I've been giving some thought to buying/putting togther a rifle and today looked at a Browning Safari at a local pawn shop. Here is the serial number 61764L**, what can you guys tell me about it?

It does have the long extractor, the action is SLICK, the trigger is MUCH better than I was expecting and the bore was nice and shinny. However the bluing and stock show A LOT of wear but I was thinking of having whatever I buy Cerakote coated and replacing the factory stock with a Rimrock stock anyway. We did pull the stock and there is some pitting and evidence of rust, the stock has been full length bedded, so I'd say its a "salt wood" rifle but if it'll shoot I'm not sure that bothers me too much. Oh, and after talking to the guy for a few minutes he offers it to me for $350. Sound like a good deal???

IIRC, if you go to the Browning website, you can enter the serial number and get all of the details.

I looked at brownings site but couldn't find the FN Safari rifles listed, you got a link???

Hi, According to Mat Eastmans book your rifle was made in 1964. The action alone is worth $350.

mark.
Sounds like a good price , but with out seeing the rifle hard to tell.
But in the shape you describe you migh be wiser to buy a JC higgins or some other FN model. (the long action safari is an FN and the short is a sako)
A timney trigger is not hard to install ,
Don't know if you plan to rebarrel , and that is a significant expence.
I gues it comes down to how much of the browning you plan to use for your custom.
The engraved floor plate is a prety cool adition !
...tj3006

The safari is a good deal. Since you plan to refinish and restock, the salt wood is a non-issue. The trigger is a Sako #4 and is one of the best conventional triggers for sporting rifles.

Be advised that you'll have to do some custom work on any factory FN Mauser stock in order to accomdate the stepped barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by mark65x55:
I looked at Browning's site but couldn't find the FN Safari rifles listed. You got a link???

You're correct. Sorry. Apparently, their reference service is only for guns of their own manufacture.

I don't want you to get hurt, so I'll give you $475. shipped to my address in Idaho sight unseen anytime you get tired of it..

Sounds like a little abuse and its been hunted with a good deal, but I doubt if its salt wood, as that stuff was from an earlier year if I'm not mistaken...

I have one of these rifles in 7mm and really like it, and that sounds like a heck of a good price. I don't think you could go wrong buying this gun.