I saw this on Gunbroker and put in a small bid. Someone had already bid $100 so I couldn’t use my normal starting bid of $30.06. $223 didn’t meet the reserve, but $556 did. That was as high as I was willing to go. It looked like it was used pretty hard, but being a rare gun I thought it would go for much more. But it was mine for $490.
Getting it apart was the first challenge. There’s no punch hole in the receiver or notch in the ejection port. I decided to remove the cartridge stop. That worked but with no notch I needed my thinnest punch to get the pin out. Everything else was routine. I couldn’t find my bottle of Simple Green so after taking it apart I sprayed the receiver with Goo Gone and rinsed it with the garden hose. Then I sprayed it again and rinsed with hot water. I dried it with compressed air and shot it with aviation lubricant/protectant. I did the same with the parts, which were just filthy, except instead of rinsing I threw them into a coffee can full of water boiling on the grill. I don’t have the patience I used to. This was quick, and it worked. Some of the parts had some surface rust, but 0000 steel wool fixed that. Reassembly was a PITA. Getting the pin back in through the cartridge stop hole was easier than getting it out. But the bolt didn’t slide easily on it rails. I hadn’t dropped it or anything, but I wondered if I had somehow bent the receiver. It turns out that without the trigger plate in place, the aluminum receiver has a little spring to it. Once the plate was installed, everything worked easy. I hate trigger plate mounted carrier springs! Sliding the plate just a little too far back trying to line up the holes and the spring slips off the carrier. Twelfth time was a charm, however.
It probably would. But I doubt that I’ll be keeping it. It’s a little short for me, and it has a full choke. I’ll shoot it tomorrow and see.
1972. According to S/V, that was the year they solved the flaking finish and cracking stock problems.
The 20 should be easy. A Browning import will have a one or two digit date code. And a World Market gun will have the date in small font before the serial number.
Anyone else notice something really special about this gun? A straight stock on a Super Lightweight?!
It’s the gun in this thread http://browningowners.com/forum/index.php?threads/20-gauge-super-lightweight.11273/
Congrats on that new toy! I watched it but not knowing much about it I did just that, watch. I had a similar problem after stripping and cleaning my 1929. Couldn't get the carrier to slide nice until the trigger assembily was reinstalled. Thanks for sharing.
That is a nice surprise. Congratulations, I really love and prefer the English stock. Was the stock shortened? I wonder what kind of "coating " is on the receiver. I am hoping to make a thread on mine next week which is double barrel set and interestingly, I have a third barrel that is similar to my set.
I remember now, the mystery we couldn’t figure out a year ago. I’d forgotten that you had a Super Lightweight Twenty. If you ever figure it out, let us know.
I’m not sure if it was shortened, it’s just that I saw a lot of rib when I shouldered it. I’ll compare it to some other guns later today. But last night I used it for gun mount exercises and it seemed to line up OK. So maybe it’s just me. I like the looks of the English stock also, but I understand that their best use is on doubles with two triggers. I detest the square knob stock on an Auto-5, unreasonably since many of my other shotguns have them and I’m fine with it. But until now I had no A5 from the 1970’s because of their square knobs. Which this gun from 1972 doesn’t have. The receiver has a “crinkle” finish of some sort. It reminds me of the paint old airplanes had on their instrument panels. S/V said they were having trouble with it flaking off until 1972. Mine looks like it was worn off in places by hard use rather than flaked. I even considered painting it, but changed my mind after I rubbed a little oil on it. Tonight is Skeet Night, and I plan to lose big time by shooting it with its full choke. I’m hoping that the 30” barrel helps. I’m looking forward to comparing my Lightweight to yours, Biz.
