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A recent FN purchase

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05 February 2007, 06:46
Frank Martinez
A recent FN purchase
I was lucky to rently find another rifle built by a local smith from days gone by. His crafsmanship is obvious. This is the third of his rifles I have been able to find and purchase. It is a .338 WM and shoots as well as it looks.

I should also mention I have several built by his son and one built by his grandson. 60 some years of family tradition.







05 February 2007, 07:58
ElCaballero
Very nice!! Good find!


As a general rule, people are nuts!
spinksranch.com
05 February 2007, 08:07
Pat Brennan
WOW,very nice rifle. I'm particularily impressed with the stock overall. Very nice find indeed, congrats. I can see why you were willing to let the Brno go. Smiler
05 February 2007, 08:14
Frank Martinez
quote:
Originally posted by Pat Brennan:
WOW,very nice rifle. I'm particularily impressed with the stock overall. Very nice find indeed, congrats. I can see why you were willing to let the Brno go. Smiler


I forgot to mention that I also bought another blank from the same lot. I plan on having a pre war model 70 restocked with that one.
Thank you for your post.
Frank
05 February 2007, 08:30
weagle
Dang. That is just plain sweet. I especially love the shape of that stock. Very classy.

Weagle
05 February 2007, 08:38
Thomas Jones
very nice rifle ! it looks as though there has been somthing done done to the floor plate release. I have 2 fns and neither one has had the floor plate open since I bought them. Is there an after market part one can fit to the latch ?
...tj3006


freedom1st
05 February 2007, 09:10
ScudRunner
Very nice
06 February 2007, 07:36
daleatkins
Frank,
You got some gorgeous rifles!
07 February 2007, 06:10
SlamFire
Beautiful and perplexing. Your receiver is most certainly an early commerical FN receiver. I assume that because the later Browning actions dropped the Mauser bolt stop. A mistake in my opinion.

But your bolt has the military safety and a military two stage cocking piece. I have a 50's FN action on a J.C Higgins M50, that rifle does not have those features.
07 February 2007, 06:27
Roland1
Frank,

Extremely nice, looks like Biesen craftsmanship. thumb

Thank you for sharing,

Roland
07 February 2007, 17:13
idahoelk101
slamfire, the FN you have is of later vintage. I have 3 of these from this era (late 40's to early 50's) and they all have what is refered to a the FN Flag safety. It is a little different than the military style. The replacement "low swing" safety sold now is a poor copy of this design. Some shooters prefer this style over the model 70 style due to is being on what they say is the "correct" side.
Frank that is one sweet rifle!
07 February 2007, 19:05
TC1
Very Nice! I personally would change to a 2 piece base system though.

Terry


--------------------------------------------

Well, other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
09 February 2007, 16:30
Frank Martinez
Really? I have always like the one-piece. Usually I put the Beuhler base on when I can. I always thought the one piece added that little extra rigidity for scope accuracy.
Frank
09 February 2007, 21:46
Pegleg
So Frank- Who built this rifle. It is very nice! thumb


The only easy day is yesterday!
11 February 2007, 05:20
Frank Martinez
It was built by a local gunsmith here in Northern California. His name Was AL Grundman and not only was he a great gunsmith, stockmaker, engraver and all around good guy, he was also one of the premier saddle makers around.
His son took over the business shortly after I met them both and I have had Paul build me several rifles since. His son Fred now owns the business but Paul is still smithing. We reached an agreement recently for him to build me another big bore this year. I am not sure yet if it will be a .450 Ackley or a 404 J.
Paul is going to start my new stock for a pre-war 300HH with a piece of wood that is a twin to the one above first.
In the meantime I am rising to the top of the engraving list for Fred who built me a .450 Alaskan a couple of years ago. We are going to start with some edging and borders and then include a bear (which is what I had it built to hunt) and maybe an elk.
A very talented family and great friends as well.
Frank