I am contemplating buying a Midas Superposed with a Broadway rib. Does anyone know of anyone who can "shrink" it? I don't know if Browning would do it or not, but my luck with Browning shop work has not been all that good over the years.

Not a trivial project, but Art's or Midwest can do this if you're determined.

I don't think there's a better value in high grade guns than pre-66 graded SP.

You do realize that you stand a chance of greatly degrading the value of that gun by cutting on it, right? Especially in a Midas Grade. I'd leave it as is and get over the mental block, but it's not my money. I just hate to see a beauty like that butchered, regardless of who does the work.

If you are determined, please don't send it to Browning. They are fully capable of mucking it up in a big way. There are people out there that do rib work for a living and they're good at it. Cole's might be a good place to start looking. Briley is fully capable I'm sure. I'd say you're probably looking at stripping and replacing the rib. There may be a way, however, to cut the current rib down. But I imagine it's gonna have to be removed to do anything to it.

Good luck with whatever you decide. Personally I'd think long and hard about cutting on that Midas.

David

Me too! This is a really...really...bad idea

I might have suggested Duane Wiebe for this project, but it appears that he is opposed to this operation.

10-4 Duane.

David

If the job to desolder the 5/8" rib, polish the barrels, resolder the mid ribs and new 1/4" rib, and high polish rust blue the barrels doesn't bother Gato, I'm all for it. That's $1500-$2500 for an 1/8th of an inch. Call Art Issacson and get an estimate.

The B'ways are the LEAST desired of the SP's, and usually priced accordingly.
That's why I've got one, and I wish it had a stan rib...but not that big a wish.

What everyone said already.
I would run from the thought of shrinking a Broadway rib.
I had one many years ago, a Browning Broadway Trap gun.
If you want a rib more narrow than a Broadway, buy a Browning with a narrow rib.

The gun is already priced several thousand dollars BELOW other similar Midas Brownings with normal ribs.

I appreciate all the advice but some of you guys seem to think a Midas is some kind of shrine. It is simply a decent O/U with a somewhat antiquated engraving style on it that I've wanted one of since it was featured on the cover of the little pamphlet Browning catalog back in the 60s. If I'm going to buy one to shoot then I'm damn sure going to modify it to suit my shooting preferences, which would include cutting the stock, possibly choke tubes, or anything else I wanted to do to it. Last time I checked it would be my gun and is my money and my financial loss that I will take due to any modifications. The point is, if you're going to use one, which decreases the value anyway, then why not get one that is less valuable to start with and change it to work for you? The real question was would the modification cost more than the difference in price? The answer appears to be no, it would not. I'm going to try to go look at the gun and will decide when I have it in hand. I've passed on numerous Midas' over the years because quite a few of them have engraving on them that I would think a first year student could do better. Only a few of the Browning engravers over the years have done a job that is acceptable to my eye. I've got several shotguns that cost multiples of a Midas but I don't have a Midas and I'm going to scratch that itch if I live long enough.

PS: Don't get me wrong, I fully understand collector's value and the costs of modifying such guns, which is exactly why I'm not planning on buying a NIB Midas which would be closer to what I want, collecting is one thing, shooting is something else.......OTOH Broadway 12 ga Midas' are at the bottom of the collector desirability and values for Midas' and almost certainly will be for much longer than I'll be alive. So buying a used one of that model, and modifying it to suit my shooting purposes makes sense to me. If that doesn't make sense to you, then by all means buy something that suits your purposes and do with it what you want or simply keep it in the closet. If I could find a standard rib Midas with the other features that I want, barrel length, etc that had already been modified with the attendant loss in value that would suit me perfectly, but so far I haven't run into one of those where the asking price reflects the loss of collector's value. The same logic on a somewhat lesser scale can be applied to ALL of those gunsmiths who modify the sainted pre-64 model 70s. Oh, the shame of it all......

Gato,
Right on.

If you need the link.

http://www.artsgunshop.com/

Ease up Gordo. You know you can't come to these forums without getting an opinion. 7500+ posts in you had to know that.

Now as to getting the work done, you did get several replies, my first included, that offered good advice on where to look for help. Take the ball and run with it.

As I mentioned before, it is your money. Spend it how you like. Means nothing to me as I'm sure it doesn't to the others here as well.

Under the now known circumstances, I'd probably do the same. This same logic applies to Pre-64 M70's as well. Untouched in the box, leave it alone. Hunted and in less than ideal condition, do as you please. Hell, do as you please anyway long as it don't cost me anything.

Good luck with your project and let us know how it comes together. Post some pics too. You know we all love gun porn.

David