Please remove

It's an FN Mauser receiver sold under the Browning brand name, as I recall. I'd bet it has been modified. The stock at least. The barrel may well be a replacement too. .264 Mag isn't exactly common.
The boss at the gun shop had a .257 Roberts but his didn't have the high end wood. Mind you, that might not mean much.
 
OK so, can't know everything , about everything. I have a Vintage Browning FN Bolt rifle in .264 win mag. Standard 24 1/2" Medium weight barrel. Problem? Stock, recoil pad everything is Browning thru and thru. Wood to metal finish is superb. Original stock NP. Barrel!!! As per pic has proper proofs, and are crisp and not buffed or re blued. ONLY other markings on the "stepped" barrel is .264 at wood line left side near chamber housing. NO other markings on the barrel??? Any suggestions???Most other FN's I have had thru the years always have a barrel address etc. I dont believe the barrel to be removed, or replaced ( wood metal fit) or reblued, cuz of crisp proofs?? Absolutely gorgeous gun. I kinda figure I know what I will get for it :) just looking for feedback B 4 I pass it along. Se # A7OL 1### . ABSOLUTELY no indication anywhere of a "salt stock" " whew!! Thanks Y'all

Post a quality picture of the cartridge designation and of the muzzle.
 
From what I can gather...

The A designates a medium Sako action in the Medallion grade. IIRC 264wm was one of the cartridges offered though less common than 270 and 3006. The seven may represent the manufacture year as 1967 which would put it on the beginning of when salt stocks started appearing but it may or may not have one.

The serial number should read 7A### rather than A7###.
 
Something odd about the position of those proofs. I wonder if the barrel has been set back to compensate for throat erosion, and the proofs ended up partway around the barrel. .264s had a reputation for being hard on throats.

I have several of those rifles (though not in .264) and the proofs are all flush to the left top edge of the stock line. If that's the case, someone might have re-stamped the chambering.

That's definitely an FN action, and the stock sure looks 'Safari Grade' to me but the pics aren't all that clear.
 
Has the barrel been drilled and tapped for open sights? If not, take the action out of the wood and see if the holes are on the bottom. I believe all of the standard grade rifles came with iron sights. Barrel length seems to be off as well. I don't think Browning/FN supplied barrels longer than 24", and I've found a couple of .264's with 22" barrels. Made in Belgium and calibre designation should be on the right side of the "step", serial number should be on the right side just in front of the receiver and above the stock line. Maker's name is in the same position on the left side.
 
It's Safari Wood for sure. NO doubts there. Info I have read is that 24 1/2 was a standard length. Muzzle 5/8ths. LOP 13 5/8ths. Absolutely factory fit on Browning pad. Se is A7OL10XX but stamped very lightly not a typical normal run stamping. But sharp and crisp not buffed? Measured from in front of bolt face to muzzle. Or 25 1/4 from chamber. Can't get retaining bolt out w tools i have. In really tight and don't want to efff screw head. lol. Anyway thx guys, I just needed some feedback B4 posting it for sale. As we speak. :)
 
**Information FN Browning .264 Bolt rifle **

Ok got up the elbow grease to pop tang bolt, and fwd bolt. Absolutely no markings underneath. Not even a receiver barrel index mark. No holes , nothing. Sako , made in Finland trigger group, w external adj. absolutely no corrosion or signs of old rust, especially on recoil lug. I've seen some darn near eaten half through. Old salt gun ? W a complete factory re & re? New stock? New trigger group. Refinished barrel and action? Who knows. :)
 
I think the early Sakos were actually built using an FN M98 action.
thats my understanding as well .. Baribal may be implying that over and above that, Sako specifically manufactured triggers for FN to use on rifles (either those only intended for Sako? or FN's in general? or both?)
 
Both.
FN sold actions to Sako from 1951 to 1960, but Sako continued selling their remaining stock after 1963. Then, Sako started to sell their L61R to FN after it's introduction in 1962...
Sako used both the commercial (i.e. #200) and the Supreme (i.e. #300) actions for their rifles.
Sako designed their trigger in the mid-50's, my 1958 Sako-FN Supreme wears it. They also sold their triggers to FN to put on their higher grade rifles.

The OP's rifle seems to be a late model.. The S/N 70L should be 1970 production, the "L" should show it's a Medallion. Between 1968 and 1975, Browning used the two first digits for year and the letter for model. I don't remember of the top of my head what the "A" is, but I think it was "Grade "A"".
OP, is there a way to get better pictures of the action?
 
Last edited:
So let me get this straight. Was the barrel ever drilled for sights at factory? Where are they positioned. Those proof's on my early Browning are over to left side about in line with the address "St.Louis&Montreal" and about 1/16" from the receiver forward edge. We need close pic's of the other stamping locations and holes to confirm, but appears to me barrel was rotated in about 3/4 turn at some point to deal with throat errosion. Possible it was a Browning replacement barrel I suppose. Nice looking rifle regardless.
 
Last edited:
The wood / metal line around the chamber seems to be even... If the barrel was rotated, we should expect a small gap in front of the chamber (about 0.0625" for a 3/4 turn).
I think the barrel may simply be a replacement.
 
The wood / metal line around the chamber seems to be even... If the barrel was rotated, we should expect a small gap in front of the chamber (about 0.0625" for a 3/4 turn).
I think the barrel may simply be a replacement.
Good point. Also as OP claims no other markings except .264 on leftside chamber. My early rifle has caliber stamped on rightside chamber.
 
**Information FN Browning .264 Bolt rifle **

Got it out of the wood and no! Holes underneath or any? Markings whatsoever. Not even an index mark . Anyways, a mystery , gun is for sale EE " as is" in as much as it is being sold only as a high quality item with no " safari fn" value added Cheers guys thx
 
Back
Top Bottom