[Winchester_73]

I have a chance to acquire a FN Browning T bolt. From what I understand most of these were made with salt wood which rusted the metal. The guy selling it, is not giving it away because he claims that its almost perfect AND it has walnut on it. Naturally, I err on the side of caution when I buy used guns so I have some questions for the more knowledgeable people, or people who have the older FN Brownings from this era:

1) I read that removing a screw and or the action is a definitive way to tell if its salt wood. Salt wood = rust, walnut = good metal. Is this true?

2) I also read that Browning offered the original buyers a replacement walnut stock, but would they reuse the same screws? I ask because, that would mean that the screw could be rusty and the stock be NON salt wood because the screws could be from a saltwood stock. Just curious.

3) If it is saltwood, is there a way to remove the salt without damaging the wood? From what I understand, its pretty permanent but I thought I would ask anyways.

4) If its saltwood, its probably not worth the purchase? He's asking $500 firm, which I think is fair the stock is walnut.

Thanks in advance for the assistance. At first I thought it would be a great gun to own but now I am concerned that its saltwood. I guess I will know its saltwood if the guy refuses to let me take the action out. I can post a pic later. The wood is blonde in color and the stock is checkered.