it is no small wonder the higher grade Brownings are some of the most beautifully engraved guns I have ever seen. This is borne out by the very extensive use of color photographs of the engraving and custom guns found throughout the book. If you are an admirer of fine guns like I am, then you would enjoy sitting down in your favorite chair one evening and reading this book. This is a book to be read again and again and enjoyed. Buy it. It will be money well spent.

I own a Browning Superposed trap gun, SN 69172, I bought used back in 1970 for $288. Say goodbye to the good old days. The gun has worked like a champ since then. Consequently, when I saw the book I had to have it. The author went into great detail regarding the history, development, and refinement of what many feel to be one of the finest over and unders ever made. The book is a bargain, as the vast majority of its photographs are in breathtaking color and detail. The engraving done by the factory is absolutely stunning and is enough to make anyone drool out of the corners of their mouth like Pavlov's dog. I would recommend this book for any lover of fine firearms, especially if they are drawn to double barrel shotguns, whether they are side bys or over & unders.

This is the only book on the subject with lots of good information. However, three of the shotguns I investigated were not in the book, descriptions of their features and accesories were not mentioned or illustrated. The prewar section is seriously lacking in detail and accuracy. Graphs take up a whole page and look like page fillers.

This book is still recommended as it has good data but it could have been more complete.

Schwing's "Browning Superposed" is one of the best gun books that I've ever read (and I've read quite a few). Interesting and beautiful, it provides an extraordinary amount of historical and technical detail, along with extensive high-quality photography documenting hundreds of wood and engraving patterns. I was introduced to this book by Angelo Bee, the famed engraver from FN in Belgium, who uses it as a primary reference source. This book helped me to "design" a customized Superposed, and it's also been a much-appreciated gift to a couple of my shooting friends. I wish I'd bought my copy several years ago at the original price, and it's unfortunate that it hasn't been reissued -- but even at today's much-higher secondary market prices (typically $250-300 on Amazon for a hardcover in nice condition), this book is a good investment if you have a serious interest in these classic shotguns. I don't mean to sound like a shill, but it is truly the Bible of the Browning Superposed: if you can afford it, you won't regret it!

This book held great promise for me. But as I read through it, I began to realize how few real facts about the Superposed it actually contained. Oh, there are plenty of sales charts and market projections... photos of beautiful guns, too. But these can only suffice to a point. The collector and aficionado wants to know more than the story of engraving and sales histories. The inside story of the gun is crtical. The steels. The design. The mechanism's function and evolution. And with so much access to the FN records and personnel, actual on-site contact in Liege, and an apparent interview with the late Val Browning, author Schwing managed to reveal very little beyond the empirical. Many of the facts that are contained in the book are also repeated. Some more than twice. It's still a great photo feast, however. And it inspired me to go out and buy two Superposed shotguns. So the book does have a certain value.