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LOT 1494
Factory Claude Baerten Signed and Engraved Belgian Browning
20 Gauge Diana Grade Superposed Shotgun with Box and Case
- Serial no. 6523V7, 20 gauge, 26 3/8 inch vent rib bbl., blue/French
grey finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1967. Built with blued steel
barrels with steel bead sight on the vent rib barrels with standard markings, 3 inch
chambers with automatic ejectors, chokes marked improved cylinder/modified.
The receiver is an attractive French gray featuring full coverage Midas grade engraving of ducks on the right,
pheasants on the left, quail on the underside, and a pair of rabbits on the trigger guard. The birds and rabbits are
rendered in fine detail with flowing foliate scroll borders. Both sides show the “C.BAERTEN” signature of famed FN
engraver Claude Baerten. Mounted in a beautifully multi-point checkered walnut forearm with engraved fittings
and pistol grip stock with Browning buttplate. Includes box renumbered to gun and a Browning takedown case.
Barrel and stock measurements (U/O): bore nine inches from the breech .628/.626 inches; choke constriction
.005/.008 inches; minimum wall thickness .042/.038 inches; 1 3/8 inch drop at the comb; 2 1/4 inch drop at the
heel; 14 1/4 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs. 2 oz.
CONDITION: Excellent, retaining 99% plus original blue and 97% plus original French grey finish with a few minor
handling marks, forend retraction marks on the bottom barrel, discoloration on the forend metal and triggerguard
tang, and crisp engraving. Wood is excellent as well with limited handling marks and crisp checkering. Mechanically
excellent. Box is good. Case is excellent.
Estimate: 5,000 - 8,000
LOT 1493
Factory Master Jose Baerten Signed, Engraved, and Gold Inlaid
Belgian Browning
28 Gauge P-2 Grade
Superposed Shotgun with
Case - Serial no. P73RR1566,
28 gauge, 26 3/8 inch vent
rib bbl., blue/gold finish,
walnut stock. Manufactured
in 1977 and built with
blued Special Steel barrels featuring a single nickel bead sight on the matted vent
rib, floral scroll engraving on the wings, chokes marked “**-”/”**” (improved cylinder/
modified), and 2 3/4 inch chambers with automatic ejectors. The barrels are fitted to the blued boxlock action
which displays highly attractive near full coverage floral scroll engraving surrounding a trio of gold inlaid game scenes before flowing onto the toplever, both tangs, and
the triggerguard. The game scenes consist of a pair of Canada geese in flight on the left, a mallard in flight on the underside, and mallard flushing past a pointer on the
right, all rendered in fine detail. The engraving is signed “J.BAERTEN” for the highly regarded FN Master Engraver Jose Baerten. The gun features a single gold trigger and a
tang mounted safety/selector with gold inlaid “S”, “O”, and “U” indicators. The gun is fitted with a gorgeous highly figured and multi-point checkered forend with engraved
fittings and a pistol grip stock with factory buttplate. Included is a factory Naugahyde takedown case and a pair of nickel snap caps. Barrel and stock measurements (U/O): bore diameter nine inches
from the breech .546/.546 inches; choke constriction .007/.010 inches; 1 3/8 inch drop at comb; 2 3/16 inch drop at heel; 14 7/16 inch length of pull; weight 6 lbs. 6 oz.
CONDITION: Excellent overall, retaining 99% original blue and gold finishes with minor handling evidence, small varnish chip at the right rear of the forend, and sharp checkering on the stock and
forend. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine.
Estimate: 9,500 - 14,000