FN Browning rifles

FNH (Fabrique Nationale Herstal) was set-up in 1889 by the Herstal guild of firerams makers to manufacture Mauser 1889 under liscence brought by Ludwig Loewe who owner about 50% of the FNH stock. Ludwig Loewe didn't like to see FNH selling the Mauser rifles in competition with themselves in Southern America and around the world, so they imposed strict restriction to the export of the Mauser rifles by the Belgians.
That's why and when Browning came into play, BTW.
Later, Ludwig Loewe carried another contract with FNH to build a quantity of Spanish Mauser 1893 and Brazilian M1894

Then, after WWI, Germany faced restrictions and since FNH were already set-up to build Mauser rifles on a large scale, the started making contracts on M/98 based rifles.

All that to say that FNH was directly involved in the spreading of the original Mauser designs. After WWII, they acquired a lot of machinery and patents from the other plants making Mauser rifles as war reparation.
Starting in 1946, they decided to "modernize" the M-98 for civilian use by removing the military features which ultimately, became the "Supreme" action. So, to determine if the Supreme and later models are clones or "the real thing", one need to know where it came from.

After the '60, FNH sold some of the rights and machinery to Spain and Yougoslavia and then appeared the "Santa Barbara" and "Zastava" "clones" of the "Supreme"....
 
I owned a Browning that in all aspects was an FN Belgian built except it had no Mauser claw extractor.
And no it wasn’t a later BBR action.
Up until then I was unaware that variation existed.
Was that variant built at the end of run before they switched to the BBR?
It was a 338 Win Mag and 100 percent factory original right down to the recoil pad floor plate and barrel
 
Last edited:
DOUGLAS D said:
I owned a Browning that in all aspects was an FN Belgian built except it had no Mauser claw extractor.
And no it wasn’t a later BBR action.
Up until then I was unaware that variation existed.
Was that variant built at the end of run before they switched to the BBR?
It was a 338 Win Mag and 100 percent factory original right down to the recoil pad floor plate and barrel
Click to expand...

That's the late actions, just before they dropped the forged Mauser receivers for the stock bar that brand BBR
 
Sako actions and barrels were used for their small and medium actioned offering from 222 to 308, except the first year and into the second year of production, the 243 and 308 were made with Mauser actions. I believe in the late 60’s, FN came out with their supreme action which is a push feed style for the magnum actioned guns. The long actions such as 30-06, etc were made on FN Mauser actions from beginning to end. The push feed magnums are still very nice and very accurate guns. I have owned over a dozen safari grades over the years and all were excellent shootists. My smalll and medium actions Varmint guns are my favourites.
 
The push-feed action was called No. 7 (Magnum) and used the Sako No. 4 and a new bolt, but the same opened up Mauser receiver. It was the last development made on the Mauser receiver prior they dropped the Mauser line. FNH started selling the Sako actioned rifles in '63 when the L61R started being available. Sako also made a lot of FN Mauser actioned rifles for others, like Weatherby.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom