An Interesting Gun

M

Michael Leong

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Just bought a gun at auction that is making me wonder where and how it started it's journey to my door. It is Browning single shot, made in the 70's from what the serial numbers indicate (B78 model back then) but what has me stumped is that it is a Marlin 444 caliber. I have owned a few of these, in 30-06 and the 7 Rem Mag, but nothing on the Browning sites indicates they ever put out these in 444. This one came in a Browning factory case, with the Browning quick release sling that only they made, and the gun does not have single mark or scratch on it. The barrel is like new, looks to be Browning original, not a rebore as it is stamped with what looks like their own markings, not something a gunsmith would have added.

If anyone has any information on possible ways this gun came to be I would certainly like to hear your thoughts. A friend who is serious collector and more knowledgeable than I am thinks it may have been a custom order from Browning at their outlet in the US that did this kind of thing?

Thanks,
Mike
 
Does it have any rollmarks or proofs? Is there a caliber marking to indicate it's in .444, and is it stamped, cut, or etched in? I saw your photos on the other site, nice piece.
 
It is stamped with the caliber on the one side along with the Browning patent number, and the other side has the Made in Japan, and Browning Morgan Utah and Montreal Quebec stamped on it. All of that work looks factory. The underside of the receiver has the serial number, and those are the only markings on it.
 
I had one in 45/70 when they first came out.The trigger adjustment should not be played with on the early ones as they can be problematic to get working correctly.I believe they changed this when they were changed over from the B78 to the 1885 model

Someone might of rebarreled it with a barrel off of an 1885 model
 
It certainly looks like original factory stamping. I am trying to contact Browning to see if they still have staff who were around back then, who might know what kind of custom orders were created. Otherwise I guess the origins may be lost due to the passage of time, and the lack of any original sales paperwork that came with this gun. I enjoy collecting single shots, and could not resist this one!
 
Rob
Thanks for that information, I will try Art and see what he says!
I am on the Marlingunowners site in the US where they know a lot about Marlin 444s, but i have yet to get on the Browning site down there, to see if any of those guys would know where this came from. I have an email in to the Browning company in the US as well, but I hear they do not always respond to these requests from their customers or owners of their guns.
Mike
 
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Michael Leong said:
Rob
Thanks for that information, I will try Art and see what he says!
I am on the Marlingunowners site in the US where they know a lot about Marlin 444s, but i have yet to get on the Browning site down there, to see if any of those guys would know where this came from. I have an email in to the Browning company in the US as well, but I hear they do not always respond to these requests from their customers or owners of their guns.
Mike
Click to expand...

Was at the Kamloops Gun Show on Saturday and was eyeing a Combo gun-7x57 over 16 gauge.
Guy watched me looking at it one or three times and produced a provenance from The Blue book of Gun Values...
Might be something to look into, do not know if he paid much for their opinion on the gun.
But, they did cover the vintage , the caliber and scope and provided a value, but of course thye had a disclaimer on the value side of things.
sounds like you have an interesting score there in .444.
Do you have any pics ??
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
I love going to gun shows also. I added some pics here for you. The Browning Customer Service people left me their number so I will call them tomorrow. The value of these guns today is normally $1500 to about $2200, in a regular caliber they made runs of. 20240419_200808.jpg20240419_200825.jpg20240419_200910.jpg
 

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Don't forget that Browning has a custom shop, could have been ordered thru there, probably even from Miroku builds in a min order custom order build for folks like a Lipsey's back in the day, or like Prophet did for the 303's out of Ruger. I have the "Shot Show special edition" Win 1885, in 300H&H, but there is nothing on it saying it was a limited special run of any kind..
 
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