Lot 164

Winston Churchill Engraved Belgian Browning Superposed Shotgun

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Winston Churchill Engraved Belgian Browning Superposed Shotgun

Estimate: $45,000 - $60,000

Starting Bid: $40,000

(0 Bids)

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

Stunning Well-Documented Winston Churchill Signed and Photo-Realistic Game Scene Master Engraved Belgian Browning Superposed Superlight Shotgun with Case The iconic Browning Superposed was the last firearm designed by famed American arms designer John Moses Browning and spent the majority of the 20th century as one of the world's premier shotguns for both hunting and target use. To this day, many swear by the Superposed, and it still maintains a strong and dedicated following from the uplands to the trap fields. The Superposed is a robust design but is also well-known for being a thing of beauty. The factory Pointer, Diana, and Midas grade guns are highly sought after by collector's, and the Superposed has served as a fantastic canvas for the likes of Angelo Bee, Walter Kolouch, and, in the case of this 1973 production gun, world renowned American Master Engraver Winston Churchill, to grace with their boundless talents. This exceptional gun is pictured on page 35 of Roger Bleile's book "American Engravers" in the chapter discussing Churchill, where he states "Fine detail is Mr. Churchill's specialty. He does only museum quality, ‘best grade’ work, executed in several styles", a sentiment we here at Rock Island Auction Company certainly agree with! The gun was built with blued Special Steel barrels featuring a single white bead sight on the matted solid rib, hand cut markings, dual gold inlaid bands at the breech, chokes marked full/full, and chambers marked 3 inches with automatic ejectors. The barrels are fitted to the French grey finished action with added sideplates increasing the embellishment surface showing relief vine engraving at the fence and on the barrel wings as well as beautifully executed traditional tight scroll engraving surrounding floral sprays on the pivot pin and four photo-realistic game scenes before continuing onto the trigger guard, toplever, and both tangs. The game scenes consist of a pair of setters pointing woodcocks flushing from cover on the left, a pair of spaniels flushing two grouse on the right, a spaniel with a downed grouse on the underside, and a flushing pheasant cock on the trigger guard all rendered in magnificent detail. Mr. Churchill signed his work "W. CHURCHILL ENGR." on the triggerplate to the right of the triggers. The gun features double triggers, a pierced floral toplever, and a tang mounted manual safety with a gold inlaid "S" indicator. The gun is fitted with a stunning highly figured and beaded bordered multi-point checkered three-piece semi-Schnabel forend with engraved French grey iron and release as well as a straight grip long tang semi-perch belly stock with a Browning buttplate. Includes a Browning Airways Naugahyde takedown case. Barrel and stock measurements (U/O): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .725/.726 inches; choke constriction .037/.038 inches; minimum wall thickness .031/.029 inches; 1 7/16 inch drop at comb; 1 3/8 inch drop at heel; 2 1/4 inch length of pull; weight 7 lbs. 15 oz.

Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale

Model: Superposed

BBL: 30 inch solid rib

Stock: walnut

Gauge: 12

Finish: blue/French grey/gold

Serial Number19325S73

Class: Curio & Relic Long Gun

  • Provenance: The Robert M. Lee Collection
  • Condition: Exceptionally fine overall as embellished by Master Engraver Winston Churchill. The gun retains 99% blue and French grey finishes with minor handling evidence, 99% gold inlay at the breech, some dried grease on the action, and sharp checkering on the stock and forend. Mechanically excellent. The case is very fine. This is a fantastic opportunity to own a classic Superposed engraved by a legendary American master engraver!

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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