What is this browning? Early sa .22?

lledwod

lledwod

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Just picked this up today, doesn't look like any sa .22 I find with a quick check online ..... is it an early one? and of course I'm open to suggestions on the ballpark value. No front sight, havn't shot it yet.

Thanks!
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Yes, FLHTCUI has it right. It's an early FN-manufactured semi-automatic .22LR (also available in .22 Short) using the Browning design. Truly a classic rifle given its slick design, light weight and lively handling, and longevity of production--now over 100 years, with half a million sold since 1914. FN began manufacturing these in 1914, so yours could be that old--possibly made in the 1920s. This early version had a magazine loading port on the top of the stock, whereas the later ones had the port on the right side of the buttstock. I lucked into a like-new used one decades ago. This was when they had the pictured splinter forend (I think mine was even narrower), before they branded the rifle as a Browning (rather than FN) and put on a much fuller hand-filling forend, altered the half pistol grip to a full PG, and checkered the pistol grip and forend. Same original John Browning semi-auto action, though.

Along the way Remington got US manufacturing rights (presumably licensed from Browning) from 1922 to 1949, labeling their version the Model 24 and later 241. I'm assuming that FN continued production in Belgium in those years for sale in Europe and possibly other countries (maybe Canada), although perhaps someone can confirm this.

Here's a link to a brief description of the evolution of this rifle, along with another link inside to the FN Factory Manual for the rifle. You'll have to copy and paste it into your browser:

https://sites.google.com/site/hbsauk/knowledge-and-research/articles/fn-browning-22-calibre-automatic-rifle/

It's hard to put a value on that specimen, what with all the rust, missing front sight, and poor-quality and banged-up wood. The later Browning models in 90 to 95% condition--particularly those that were still made in Belgium--seem to go for around $500-$650 these days in Canada, if I've been reading the ads right, so you could use that as an upper-limit baseline for yours, which will obviously be worth much less if purchased for operational purposes. However, collectors might put a premium on such an old specimen, although I'm clueless as to what a reasonable "collector" price would be.
 
I do beleaf them arrr referred to as an FN Browning.
There is a procedure for adjusting this slawp you are mentioning.
Don't be lewsing the wee bawl bearing under the finger release.
 
I'm intrigued by the idea of loosening up the slawp ...... Well I cleaned it up tonight oil and steel wool made a large improvement in the aesthetics. Also disassembled it and cleaned an incredible amount of powder fouling out of the action. Put a front sight on it and took it out and ran about 20 rounds through it with no issues. I am wondering if the serial # 135### would date this dainty little unit. She looks pretty content sitting next to my 1936ish browning trombone .....

Thanks for the help guys, and thanks south pender for that great info!

Jonathan
 
You can adjust the barrel nut to take some of the wiggle out of it. There's a little plunger and spring under the lock button; careful you don't lose them. I've never owned one of these older FN's, but I'm assuming the function is basically the same as the later Belgium Brownings. The older FN's seem to go for 3-400 at the auctions. The later Browning stamped guns seem to start at $400 and go up from there.
 
The early ones where a top feed, if you had a picture of the other side of stock, could tell more.
The top loader was made 1914 to 1955, so it yours load from side of stock post 1955; re blue book
 
A old top loader, I've had a few of those, still have a couple nice ones, I've paid from $350 to $450 for ones in real good shape, $275 for a decent shape one.

Didn't read to close to above posts but the barrel lock up can easily be tightened, if I remember correct have to take the front wood off to do it, be VERY careful not to lose small parts, they are very nice little plinking guns.

No front sight will hurt value, but should be able to get one from western gun parts, will be the same as one for a trombone.
 
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marshall said:
The early ones where a top feed, if you had a picture of the other side of stock, could tell more.
The top loader was made 1914 to 1955, so it yours load from side of stock post 1955; re blue book
Click to expand...
This rifle has the loading port on the top of the stock. When Remington (first) and later FN went to the side loading port, it was on the right side of the stock. The picture above makes it clear that no such loading port exists on this gun.

According to the brief article I attached above, precisely dating these pre-1956 models may well be impossible as it seems that neither FN nor Browning had established a serial-numbering scheme with the early guns (pre-1956). It would seem that, at this point, about all we can be sure of is that it was made between 1914 and 1955.

Edit. As for eliminating the slop in the barrel/receiver joint, and just to add to what 9.3mauser said, there's some instruction about this in "FN Factory Manual" in the link below (you'll have to copy and paste this into your browser). Scroll down through most of the manual to near the end where you'll see a heading "Adjusting the Barrel". It looks as though tightening it up is very straightforward.

https://sites.google.com/site/hbsauk/knowledge-and-research/articles/fn-browning-22-calibre-automatic-rifle/fn-factory-manual-for-the-browning-automatic-rifle
 
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Great guns. I use one as my go to bush .22. Picked it up for $100 and it's never let me down. No real finish left but man it will hit just about anything you focus on.
 
Yes , I should have remembered that is the side you showed.
The serial number list in the blue book starts when FN/browning started with the letter system, T in this case, before that nothing, thou very good info on the early shot guns, where most of the profit was maybe
 
Except for those two Norc's at the bottom I picked up for a buddy and me for truck guns but sold them very shortly after.
 
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