Browning 28Ga O/U value or variant information needed

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Frigoman

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I don’t want to infringe on any board rules, I just want to properly establish what this gun is and it’s value before I sell it. It’s a Citori , it has Briley chokes , 26” barrel. I’m not familiar with models/variants. Can someone point me in the direction of reputable source. I searched the web but lots of misinformation out there unfortunately. This gun is great at spanking pheasant’s or grouse but that’s of little value to me presently. Thanks, you can PM me also.

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Edit: Stamping pics
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The Citori is Browning's hunting o/u shotgun. It being in 28 ga. makes it more desirable to some. Are the chokes invector or invector plus? With 26" barrels it might make a nice skeet / upland game gun. If finish is as good as it looks all the way around, 2k shouldn't be a problem achieving. Go on Browning's site & figure out it's date of manufacture. I'm guessing an 80's model.
It's basically Browning's entry level O/U, but there not cheap & are typically of very good quality & construction.
 
Serial #: ###XX which makes it 1979 Grade 1 Hunting according to Browning’s site if I understood their chart correctly. Thanks Dances with Empties!!

These are chokes:

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The Briley Chokes are of very good quality & judging by the choke sizes, it was more of a hunting number than a skeet gun. Which is good as there was probably a lot fewer rounds put through it. With the case & the chokes it might fetch a bit more. Not sure what the present prices of Browning's are, but 3/4ers of new probably would not be a bad place to start if selling & the gun is 90% or better. Considering the accessories...
I believe all new Citori shotguns are manufactured in Japan and are of excellent quality. The Lightening's seem to be more desirable that the Citori but it was higher model at a higher price point.

Again I believe that would make for a real nice upland/ skeet number! Beautiful looking! Congrats!
 
I'm pretty sure with the shotgun of that age, those chokes are invectors. Not sure if they even went to invector plus on the new guns in the smaller gauges?
 
DANCESWITHEMPTIES said:
I'm pretty sure with the shotgun of that age, those chokes are invectors. Not sure if they even went to invector plus on the new guns in the smaller gauges?
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There are no invector plus 28 gauge chokes. And if the gun was made in 1979, it didn't come with factory removable chokes. The S-42 indicates that they are Briley thinwall choke tubes.
 
That’s a original Citori hunter model, all citoris where made in Japan. The Superposed where made in Belgium. Those are Brily thin wall choke tubes, they are after market. Someone had the gun fitted for them as the citori hunters of that vintage did not come with screw in chokes. The lightning model replaced the original citori and that one came standard with screw in chokes. Browning made two frame sizes for there double guns. Large 12ga and small 20ga, 20, 28 and 410 where all built on the 20ga frame size. Basically the 28ga barrels are put on a 20ga frame, 28ga purists don’t usually like this but some do especially clay shooters for the extra weight, thus less recoil. From the pics you posted the gun looks in excellent condition but I think $2000 is a bit high for a vintage base hunter model.
 
fishslinger said:
Basically the 28ga barrels are put on a 20ga frame, 28ga purists don’t usually like this but some do especially clay shooters for the extra weight, thus less recoil
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...I find it comfortable for hunting but way too light for Sporting, although I'm accustomed to 8.5-9 lbs guns

fishslinger said:
From the pics you posted the gun looks in excellent condition
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...yes I think it was forgotten about at the back of a closet for most of its life ;)

Thanks Fishslinger, I think you nailed what this gun is, I also looked up the chokes on Briley's site, holy cow close to 100$Cdn each and there are 5 chokes total.
 
stubblejumper said:
There are no invector plus 28 gauge chokes. And if the gun was made in 1979, it didn't come with factory removable chokes. The S-42 indicates that they are Briley thinwall choke tubes.
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Correct, as good as it gets in chokes. Bore matched, unlike factory Browning chokes. With the exchange rate like it is, a $500 touch. How much value it adds to the gun is up to the buyer.
 
Frigoman said:
...I find it comfortable for hunting but way too light for Sporting, although I'm accustomed to 8.5-9 lbs guns

...yes I think it was forgotten about at the back of a closet for most of its life ;)

Thanks Fishslinger, I think you nailed what this gun is, I also looked up the chokes on Briley's site, holy cow close to 100$Cdn each and there are 5 chokes total.
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Don't get caught up on that they came with the job briley did at the time for about $300 bucks total in the 80's
I sold pretty much the same gun but it was about 8 years ago and no tubes. It sold for $1400 bucks
I would say $1750 it will sell so maybe 2K start as some say

Cheers
 
I have same as OP - Serial number also ends with "RN173" - 1979. Fixed chokes - "*" on top barrel; "**" on lower barrel at chamber end on left side. Easy enough for OP to check there to confirm if originally had fixed chokes. A mid rib sight was installed on mine when I received it - I do not know if that is original or not. Paid $1,430 delivered to me in Dec. 2013 (I checked, not from 3macs1 above!!)
 
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