Collectors Guns

The Home Page has an alphabetical list of all guns in stock, and notes which guns have been sold.

You never see a Brink's truck following the hearse in a funeral procession.

HA908 Browning Superposed (Belgium) Lightning Trap, O/U, 12 Ga. 2 3/4", 30" M/F Bbls., (Used 98%), $1,595

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This Browning Superposed Lightning Trap was made in 1972 and is in excellent (98%) condition. The Blue Book says about this short period of Superposed production (between 1971 and 1973 when production switched to Miroku in Japan) "During 1970-71, the stock configuration was once again changed to a full pistol grip (referred to as flat knob), and the long tang was brought back. Also at this time, mechanical triggers were implemented vs. the older inertial design, and silver solder vent. ribs vs. tin solder. As a result, this period of Superposed manufacture was mechanically better and more reliable." This gun has a Trap configuration, a high stock with almost no drop from the front to back of the comb, a beavertail forearm for better recoil control, and fixed chokes with Full (.38") and Modified (.19") constrictions. The bluing is in excellent condition, there are a few tiny chips in finish of the (possibly refinished) stock. There are small 3/8" long cracks in the wood of the stock on the sides just above the trigger at the place where the bottom point of the receiver meets the wood. The original butt plate has been replaced professionally with a Pachmayer "Old English" pad, giving a Length of Pull of just under 14" (13 15/16"). The LOP could be increased by installing a thicker pad. All together this is an excellent choice for trap shooting, or for hunting as it weighs only 7 pounds 13 ounces.

HA882 Browning Citori GTS (Game-Target-Shotgun) High Grade (Elite or Grade 5) O/U, 12 Ga., 2 3/4" & 3" 28"MC Bbls., NIC, $3495

For a full page of photographs and a detailed description click the photo above or click here.

Browning Says: Description: Receiver - Steel • Silver nitride finish • Gold engraving of a game bird transforming into a clay target. Barrel - Ventilated 10mm rib • Solid side rib. Action - Single selective trigger • Hammer ejectors • Top-tang barrel selector/safety • 3" chamber is ideal for field and range. Stock - Oil finish Grade II/III walnut • Pistol grip stock • Schnabel forearm. Features - Five Invector-Plus™ choke tubes • Triple Trigger™ System • Ivory front and mid-bead sights • ABS case included.

Hero's Arms Says: This shotgun is variously called by Browning: "High Grade" in advertisements; "Grade 5" on the box; and "Elite" in gold on the receiver. It is not called "Golden Clays" though everything else with this engraving pattern is called "Golden Clays". Go figure. It has some of the most spectacular wood I've seen, far better than the Grade II/III advertised. At 8 pounds 4 0unces you are not likely to be bothered by the recoil from anything you shoot through it. The adjustable trigger gives 3/8" adjustment to the 14 15/16" Length of Pull. I'm not sure I'd want to carry this around all day for upland hunting, but for hunting from a blind, skeet, sporting clays or trap it would be hard to beat. The Invector Plus choke tubes come in Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Improved Cylinder, and Skeet constrictions. It does not have a palm swell so it is equally usable by left and right handed shooters. Mostly your friends will say, "Isn't that a beauty".

HA880 Franchi I-12 Limited Inertia-Semi-Auto, 12 Ga. 2 3/4" & 3", 28"MC Bbl., ANIC, $1,295

For a full page of photographs and a detailed description click the photo above or click here.

Franchi Says: The Franchi I-12 Limited effortlessly combines art and function. The upland field gun has a satin-nickel receiver, strikingly accented with inlaid gold game birds. The metalwork is complemented by a stock cut from AA-grade walnut that has been hand rubbed for a traditional oil finish. Cut-checkering on the pistol grip and fore-end create an attractive and positive gripping surface. The I-12 Limited is slender and perfectly balanced, and, like all Franchi shotguns, it is lightweight, at close to 7-1/2 pounds. It tames recoil with the Twin Shock Absorber™ (TSA) system, a two-part recoil pad with a special gel insert. The pad soaks up recoil energy and spreads the kick over the widest area possible. With TSA, felt recoil is reduced by as much as 44 percent.

Hero's Arms Says: This gun was purchased directly from Franchi, and was supposed to be used, but it didn't seem to have ever been unwrapped, so I'm selling it "As-New-In-Case" for a reduced price. It still has the warranty card and manual. The wood is very nice, Franchi calls it AA in some places and AAA in others. This gun weighs 7 pounds 2.5 ounces and has a 14 1/4" Length Of Pull, but with a replacement TSA pad (which I have in stock) the LOP can be 14 1/2" or 14 3/4". The nickel alloy receive with white gold birds is quite striking. All together this Benelli-Style Inertial action is easy to keep clean and quite reliable.

Custom Length of Pull for Franchi Shotguns with TSA pads purchased from Hero's Arms. The standard length of pull for Franchi O/U shotguns with TSA Pads is 14 1/2" (Some Semi-Autos are 14 1/4") If you would like to have your gun come with a 14 3/4" or 15" LOP (14 1/2" or 14 3/4" for Semi-Autos with 14 1/4") Hero's Arms will install the appropriate pad for $30 (just the cost of the pad) and will include the original 14 1/2" pad in the box or case so the gun can be returned to original dimensions if desired..

HA876 Browning Citori GTS (Game-Target-Shotgun) High Grade (Elite or Grade 5) O/U, 12 Ga., 2 3/4" & 3" 30"MC Bbls., NIC, $3495

For a full page of photographs and a detailed description click the photo above or click here.

Hero's Arms Says: This shotgun is variously called by Browning: "High Grade" in advertisements; "Grade 5" on the box; and "Elite" in gold on the receiver. It is not called "Golden Clays" though everything else with this engraving pattern is called "Golden Clays". Go figure. It has some of the most spectacular wood I've seen, far better than the Grade II/III advertised, the stock looks like it is on fire. At 8 pounds 6.5 0unces you are not likely to be bothered by the recoil from anything you shoot through it. The adjustable trigger gives 3/8" adjustment to the 14 15/16" Length of Pull. I'm not sure I'd want to carry this around all day for upland hunting, but for hunting from a blind, skeet, sporting clays or trap it would be hard to beat. The Invector Plus choke tubes come in Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Improved Cylinder, and Skeet constrictions. It does not have a palm swell so it is equally usable by left and right handed shooters. Mostly your friends will say, "Wow, look at that wood".

HA874 Browning Citori Ultra XS Prestige, Adjustable Comb, O/U, 12 Ga., 2 3/4", 32"MC Ported Bbls, NIC, $3,495

For a full page of photographs and a detailed description click the photo above or click here.

Browning Says: Description: Receiver - Steel • Silver nitride finish • Gold accented, high-relief Ultra XS Special engraving. Barrel - Lightweight profile • Ventilated top and side ribs • Tapered, floating low-post top rib • Ported. Action - Single selective trigger • Hammer ejectors • Top-tang barrel selector/safety. Stock - Gloss oil finish walnut stock with right-hand palm swell • Adjustable comb • Schnabel forearm • Ideal for skeet and sporting clays. Features - Five Invector-Plus™ Midas™ Grade choke tubes • Triple Trigger™ System • HiViz® Pro-Comp fiber-optic sight • Elite ABS. Fitted case included

Hero's Arms Says: This is the top of the Browning sporting line. It has all of the features, combined with a unique gold accented engraving style and a fitted case. It is a gun that can be used for Skeet, Sporting Clays or Trap, by a right or left hander, or for part of a collection. At 8 pounds 9 ounces it will soak up recoil for hundreds of rounds a day. The five included Invector Plus Midas Grade choke tubes in Full, Improved Modified, Modified, Improved Cylinder, and Skeet constrictions will cover any situation.

HA865 Browning (Belgium) Superposed B-26 Liege Compact Adult/Youth 12 Ga., 2 3/4", 26.5"M/IC (Used 99%+) $995

For a full page of photographs and a detailed description click the photo above or click here.

This Belgium made Browning Superposed Liege B-26 is in almost perfect condition. There are essentially no handling marks on the wood, the bluing is unworn even on sharp edges, the only indication it has ever been used is that the bluing under the safety/firing order selector button is worn. It was either made on special order as a gun for a compact adult/youth or was very professionally shortened to a 13 3/8" Length of Pull. Its barrels are 700 mm long or 26 3/8" which is referred to as a nominal 26.5" length. While most Liege Superposed shotguns have a non-selective trigger, this early one from 1973 has a selective mechanical trigger (the second barrel will go off even if the first one had a dud). The only visible difference between the Liege and earlier Superposed models is that the forearm latch is a knurled knob rather than a two part mechanism, and the forearm comes off like most shotguns rather than being affixed as with other Superposeds. The barrels' interior diameter is .725" and the fixed chokes have constrictions of Modified (.20") and SK2 or Improved Cylinder (.12"). It weighs only seven pounds so would make an ideal upland hunting gun. Its condition would make it very collectable.

HA744 Browning Superposed (Belgium) Superlight Grade 1, English Stock O/U 12. Ga., 2 3/4", 26 3/8" IC/M (Used 99%) Cased, $3,450

For a full page of photographs and a detailed description click the photo above or click here.

This Browning Superposed Superlight Grade 1 was made in Belgium in the first full year of production, 1968. It does not have salt-wood. It is in original, untouched, condition with a 14 1/4" Length of pull over the original Browning butt plate. The wood and metal are in excellent condition with only the most minor wear and handling marks - the bluing is worn away on the straight tang behind the trigger guard (as can be seen in the photo of the Bottom of the Stock) from being carried, otherwise bluing wear is only on sharp corners. The receiver has A1-Scroll Border Engraving, and it has the slender superlight forearm. It has a solid, tapered, rib with front and mid bead sights. This is an excellent, light, upland hunting gun in excellent condition. It comes in a new leather case, with Browning label, with a three part rosewood and brass cleaning rod, bronze and fiber brushes, a mop, and a cleaning jag. It has a square nickel plated oil can and nickel plated snap caps. This is a collectors item.

HA616 Franchi Fenice (World Class) Semi-Auto, 20 Ga., 2 3/4", 28"MC Bbl, NIC, $1399

For a full page of photographs and a detailed description click the photo above or click here.

The 20 Gauge Franchi Fenice is part of the Benelli World Class collection. With exceptional wood and outstanding engraving it is truly spectacular. It is semi-automatic, holds 4 2 3/4" shells in the magazine and one in the chamber, and operates on the "Long Recoil" system invented by Browning where the entire barrel recoils, reducing the felt recoil for the shooter. The stock has no cast, making it suitable for both left and right handed shooters. It comes with 5 choke tubes (F/IM/M/IC/C), oil and a cleaning kit in the case. With a 28" barrel and only 5 pounds 13.5 ounces it is light enough to carry for a day in the field, but not too light for a few rounds of skeet. It comes with a five year factory warranty, with priority service. Altogether an elegant gun for collection, hunting or skeet.

HA535 Smith and Wesson Elite Gold English Stock SxS, 20 Ga. 3", 26" IC/Mod Bbls, NIB $2095

For a full page of photographs and a detailed description click the photo above or click here.

The Smith & Wesson Gold Elite Side-by-Side shotgun is produced in S&W's own plant in Turkey. It has a round action in a true bone charcoal case hardened receiver, Its English stock has a 14 3/4" Length of Pull over a checkered wood butt on its AAA Grade Turkish Walnut stock. Its 20 Gauge 26" side by side barrels are chambered for 2 3/4" and 3" shells, and feature fixed chokes in Improved Cylinder (.09" constriction) and Modified (.13" constriction). The trigger is a mechanical single, non-selective type, which fires the right, more open, barrel first, then the left, tighter barrel. The gun weighs 6 pounds 7.5 ounces, and points beautifully. It is exceptionally well finished with hand cut checkering and engraving. The gun comes with Smith & Wesson's "Heirloom Warranty" which guarantees it for the life of the original purchaser and his or her designated heir. A very traditional, and very elegant, shotgun.

For a full page of photographs and a detailed description click the photo above or click here.

The Smith & Wesson Gold Elite Side-by-Side shotgun is produced in S&W's own plant in Turkey. It has a round action in a true bone charcoal case hardened receiver, It has a 14 3/4" Length of Pull over a checkered wood butt on its AAA Grade Turkish Walnut stock. Its 20 Gauge 28" side by side barrels are chambered for 2 3/4" and 3" shells, and feature fixed chokes in Improved Cylinder (.08" constriction) and Modified (.15" constriction). The trigger is a mechanical single, non-selective type, which fires the right, more open, barrel first, then the left, tighter barrel. The gun weighs 6 pounds 8.5 ounces, and points beautifully. It is exceptionally well finished with hand cut checkering and engraving. The gun comes with Smith & Wesson's "Heirloom Warranty" which guarantees it for the life of the original purchaser and his or her designated heir. A very traditional, and very elegant, shotgun.

Although I no longer have a Clabrough shotgun for sale there have been requests for the circa. 1915 Clabrough & Johnstone Catalogue, so here it is. To download it in Adobe PDF format click on the cover.

Hero's Arms recently visited the newly opened Frazier Historical Arms Museum, in Louisville, Kentucky. It offers spectacular collections of armor in the British Royal Armouries Gallery, important guns from the American West, and an outstanding collection of presentation firearms. Worth a trip to Louisville. Check it out at: