BELGIAN BROWNING DIANA GRADE SUPERPOSED 20 GAUGE SHOTGUN, ENGRAVED BY MARECHAL

Circa 1971; during this time frame, Browning used a mixed named-and-number grading scale rather than just numbers, with Diana being a step just below the Midas. Barrels with narrow vent rib with anti-glare matting, front bead replaced by a screw and a white plastic mid bead, both superseded by an added fiber optic front sight. Barrels with "BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q. / MADE IN BELGIUM" on left; "BROWNING SUPERPOSED / SPECIAL STEEL 20GA. SHELLS - 3" BROWNING PATENTS" on right. Choke markings are "**" on upper barrel and "**-" on bottom barrel, indicating Modified and Improved Cylinder. Rounded nose field forearm with point pattern checkering and 2-part Deely release. French grey action engraved in Diana grade with bevy of pheasants on left side, 2 nesting, 2 standing, and 1 descending in a wooded scene, 2 quail in flight on bottom of action, and a group of 4 ducks on right, 2 airborne, 1 on the shore, and 1 on the water; supporting floral scroll and punch dot throughput, with an additional vignette depicting a pair of hares alerting on the trigger guard. Engraving is signed by Marechal on right side of receiver and is excellent, well cut. Single selective inertia driven trigger with iconic Browning gold wash, non-automatic safety. Flat knob short tang stock made of feather crotch walnut with sidepanels and point-and-wave pattern checkering at the grip. Browning hard rubber buttplate. CONDITION: Barrels retain virtually all of their bluing with very minor marks from handling and use; most noticeable where forearm reciprocates along bottom barrel. Engraving is crisp and well defined, with some light handling marks. Stocks are excellent, free of cracks of chips, and showing superficial scratches to finish and light marks from the field. Mechanically fine, ejectors are in time, bore with light frosting. No oxidation at edges typically seen on saltwood guns, silver nitrate test reveals no salt.