What is this thing

cody c

cody c

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Anybody know what this thing is? Obviously it's a browning, it's an FN but never seen the front stock like this, also it has a feed port that's been sealed with wood filler on top of the stock, no checkering and the serial is 155154, don't see this serial on the web.

Is the scope mount made for it? the drilling and tapping look a bit crude, I suspect it was aftermarket and tapped after it left the factory.

Any clue as to what year?

Thanks in advance for the help, I'm looking to clean it up, maybe sand and TruOil the stock, reassemble, then sell it, just curious as to the details or what you guys figure it's worth.

Regards,

Cody.
 
Maybe a Browning take down with a bubba stock or a bubbaed Remington model 24 or 241 ..... I sure there are many more qualified than I to give you a more accurate information.
 
trebor2880 said:
Yep, looks like a bubba-ed Browning
Click to expand...

so you guys figure the fore stock was by bubba? It looks close enough to the butt stock that I thought it might be original to the rifle.

The scope mount is a "bubba-accesory"too then?

Perhaps I'll try and make a new fore stock or look for a replacement before sending it off to a new home.
 
Original wood. No, Browning didn't design the scope mount :).
__00001_crosse-browning-sa-tack-down-22lr.JPG
 
I'm guessing the retro fitted stock was designed so the shooter can support the rifle from a standing off handed position. Back in the day schutzen(spelling?) matches had similar extensions that dropped the front grip on the fore stock really low. And during the late 1930s Springfield bolt action 22 LR match rifles were also fitted with a large cork ball fitted to the lower part of the fore end.

Maybe this was used in some kind of rimfire metallic silhouette off handed match, from the 1970s or 1980s. The scope looks like it was current for that era.

perhaps.......
 
Juster said:
It looks like an adult novelty stock. I need to see it assembled to be sure.
Click to expand...

Brutus said:
I'm guessing the retro fitted stock was designed so the shooter can support the rifle from a standing off handed position. Back in the day schutzen(spelling?) matches had similar extensions that dropped the front grip on the fore stock really low. And during the late 1930s Springfield bolt action 22 LR match rifles were also fitted with a large cork ball fitted to the lower part of the fore end.

Maybe this was used in some kind of rimfire metallic silhouette off handed match, from the 1970s or 1980s. The scope looks like it was current for that era.

perhaps.......
Click to expand...

The stock was apparently done this way to deflect shells off to the right, better for keeping hot little rimfire brass off you if your arm is under the stock, though I'm a lefty so it almost makes it worse for me.


The barrel has F'N writing on it, also "BROWNING PATENT DEPOSE" and there is a small capital "R" stamped near the rear site.

So, the serial doesn't seem to fall in line with how browning said they were given serial numbers, I don't see anything else that says Remington on it or 24/241, so I'm guessing it is a browning of sorts.

What do you guys figure this thing is worth assembled and working? Anyone got a replacement front wood stock for it?
 
Another wild a@@ guess might be that this stock was modified to fit a handicapped person?
Someone who's mobility is impaired and needs to hunt from the seat of a truck or something else not normal??

I don't know what else to say friend.
 
Juster said:
Original wood. No, Browning didn't design the scope mount :).
__00001_crosse-browning-sa-tack-down-22lr.JPG
Click to expand...

I think this is an FN Browing.
The era before this stock set was used.
They used a tinier fore wood.
Western Gun Parts may have a set, but it will be dear.
If the rear wood is not cracked as they tend to be, you may just get by with
a fore wood.

Value?
Dunno, I'd put it together and shoot it as is.
Kinda fuggly, but neat for it's originality.
 
Brutus said:
Another wild a@@ guess might be that this stock was modified to fit a handicapped person?
Someone who's mobility is impaired and needs to hunt from the seat of a truck or something else not normal??

I don't know what else to say friend.
Click to expand...

Haha, too funny.

kamlooky said:
I think this is an FN Browing.
The era before this stock set was used.
They used a tinier fore wood.
Western Gun Parts may have a set, but it will be dear.
If the rear wood is not cracked as they tend to be, you may just get by with
a fore wood.

Value?
Dunno, I'd put it together and shoot it as is.
Kinda fuggly, but neat for it's originality.
Click to expand...

My dad got it on a trade or something years and years ago, he sent it to my brother as it wasn't ejecting very well (needed dissasembly and cleaning), by brother took it apart, put it in a box and didn't fix anything, then dad said give it to me. There is no strong family attachment to it and I could use the cash for another project so I'll put it together, maybe build a new fore stock, make sure it works and sell it off to someone who would appreciate it more. I don't love it, but I do love the other .22's I have so, hopefully whoever buys it will love it. I think if it's cleaned up, working and the wood corrected I could ask $300 (is that too much?). I guess it loses value without the original stock and the receiver drilled, but someone else might have some love for it.

I'm just really not to sure how to value these rifles, I see them with high prices often and generally not under $500 but don't know a heck of a lot about them.

Appreciate all the feedback though thus far.
 
sillymike said:
About the fore-end, looks like someone was fed-up with having empty's going down his sleeve...

value? If it works good... $200 max. If it has issues, it would have to be pretty cheap for someone to buy it and thinker with it. That drill and tap job is a killer...
Click to expand...

Oh, that's less then I thought, oh well, I agree on the drill and tapping looking ugly though.
 
Original configuration


Yours is an early one like mine.
Do you feed the rounds into the side of the stock or the back of the grip?
This style was made from around 1914 to 1954 I believe... There is a more modern one that looks about the same but many parts are not...

If it shoots well I would keep it. Most of its value would be parts.
The barrel is removable and always follows me on fishing trips.
 
I don't know about TIG-ing the holes (lightly countersink the holes & insert blued flat-head screws would be my suggestion - TIG will do a lot of damage to the finish & tempering), but it's definitely worth restoring IMHO. That is an interesting stock, indeed. I can understand where someone adverse to hot .22 brass falling on their feet might find it worthwhile, but there's probably not a lot of those people out there who would prefer the stock in its current configuration.

Personally, I'd find another set of wood for it (stocks ARE out there, and I've seen them at surprisingly affordable prices, but you DO need to shop around to find 'em).

BTW, Western Gun Parts in Edmonton has a ton of parts for the SA-22, and the prices (at least for the SA-22 parts I bought) were very reasonable indeed. From what I've read, they bought out several Browning dealers & have all the parts stock from them.

A quick look on the EE, here, reveals that people are asking from $450 (for a fairly 'rough' one) to $800 (in 'very good' condition) for SA-22's

Aside from that, they're a wonderful, handy takedown .22. Lots of fun to shoot - if you restore it, you might find it too much fun to sell!
 
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mh434 said:
I don't know about TIG-ing the holes (lightly countersink the holes & insert blued flat-head screws would be my suggestion - TIG will do a lot of damage to the finish & tempering), but it's definitely worth restoring IMHO. That is an interesting stock, indeed. I can understand where someone adverse to hot .22 brass falling on their feet might find it worthwhile, but there's probably not a lot of those people out there who would prefer the stock in its current configuration.

Personally, I'd find another set of wood for it (stocks ARE out there, and I've seen them at surprisingly affordable prices, but you DO need to shop around to find 'em).

BTW, Western Gun Parts in Edmonton has a ton of parts for the SA-22, and the prices (at least for the SA-22 parts I bought) were very reasonable indeed. From what I've read, they bought out several Browning dealers & have all the parts stock from them.

A quick look on the EE, here, reveals that people are asking from $450 (for a fairly 'rough' one) to $800 (in 'very good' condition) for SA-22's

Aside from that, they're a wonderful, handy takedown .22. Lots of fun to shoot - if you restore it, you might find it too much fun to sell!
Click to expand...

Many sa-22 parts will not fit the earlier fn Brownings. Just be careful before ordering parts. I think plugging the holes with cut studs would work, but would require refinish and not add any value...
Is your mag tube broken off where it meets the reciever?
 
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