FN Browning Rifle manufacture date/salt stock?

Question
QUESTION: I just bought an FN Browning 7mm mag serial # 60945 L70 on both action and barrel.  It has high blue trigger guard/floor plate, and a matte receiver/barrel.  Stock is figured and quite beautiful, overall condition is 99%...then I heard about "salt stocks".  How do I know and what should I do if is such?  Thanks!  Kim
ANSWER: Kim,

I'm guessing that you may have just purchased a Browning Hi-Power FN rifle in either Safari grade, Medallion grand, or Olympian grade(?) Maybe not but those are usually the FN Brownings most often discussed in regards to salt cured stocks.

Back to the point. Since you already own the rifle you could just simply remove the action/barrel from the stock and see if there is an accumulation of rust on the portions that have been in contact with the stock but not otherwise visible.

Or...... if you look around the edges of the action/barrel screws and see a lot of rust around the edges of the screws, you may have a salt cured stock. Of course you would then need to remove/inspect the barrel/action for closer inspection.

As to what you can do about it..... not much really. You could do the obvious and remove the rust, lube and put it back together. The problem is that this won't halt the corrosive nature of the salt stock. I've known owners who try to seal both the steel and stock in hopes of slowing it down which seems to be better than doing nothing at all.

Why don't you start with checking the rifle out as described above before we get way down a road that we may not need to go down. If you find corrosion caused from a salt stock it will not just be a little corrosion here and there. It will be mostly covered with rust unless someone who owned it previously did their best to remove and lube it.

Let me know what you find and we'll go from there. With any luck, maybe yours in not a salt stock and there will be nothing to discuss.

Thanks for the question and good luck. Let me know what you make out.

Sid Lark

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sid, thanks for info.  I removed the forward stock screw and the forward floorplate screw and they looked fine.  Couldnt get trigger guard or recoil pad screws out and didnt want to force them.  I have checked all across web and I think my Safari has been redone since I believe the barrel and receiver were originally bright blue and now are matte.   If I could just find out manufacture date and if long or short extractor.  Overall I think it's a good possibility it is a redone  "salter" and if I could lay my hands on some 1% silver nitrate and get pad off to test wood I'd know for sure. If you could tell me manufacture date/ extractor length/ and what years were worst for FN salt stocks that would be very helpful.  For a Safari this is one beautiful gun(I've yet to shoot it) and I'll probably use it till it falls,or rusts,apart.  I bought it for $625.00 and if I have to I'll just pay the big bucks for a restocking.  Thanks!  Kim

Answer
Hi Kim,

Based upon your description of what you found, I would agree with the educated guess that you may have a "salter". In my personal experience with the FN Safari's they had an original highly polished blue with high grade wood. To find one that is dull/matte I would be suspicious of refinishing too.

I will tell you that the price you paid was much less than what these rifles are selling for....... at least here in the midwest.  As one example, Cabela's Gun Library often times acquires a FN High Power (Safari, Medallion, Olympian) and depending upon which model, they usually start at around $1000 and go for as high as several thousand. That said I'm aware of the fact that the "Library" is going to be asking/getting a bit more for these.

The point being that since you got a good price on the rifle, and if it currently is in "good" condition, and you really like it, I think you are in a pretty good position. I have owned several examples of this rifle and consider them one of the best rifles on the market. At the very least you have an excellent shooter.

As for the stock, you could try (I've know those who have) a coating of shellac on the inside of the stock in an attempt to slow the salt effect on the steel. I personally have never attempted this so I cannot comment on its effectiveness.

You may be able to purchase another stock but I'm guessing that is going to add some pretty big $$ to the ownership. Additionally I'm not certain what type of stocks that are available for the rifle either. I'm sure that with a little research you can find out. I would also check with Browning as to stocks and see what (if anything) than can advise. Its worth the call. Often times I'm surprised by what they can and are willing to do to help.

While on the Browning Corp. issue, they can (and will) provide you with a manufacture date if you provide them with the serial number. I've done it many times with no problem. You could also investigate their website and check out the "date your gun" page. I'm confident that you'll be able to get the info that you desire.

The salt stock issue effected about 90% of all Browning stocks made from 1967 to 1969 however continued to appear until about 1972 however just not as frequently.

As for the extractor........ I think you are referring to a standard extractor (Sako action) vs the Mauser claw (aka -long) extractor. The claw (long) extractor is easily recognized as it appears as a raised rib that run along the length of the bolt and ends with a claw at the front of the bolt. Although it is more "collectible" and desired among folks like me....... I'm certain that the Sako action will function just fine for what you want to do. Since you are probably going to use it "until it falls apart" I wouldn't get too hung up on the extractor issue. Even IF you have a long (Mauser) extractor, there are enough other issues concerning this particular rifle that it will have little effect on its value.

Well Kim..... I think that I've covered all of your questions. If not, write me again. I have no problem with helping you further if need be.

Good luck and thank you for the question Kim.

Sid Lark

Hi Kim,
I'm glad that I could help and hope that you can benefit from my experience/s regarding this issue. Let me know what you make out with your FN.