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LOT 548
Exceptional Master Engraved Angelo Bee and Capece Signed and Gold Inlaid Belgian Browning 20 Gauge Superposed Shotgun - Serial no. 10614, 20 gauge, 26 1/2 inch solid rib bbl., blue/coin finish, walnut stock. This beautiful shotgun features floral scroll engraving on the action with gold inlaid wire bordering. The bottom of the action has a gold inlaid hunting dog with a woodcock in its mount above gold inlaid flowers on rose gold stems. To the right of the trigger is signed “CAPECE”. The sideplates are very nicely engraved with wooded scene with five gold inlaid game birds on each side: grouse on the right, quail on the left. The right sideplate
is signed “A BEE” followed by the small bee, and the left side is signed “A BEE”. The floral scroll pattern extends to the break lever, triggerguard and forearm hardware, all featuring gold inlaid accents and borders. The toplever is engraved as a duck’s head.
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The left rear of the upper barrel is marked with the St. Louis, Mo. address over “SPECIAL STEEL - 20 GA-SHELLS 2 3/4” AND 3”, with the
patent number and “MADE IN BELGIUM” on the opposite side. Single front bead sight on the solid rib, 3 inch chambers with ejectors and choked improved cylinder/modified. Single trigger, manual tang mounted safety with gold “S”, “U” and “O”. Mounted with a finely checkered Presentation Grade three-piece walnut forearm and round knob pistol grip stock with teardrop flats and finely checkered bare butt. Barrel and stock measurements (U/O): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .613/.613 inches; choke constriction .006/.016 inches; minimum wall thickness .042/.043 inches; 1 3/8 inch drop at comb; 1 15/16 inch drop at heel; 15 1/8 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 6 lbs. 9 oz. CONDITION: Exceptional as professionally embellished by Master Engraver Angelo Bee with 99% blue finish remaining on the barrels and 99% coin finish on the remaining parts. All of the gold inlay remains. The wood is excellent with only a few light handling/storage marks and sharp checkering. The engraving is sharp. Toplever does not snap closed, otherwise mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Joe Marlin Hilliard Collection.
Estimate: 15,000 - 25,000