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Question about selling Browning Superposed Diana

sjs
A family member needs to sell a Browning Superposed Diana Broadway Trap. (Is it Trap or Trapp? [:I]) I'm trying to do a bit of research before helping to list it and was hoping people here could recommend what information we need to include and what the approximate value might be. Here's what we know so far:

Browning Superposed Dianna Broadway Trap
12 Ga
Built in 1971
Engraved by J. M. DeBruce
Custom gold plating on the 13 inlays
32" barrels (some reference to 99% ?)
Center & middle bead
Flat Knob

I Hope to go by and take pics soon but I'm told it is in excellent condition.

Are there other facts that we should have before listing it? Any though as to a reasonable asking price.

Thanks!
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • Xracer
    Browning Superposed Diana Grade, 12 ga.:

    90% = $3750
    95% = 4250
    98% = 5000

    There's no premium mentioned for the Diana Grade Broadway Trap.
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  • Rembrandt
    Looks like you have all the necessary information, the Dianna has always been one of my favorites, very deep relief cut engraving...considered by many to be the best looking of the high grades.

    I don't believe the standard "Dianna" came with gold inlays, this may have been a special order gun for the original owner. The fact that you know the name of the engraver makes me think that's the case. Many of the standard engraved models were done by understudies and not signed, the custom order pieces were done by the Master Engravers who put their intials somewhere on the gun. The engraver you mentioned is not J.M. DeBruce but Jean Marie De Brues, whose initials are J.M.D. She is listed as one of the Master Engravers that went to the Leige Armorer's School in Leige Belgium. While not common knowledge, many of the Master Engravers are women. Guns that have the engravers intials are more desirable to collectors than those without.

    Normally a Broadway Trap version will take a 25% price reduction...not as desirable as the field models....but it sounds like you have a custom-special order that would more than make up for that. With the gold inlays, I would put this in the same class as a Midas grade. Just a guess, but I'd think this would bring $7-10,000.
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  • sjs
    Thanks guys!

    I haven't seen it yet but will this afternoon. The description was based on what I was told over the phone and I guessed on the spelling of the engraver's name. After a bit more research I gather that his reference to 99% was overall condition. He is assuming that the gold inlays were done after the original sale because he didn't think it could even be ordered that way, but he really doesn't know for sure. Hopefully there is some original paperwork somewhere. Is it possible to track down the details from the serial number?

    Thanks again!
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  • Rembrandt
    Post a picture if possible....I'd enjoy seeing it.
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  • sjs
    Well, I got an emergency phone call literally as I exited the car at my Uncle's house and had to race back to town. Perhaps next weekend. I'll certainly post the pics when I get them.
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  • nelchris
    Its worth what someone will pay
    If its signed value will be higher then book but I think the gold might take away from value but thats just me
    I love old brownings I have 2
    a 20 superposed lightning and a 12 superposed diana grade both are original
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  • Mballistic
    I collect Brownings. Have to disagree about the signing of the high grade pieces. All but two of my pieces are signed. Some, especially the Olympian Grade rifles are signed by two or three engravers. The engravers that worked on the Pointers, Dianas, Midas' and the high grade bolt and auto load rifles were Master engravers. Journeymen engravers MAY have done some of the borders or minor parts. (Actually this goes for any of the Browning engraved firearms). The only ones of mine not signed are a grade III .22 Auto made in 1957, and a Renaissance Medalist. As far as the gold inlays, ( if in fact real gold and not plated), without any factory letter, a collector would assume that they are not factory. This would detract from the price. This is not to say the gun is undesirable. You really need something such as a letter or the box to determine if it was done by Browning. Another possibility is an upgrade by A. Bee. If the gun was regrayed it is a dead give-away that it was not done at the factory. Just my two cents.
    Jeff
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