Lot 165

Bee and Capece Engraved Browning 20 Gauge Superposed Shotgun

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Bee and Capece Engraved Browning 20 Gauge Superposed Shotgun

Estimate: $12,000 - $18,000

Starting Bid: $10,000

(0 Bids)

by Rock Island Auction Company
June 27, 2026 5:00 PM CDT
Live Auction
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, TX, US 76021

Wonderful Angelo Bee and Rocco Capece Signed, Engraved, and Gold Inlaid Belgian Browning 20 Gauge Superposed Shotgun Designed by one of the finest arms developers of all time: American John Moses Browning, the Superposed is a quintessentially American gun and was one of the 20th century’s most prolific sporting shotguns and remains immensely popular to this day. This exceptional example was manufactured in 1957 and was subsequently masterfully embellished by Rocco Capece and Angelo Bee who would go on to be one of the most highly regarded master engravers of the 20th century. Capece has signed the gun on triggerplate, and Bee signed his work "A.BEE" on both lockplates with the addition of his trademark bumblebee to the signature on the right lockplate. Angelo Bee truly lived the American dream, moving to the United States from Belgium in 1975 and quickly establishing himself as one of the top engravers in the country, gaining an ardent following by many in the world of engraving. His skills as an engraver landed him work both independently and under contract for another of America's stand-out names in the world of high end guns: Frank Pachmayr, proving that through hard work, America is the land of opportunity. Today, engraved guns bearing Angelo Bee's signature are highly sought after by collectors for their exceptional quality and the deep connection to one of the finest master engravers to ever call our great nation home. The gun has blued Special Steel barrels featuring a single bead sight on the matted flat solid rib, standard factory markings, engraving at the breech and on the barrel wings, chokes marked "**-"/"**" (improved cylinder/modified), and 3 inch chambers with automatic ejectors. The barrels are fitted to the re-contoured French grey finished sideplated action which displays extensive scroll engraving surrounding a trio of beautifully executed semi-relief gold inlaid game scenes and encompassed by gold inlaid borders. The game scenes depict a covey of five flushing quail in a forested scene on the left, a pair of grouse cocks displaying for a trio of hens in a forested scene on the right, a drake mallard bust on the toplever, and a spaniel with a shot woodcock on the underside, all in lovely detail. The gun features a single trigger and a tang mounted manual safety/selector with gold inlaid "S", "O", and "U" indicators. The gun is fitted with a stunningly well-figured and multi-point checkered three-piece Schnabel forend with engraved and gold inlaid French greyed iron as well as a long tang round pistol grip stock with sculpted drop points and a skip-line checkered butt. Barrel and stock measurements (U/O): bore diameter nine inches from the breech both measured .612 inches; choke constriction .007/.018 inches; minimum wall thickness .040/.040 inches; 1 5/16 inch drop at comb; 1 15/16 inch drop at heel; 15 1/8 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs. 9 oz.

Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale

Model: Superposed

BBL: 26 1/2 inch solid rib

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 20

Finish: blue/French grey/gold

Serial Number10614

Class: Curio & Relic Long Gun

  • Provenance: The Collection of Jim Box
  • Condition: Exceptionally fine overall, retaining 99% blue, French grey, and gold finishes with minor handling evidence, a few tiny dings at the lower muzzle, a few slight spots of discoloration on the side of the rib, and sharp checkering on the stock and forend. Mechanically excellent.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000