FN Browning Trombone early furnature 1927

HuskyDude

HuskyDude

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
134   0   0
Location
Interior BC
I'm looking for someone with the book.

Browning Belgium Sporting Firearms,
1903 to 1994 by Max Eastman

5wETy89.jpg


Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal Belgium made the Browning Trombone .22 from 1922 to 1974.
I believe the one I found is from the mid 1920s...Serial # (27,3xx)
This is what I found so far.
1922 serial # 24100 approx
1932 serial # 39100 approx
I'm having a hard time finding any authentic pics for early models.
Trying to find another pic to back-up this one showing a non-ribbed forstock on a very early trombone.
o9wujo1.jpg

I'm thinking this is too good to be true...but the rifle looks new.
Metal is perfect, wood has some dark stains of oil soaking into it from touching the metal.
Very light surface marks on the wood. No scratches or dents. Brass around forstock screws is turning green.


That forstock looks pretty modern to me....

FotVRBs.jpg
 
Last edited:
cooter303 said:
looks homemade that pump handle.
Click to expand...

Yes. That's why I wrote "That forstock looks pretty modern to me...."
I'm after a few more pics or the book with serial numbers of a FN Browning close to this one.
I did find a few Winchesters 1906 that don't have the Ribbed pump handle.
Since the FN Trombone wasn't readily available in the states. Maybe that's why I'm having a hard time finding
pics.

Winchester Model 1906
nXsY0Wh.jpg
 
Well that's interesting hmmm. Do you think it's OEM?
Truthfully my knowledge on Stevens is lacking...but growing.
Need to read more!!!

Stevens Visible Loader .22 Pump
moQ9F1r.jpg


Just read this yesterday...interesting how Winchester and Colt bought up Browning patents.
And would sit on them just so other company's couldn't manufacture them...

One primary problem: the American firms would buy Browning’s patents in large part to keep other firms from getting them. To compound matters, Winchester and Colt had worked out a deal not to step on each other’s turf: Winchester would make rifles and Colt would focus on pistols
Click to expand...

Anyway a good read.

A Partnership for the Ages: John Moses Browning and Fabrique Nationale d’Herstal
 
What does it say on the barrel? If it is a FN Browning our serial numbers our very, very close.
And it would also prove the pump handle on mine is not OEM.

d5YoYS2.jpg
 
Last edited:
It's actually owned by a family friend here in Cranbrook, she inherited it from her Dad.
I asked her to text me more pics, I'll add them here when she does.

I cleaned it up for her last week, it is in very good original condition.
I do remember it was made by Fabrique Nationale.

This particular example spent most of its life on a farm in central Alberta.
 
Last edited:
They make their own noizes, yewneek only to them.
And do they chuckith dem empty brass ahhh ways.
Had a few over the last kupple deckaides.
Fun gun they is.

Careful on the rear stock not to twist it as they have a tendehsea tuh crack.

Sure wish me eyes would tolerate them open sights so I could enjoy them.
 
HuskyDude said:
I see that Brownell has a wood set for a Winchester M1906

0od8vQt.jpg


Anyone have both FN Trombone and a Winchester 1906
Might be the same...?
TIA
Click to expand...

Took some pictures of my grandfathers tonight but forgot to grab the serial number - I know he bought this rifle during the depression so the timeframe with the OP's firearm will be similar. What is interesting about my rifle is that the OPP seized it in 1940 as my grandfather had immigrated from northern Italy in 1907 (and he tried to enlist in the Canadian army in WWI). I know the seizure made an impact on my father all of his life - while it wasnt required for family sustenance, wild game was a food source at that time in an isolated commercial fishing port on the north shore of Lake Superior. It was returned in 1945, but obviously sat in a basement in the detachment as it had surface rust on it when it was returned.

Anyway, the hole in the 1906 will not line up with the trombone - the centre of the hole is 7/8" from the end of the pump. Total length of the pump is 6 1/2"

Hope this helps

8Kzzksi.jpg


Toj8fak.jpg
 
Thx for the measurements Chas!!!
Interesting story about you grandfather.

Outsider added a few more pics to his above post. And has the OEM forestock. So mines has differently been changed.
After a couple pm's we determined our rifle must have been imported the same day and have very close serial numbers.
 
You are probably off a bit on your mfg dates. My trombone serial #23xx was built in April 1923 according to FN. Try Rimfire Central site and lookup the trombone thread. Lots of info surrounding dates. Try looking at Remington model 12. JMBrowning designed it and sold to Remington. I've never had the two side by side but would be interested if someone has
 
Last edited:
Thx Eric,
The info is from Rimfire Central. That's the only place I found anything concerning serial numbers.
Like I asked in my first post, apparently the book Browning Belgium Sporting Firearms, has a list.
Here is a bunch of serial numbers posted from there.
982xx 1960
84909 1956
224xx 1927
395xx 1932
84671 1956

How did you determine your serial number...care to share???
 
interesting discussion. Cant remember source but suspect Homer Tylers Browning .22 book which is now collectible. Trombone patented in 1919 but sold to Remington (model 12 .22) so they could not be made or distributed by Browning in the USA. Prime markets for FN produced were Canada and Australia (all of Europe) and 150,000 produced up until 1973 when Browning left Belgium in favor of Japan. First order with FN in 1922 was for 10,000 units so my first year production ser# 54xx was from late 1922 or early 1923. My ser #94xx is dated at 1923. They a made a lot before 1930 and I have seen on a CGN thread that ser # 27### could be either 1926 or 1928.
 
HuskyDude said:
I'm looking for someone with the book.

Browning Belgium Sporting Firearms,
1903 to 1994 by Max Eastman

5wETy89.jpg


Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal Belgium made the Browning Trombone .22 from 1922 to 1974.
I believe the one I found is from the mid 1920s...Serial # (27,3xx)
This is what I found so far.
1922 serial # 24100 approx
1932 serial # 39100 approx
I'm having a hard time finding any authentic pics for early models.
Trying to find another pic to back-up this one showing a non-ribbed forstock on a very early trombone.
o9wujo1.jpg

I'm thinking this is too good to be true...but the rifle looks new.
Metal is perfect, wood has some dark stains of oil soaking into it from touching the metal.
Very light surface marks on the wood. No scratches or dents. Brass around forstock screws is turning green.


That forstock looks pretty modern to me....

FotVRBs.jpg
Click to expand...

I have a copy of Matt Eastman's book and I must say the section on the Trombone is not very good. His dates of manufacture are completely incorrect.

The two Trombones shown here have replacement wood and the bottom one has been refinished AND has a not standard rear sight; it's either from another type of rifle or it's been cut down (I've seen this done).

I think it's off a Remington Model 24

Remington-Model-24-22-SHORT_zpsbjmimwss.jpg


And....the first Trombone shown above, it is possible, judging from the way the fore end screw cups are proud to the wood, has merely been cut down form a regular fore end.

Serial number 27### is certainly mid 1920's

These are Trombone from the very first years of production and as you can see the fore ends never vary and in fact never vary for the entire production from beginning to end.

The one nearest has wear on the fore end which is why the grooves are not as deep.

IMG_3765_zpszdmktof4.jpg
 
Last edited:
HuskyDude said:
Thx Eric,
The info is from Rimfire Central. That's the only place I found anything concerning serial numbers.
Like I asked in my first post, apparently the book Browning Belgium Sporting Firearms, has a list.
Here is a bunch of serial numbers posted from there.
982xx 1960
84909 1956
224xx 1927
395xx 1932
84671 1956

How did you determine your serial number...care to share???
Click to expand...

Not that you asked me but the serial numbers are normally on the underside of the rifle at the front of the receiver as shown in the picture below OR on the under side of the barrel between the top of the magazine tube and the muzzle. The serial number or part of it should also be on the lower receiver (inside), on the back end of the upper reciever and the inside of the butt plate.

Trombone%20IMG_0484_zpsaecjwgox.jpg
 
Mine looks much the same. Has the original owner's name scratched on the inside of the butt plate. Was in Rosemary, Alberta from about 1951 until I got it. Absolute fun to blast thru a box or three of .22 shorts. States to be for .22 long but really like shorts. It will reluctantly handle LR, but doesn't like them.

On one of the previous pictures ( 6 and 7), the pistol grip doesn't look right. Perhaps someone did a modification.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom