My first Browning! What is it? - Page 2

bn12gg · February 11, 2012, 06:59 PM

Biggfatts-- Just my .02, but take a look at the prices of various
Browning Safari's on the Cabela's site. Subtract a couple of hundred
Cabela's markup dollars to get fair "retail." This may help you as
you estimate the value of the rifle after your smith/woodworker is
finished.

If the rifle was a 1959 rather than a 1969 (it is a 1969) it would be
worth restoring to its' originality. The 1959 Safari is one of a kind and
rather valuable.

Just my .02 David

Bigfatts · February 11, 2012, 06:59 PM

I will definately be looking for that issue. Thanks for all the input guys.

Bn, value doesn't really matter to me. This one will not be leaving me any time soon. And when it's done I'll have a rifle that I just absolutely love. It's a classical style you just don't see today, and that's what I love about it. I've already had a few people try and buy it from me in it's current condition, imagine once it's done!

Scorch · February 11, 2012, 08:02 PM

Bigfatts-
I do stock work, and would be willing to restore your stock. PM me if you are interested.

Bigfatts · February 11, 2012, 09:12 PM

Pm'd!

natman · February 12, 2012, 11:42 AM

Unscrew the sling swivel instead of the butt plate screw. It's unlikely that yours is salt wood, by now it would look horrible where the action meets the wood if it were.

I'd give the metal, especially below the wood line, a couple of coats of Johnson's Paste Wax or Kiwi Neutral shoe polish just in case.

Aside from the horrible refinish job, that's a very nice gun indeed. Fortunately, that's easily fixed.

DutchTexan · February 12, 2012, 10:28 PM

One of the links I posted is that magazine article.

Your bolt is the same as mine which is the FN Mauser. I think that is the best action. Good luck and let us know how it turns out and how it shoots. Mine shoots tight groups b:-) ut a sleet storm kept me from sighting it in today.

RemingtonArmed · October 1, 2012, 08:05 PM

To All of you who replied to this post...Thank You. My buddy asked me "Hey I grandpa's gun, its got a little rust and I want you to see if you can fix it and tell me what it is worth right now (he wants to give his mother a fair price for it) and what I might spend to get it repaired and then what it might be worth. " Holy hell...he must think I am a miracle worker!

The rust was so bad on the barrel I could barely make out SN. When I did it was 9L 5036X. So after reading this post I now know what he has.

Then I read on about the "Salt Wood" and questions about the type of rust that can occur! Well I have a few pics that can show just what is meant by rust! It is most certainly NOT surface rust :-)

Then the stocks finish was called into question. I happen to have an example of a stock that chips and peels. Again pics to follow.

Scorch · October 2, 2012, 10:54 AM

RemingtonArmed-
It is hard to tell from the pics of your rifle, but that does not look like salt wood damage, rather it looks like damage from neglect.

* All salt wood is Claro walnut, your rifle's stock looks like European walnut.

* I do not have the date codes right here in front of me, but salt wood stocks were used from 1968 to 1970 on Medalist, Olympian, and some Safaris, basically the fancy firearms. Your rifle looks like a Browning Hi-Power rifle, the basic model with European walnut.

* Yes, the varnish finish is chipping and peeling, typical for Brownings of that time period that were exposed to moisture. Salt wood stocks were finished with a high-gloss polyurethane finish, and these finishes often peel off in very large pieces.

* The rust on the barrel, action, and scope also seem to indicate neglect.

RemingtonArmed · October 2, 2012, 08:15 PM

Here are a few more pics. Thanks Storch...the rifle I posted is exactly like the one posted in the original post with only the slight difference in the serial numbers.

Scorch · October 3, 2012, 12:55 AM

Thanks for the additional pics, RemingtonArmed. Like I said, it is hard to tell from the pictures whether or not yours has a Claro stock or not. Either way, that is some serious rust damage. Good luck on the restoration.

February 11, 2012, 08:02 PM	#28
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Bigfatts- I do stock work, and would be willing to restore your stock. PM me if you are interested. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 12, 2012, 11:42 AM	#30
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2008 Posts: 2,605	Unscrew the sling swivel instead of the butt plate screw. It's unlikely that yours is salt wood, by now it would look horrible where the action meets the wood if it were. I'd give the metal, especially below the wood line, a couple of coats of Johnson's Paste Wax or Kiwi Neutral shoe polish just in case. Aside from the horrible refinish job, that's a very nice gun indeed. Fortunately, that's easily fixed. Last edited by natman; February 12, 2012 at 03:28 PM.

October 2, 2012, 10:54 AM	#33
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	RemingtonArmed- It is hard to tell from the pics of your rifle, but that does not look like salt wood damage, rather it looks like damage from neglect. * All salt wood is Claro walnut, your rifle's stock looks like European walnut. * I do not have the date codes right here in front of me, but salt wood stocks were used from 1968 to 1970 on Medalist, Olympian, and some Safaris, basically the fancy firearms. Your rifle looks like a Browning Hi-Power rifle, the basic model with European walnut. * Yes, the varnish finish is chipping and peeling, typical for Brownings of that time period that were exposed to moisture. Salt wood stocks were finished with a high-gloss polyurethane finish, and these finishes often peel off in very large pieces. * The rust on the barrel, action, and scope also seem to indicate neglect. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

October 3, 2012, 12:55 AM	#35
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Thanks for the additional pics, RemingtonArmed. Like I said, it is hard to tell from the pictures whether or not yours has a Claro stock or not. Either way, that is some serious rust damage. Good luck on the restoration. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

February 11, 2012, 06:59 PM	#26
bn12gg Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2011 Location: Winter Park, Florida Posts: 470	Biggfatts-- Just my .02, but take a look at the prices of various Browning Safari's on the Cabela's site. Subtract a couple of hundred Cabela's markup dollars to get fair "retail." This may help you as you estimate the value of the rifle after your smith/woodworker is finished. If the rifle was a 1959 rather than a 1969 (it is a 1969) it would be worth restoring to its' originality. The 1959 Safari is one of a kind and rather valuable. Just my .02 David

February 11, 2012, 06:59 PM	#27
Bigfatts Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2005 Location: Lutz Posts: 1,528	I will definately be looking for that issue. Thanks for all the input guys. Bn, value doesn't really matter to me. This one will not be leaving me any time soon. And when it's done I'll have a rifle that I just absolutely love. It's a classical style you just don't see today, and that's what I love about it. I've already had a few people try and buy it from me in it's current condition, imagine once it's done!

February 11, 2012, 09:12 PM	#29
Bigfatts Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2005 Location: Lutz Posts: 1,528	Pm'd!

February 12, 2012, 10:28 PM	#31
DutchTexan Member Join Date: February 9, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 20	One of the links I posted is that magazine article. Your bolt is the same as mine which is the FN Mauser. I think that is the best action. Good luck and let us know how it turns out and how it shoots. Mine shoots tight groups b:-) ut a sleet storm kept me from sighting it in today.