Browning Salt Stocks

Browning recieved a shipment of walnut years ago that came into contact with salt. After the wood was finished and sealed, the salt was contained. After time, the salt seeps out and corodes the metal. I don't think you can tell by the wood, and only know by the rusting on the metal below the barrel channel and inletting for the reciver.
 
and in addition to what Pharaoh said, just a little bit of salt found in hand perspiration seems to spread it like wildfire. Treating often with products like g-96 is not enough to stop it. I have seen beautifull superposed guns turned ugly with very little use. They still make good beaters and I have seen usable superposed for as little as $400.00 because of this condition.
 
pharaoh2 said:
I think Browning will still ship you a new stock if you have one. I read somthing about that awhile back about one of the early Tbolts.
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I am not sure about the T-bolt, but the superposed guns that had the salt condition were about 30 years ago. There are lots still around, and browning probably made that offer back then as well, but now there seems to be no point putting on new wood, without having the whole gun re finished. The one I had was about 5 years ago. Inside the gun looked new. Wood even looked good, but reciever looked like ####. Very deep pits. I enjoyed shooting the old beater, just because every few years I like to shoot a superposed, but I eventually sold it for the $400.00 I paid for it.
 
Actually, the walnut just didn't "come into contact" with salt...it was infused (by browning)...can you say "oops"? Between late 1966 and 1972 Browning used a salt-curing process to speed the drying time needed for its walnut stock blanks. Unfortunately, the salt would be released from the wood and oxidize the metal surface(s) after a period of time. These guns--especially bolt-action rifles in all grades--some BARs, Superposed shotguns and T-bolt models should be examined carefully around the edges of the wood for signs of freckling and rust. Check screws and wood under the buttplate as well. Glen Jensen, Browning's historian, suggests using a 1 percent silver-nitrate solution on a small, undisturbed portion of wood--if the wood sample turns white, it's a saltwood gun; if the wood color turns to a light purple, it's OK. Discount values on Browning guns can show telltale characteristics of salt corrosion by 15 to 50 percent, depending on how much rusting has occurred.
 
The salt may come out of the wood at any time, to be certain your safe, seal the inside of the stock with tru oil, and check every so often by removing the metal from the wood, a coat of johnsons paste wax on the metal under the wood, also be a good thing.
It come out looking like white frost, if it does on a nice piece of wood, let let come out in a high humid area, for weeks, metal elsewhere.,:D , then clean it off with a wet rag, let dry , coat with tru oil , 8 light coats or so to seal it up, your set..
In around the recoil lug is most often the place it will attack the metal, as the wood finish is removed by recoil of the rifle in this area. the 98 mauser actions during that period..
 
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get the serial number of the rifle, having this you can go on the "puter" and find the year it was manufactured, this is the best way to find out if it has a salt stock, 90% of all stocks were affected during those respective years.

It wasn't just browning that had this problem either, they were just the ones that got nailed because their warrenty covered this and they had to do something about it, damn near bankrupt the company.

Do some googling and you'll find out more info on this.

What kind of firearm are we talking about?
 
Wrong Way said:
Actually, the walnut just didn't "come into contact" with salt...it was infused (by browning)...can you say "oops"? Between late 1966 and 1972 Browning used a salt-curing process to speed the drying time needed for its walnut stock blanks. Unfortunately, the salt would be released from the wood and oxidize the metal surface(s) after a period of time. These guns--especially bolt-action rifles in all grades--some BARs, Superposed shotguns and T-bolt models should be examined carefully around the edges of the wood for signs of freckling and rust. Check screws and wood under the buttplate as well. Glen Jensen, Browning's historian, suggests using a 1 percent silver-nitrate solution on a small, undisturbed portion of wood--if the wood sample turns white, it's a saltwood gun; if the wood color turns to a light purple, it's OK. Discount values on Browning guns can show telltale characteristics of salt corrosion by 15 to 50 percent, depending on how much rusting has occurred.
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Exactly.....there are several 1973 production rifles that suffered from salt (left-over stocks) but it was pretty much over by late 1972. and not all from that era are affected either.
 
bolt action

Hi: The rifle is a bolt action 30-06 I looked at the rifle last night. It had a waxy bedding material between the stock and metal and the seller did not want to take it apart to show me the metal underneath so i will pass. He has a buyer from Williams Lake so i better let him have it Thank's to all for the advise Regards Dan
 
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