Belgium Browning .22 Rifle

[Wiskey_33]

Hey guys,

I was recently given a Belgium Browning in .22 LR, semi automatic.

It's the take down model, but I'm not sure what year it was made. I've found a bunch of sites with "codes" but I cannot find a serial number on mine that looks like the ones on the sites, mine is just numbers, no letters.

Anyways, if anyone is knowledgeable with these, please contact me, I'm trying to get a little more information.

Thanks,

Wiskey

[johnbt]

Browning.com isn't any help either:

Date Historic Information Serial Number Info

1914-1955 F.N. began production of the 22 Semi-Auto Rifle. No serial numbers are available.

1956-1967 In 1961, the codes for calibers were changed:
T=Long Rifle Caliber
E=Short Rifle Caliber
Example: 8T1000 = A 1968 22 Long Rifle Caliber Semi-Auto Rifle with serial number 1000. T=Long Rifle Caliber
E=Short Rifle Caliber

[Wiskey_33]

Nope, doesn't help at all. Like I said, the only serial number I can find is on the bottom of the barrel, which contains no letters. There are misc. markings on the bolt, but nothing that would resemble a serial number.

[Scorch]

You have a Browning 22 Autoloading Rifle, invented by John Browning in 1912. It is quite possibly one of the simplest and most elegant semiauto 22 rifles in existence.

It's the take down model,

All of them are "takedown", as the little ratcheting ring is designed to be used to adjust the headspace as the gun wears, similar to a Model 12 or a takedown Winchester 94.

I've found a bunch of sites with "codes" but I cannot find a serial number on mine that looks like the ones on the sites, mine is just numbers, no letters

Until 1968, serial numbers were not required on firearms, and many 22 rifles did not get numbered. It sounds like yours is a pre-1955 model since it has none of the codes mentioned. Compare your numbers here
http://proofhouse.com/browning/22_cal_auto_rifle.htm

T=Long Rifle Caliber
E=Short Rifle Caliber

Not to be too much of a stickler for accuracy, but there is no "22 Short Rifle" caliber, only 22 Short, 22 Long, and 22 Long Rifle. 22 Long "Rifle" designated a heavier bullet, typically 40 gr vs the 22 Long's 29 gr.

[Wiskey_33]

Cool,

looks to be 1957. I'm surprised that this thing is that old, considering how nice it is. I'd say it's 95%.

Good for me.

thanks for the help fellas.

[batuexx]

You posted a question about a Browning breakdown 22LR that only displayed serial (?) numbers on the barrel. I have recently acquired one of these guns, also in 90 to 95% condition. Have you been able to find a method of determining the date of manufacture, or if these are indeed true Belgium Brownings.
Any help will be appreciated.
Batuexx

[rreid01]

I have what looks to be a old take down rifle chambered for .22 short. It has a number stamped underneath the barrel, 19756, and the same number is stamped on the receiver boss where the receiver meets the barrel (where the barrel splits from the receiver).

Most of these I have seen load through the side of the stock, this one loads through the butt of the stock.

Any ideas how old this gun is?

thanks-rob

[NWCP]

The Browning SA22 is perhaps the best looking, sweetest shooting semi auto .22 ever made. Elegant is a word that you don't hear used when describing a rifle, but that fits the little Browning perfectly. Mine goes to the range frequently and makes for a great squirrel gun as well. I'd snag another in a heartbeat.

[Scorch]

It has a number stamped underneath the barrel, 19756, and the same number is stamped on the receiver boss where the receiver meets the barrel (where the barrel splits from the receiver).
. . .

Any ideas how old this gun is?

Your Browning Semi Auto 22 LR repeater was made in 1957.

That was a very good year for a lot of things, BTW.

[rreid01]

Thank you. However this rifle is chambered for .22 short, not .22LR. From what little I have been able to determine, the .22 short serial numbers are not sequential with the .22LR serial numbers.

I'm thinking this gun predates 1957 by a good bit, but I really don't know.

Thanks-rob

[radom]

If it predates 1957 then is not a browning but a remington. if it is a FN Browning its older then the hills a FN from pre WW-1. The reaison that the numbers are confusing is Browning did not make them from lile 1916 to 1956 or so. they where made by remington. As for the number vs letter deal that is a remington code and not a FN code.
Also there is a reason why there is no records on the browning .22 from 1914 to 1955. there is no such thing.

[rreid01]

Yes, I believe it is an FN. Sorry, I should have made that clear earlier.

On the top of the barrel is stamped "Fabrique Nationale D'Armes De Guerre Herstal Belgique Then on a second line, "Browning's Patent - Depose"

[ar-10t]

Does anyone know what year(s) the sa-22 came with the rear thumbwheel sight? I have a grade 1 sa-22 that belongs to a friend of mine and I'm trying to help her learn more about it. So far I have it narrowed down to a 50's era belgian rifle. It has no visible serial number on the right side of the reciever (the area listed by the browning manual as the serial number location) the number 1986 is engraved on the butt plate, the front face of the stock (only visible when disassembled from the reciever) and the 1986 and a "T" are engraved on the front face of the reciever and trigger group assembly. I'm assuming these are the un-published FN numbers like on the above rifle. It also has the heiroglyphs on the bolt surface behind the charging handle similar to the above rifle. This "1986" serial number also doesn't match any of the nomenclature described by the browning website
http://www.browning.com/customerserv...etail.asp?id=5
and of course it says "made in Belgium" on the barrell. Also I have found no sign of an engravers signature, but could see that being a feature of the grade 2's and up...
So this is why I believe I'm dealing with a pre-1955 sa-22. Now I digress, I'm hoping someone can help me with some onfo on the thumbwheel sight, could that help to narrow down the possivble year of manufacture? Also there is no sign of any machining to accomidate a scope, could that help to determind the year or at lease a narrower range of manufacture?
Also the threaded portion of the mag tube is broken off so it won't attach to the reciever, I'm hoping I an just order a replacement tube to get the rifle back in working order, if anyone has any advice or warnings that it's not as straight forward as I'm hoping is welcome.

Thanks in advance.


Hey guys, I wrote this to put on a different thread about a sa-22, which might explain why my references to the "above rifle" probably made no sense. sorry about that, but I'm still hoping to find answers to my questions.

[ray4903]

I have a Browning semi auto .22. Inherited it from my grandfather about 20 years ago. It is in nearly perfect condition and shoots like brand new. I have the original 'instruction booklet' etc.
I am trying to accurately date this great rifle.
Front of receiver is stamped T then 4124. The "T" is on the bottom left hand side ( when looking down at it) and the "4124" is on the right side next to it.
The number "4124" is also stamped on the top of the metal butt plate ( it does not show the "T" ).
Any help on details / dating would be greatly appreciated.

The barrel ( in front of ramp sight ) is stamped " Browning Arms Company St. Louis, MO
"Made in Belgium". Further down it is stamped "Browning patents""

[johnbt]

The T prefix indicates .22 LR and was used on the Auto 22 rifle beginning in 1956 until sometime in 1961. They started using serial numbers in 1956, too. How many did they make each year? I have no clue, but yours must be fairly early. First year maybe.

In 1961 they started their serial numbers with a number and a letter: 1T, 1A or 1E, etc. 1962 numbers started with 2T, and so forth.

[ray4903]

Thanks for your info.
It must be pre 1961or even 56 as there is nothing before the "T" and the butt plate number does not even show the 'T'.

Anyway way to tell if it was truly a first run ?

[Magpie]

I'm a definite newbie, and just inherited this firearm from a friend who was killed (thankfully not by a gun, but in a farming accident). It is a Browning and stamped "Made in Belgium' and has sideways M, followed by 22L, followed by a crown, a sideways PV, a different crown, and a sideways R. That is all on the barrel.

The only other marking I could find is on the butt, and it says "T84782." It also has the wheel sight described by others.

I'm mostly interested to see if I can identify it and find a manual for it, as I want to be able to learn how to load and clean it. If anyone has an approximate date and/or value, that would be a bonus, but I don't plan to sell it, but maybe reimburse the widow for it.

Thanks for any information.

[DeeDubya]

http://www.midwestgunworks.com/page/...-rifle-history

[oneoldsap]

Guns manufactured in Belgium are Belgian made , which means they are made by people that live in Belgium . Nothing is Belgium Made . That's like saying America Made , and makes just as much sense !

[tim s]

As to the engraving, about 1/2 of grade III are signed and there is a premium for the better engravers such as Beartens, Lewansic, etc.

Most of engravers looked down on thw lowly rimfires generally prefferring to work only on high grade rifles or superposed shotguns.

[jhall7]

I have a question on the value of a browning fn .22lr grade 2. great looking gun but has a scope mounted on it possibly drilled and tapped will that hurt the value? thanks