doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Browning Historian

Hello:

Does Browning still have a Historian or offer letters?

If so, anyone have a direct contact, email or phone?

Thank you in advance.

Good question.

I just had a conversation with a good friend who has been a Browning collector for over forty years and been involved with the Browning collector's group for most of that time. He has been trying to get a letter on a gun for over four months now & what he's being told is the historian has retired & Browning might not replace him, but apparently, they don't have anybody doing the research or letters at this time. Who knows what the future may hold though.

Sounds like Griffen And Howe. Once Bob Beach retired none of the historically valuable records are available. We all thought G&H would hire someone to share records with us that own interesting firearms but, it was not to be.
I understand that it might not make business sense to hire a person, but why not do what Walt Snyder did and donate the records to Cody Firearms Museum.

No Browning historian to do the research will be a boon for the unscrupulous dealer. The unsuspecting will be easy pickings.....

As an update, Browning Customer Service wrote me back with this:

Give us to the end of April and we will have the Historical letters available again.

So, maybe they hired a new Historian or designated someone as such?

I don't know how the auction houses can sell Midas, Grade 4, and Diana grade Superposed guns when there are so many upgrades out there with no letters. I've seen really good upgrades and I could easily be fooled. My collection of Grade 1s shooters is looking better all the time.

Any collector starting out today needs to spend ten years learning what he is interested in collecting. Too many fakes, too many upgrades and too many semi honest sellers these days. Or buy fast and learn the hard way.