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I picked up a very nice 1962 production Browning Safari in 30-06 this weekend. Complete in Browning case, with a period correct Redfield 2-7X in swing over mounts. The wood is exceptional and I was wondering if this was typical for the time or if they were offered in higher grades?

If there is no suspicious rust on barrel and action when the stock is removed, you may have a real prize.

I wouldn't say that about the scope but Stroebel respected Redfield and valued their early 2-7x variable between $200 and $300 in 2008. The mounts are a curiosity and you might find some collector would value this combination highly.

It is definitely not salt wood. Removed the stock and it has a matching number to the rifle and no rust. I'm looking forward to doing a test of the repeatability of the swing mount. Close enough for what would have been considered reasonable distances back then I suspect.

You got a beauty there.

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Originally posted by KevinNY:
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Based on what I have found online, it is definitely a Safari grade based on the lack of grip and forend caps and no engraving. Maybe someone just got lucky with the wood back in the day.

Have a 1962 Vintage FN Browning Safari in .338Win Mag with the same quality or my be even better grade of wood . Had to imagine what it would cost in todays $$ to reproduce this wonderful rifles .

Lucky you Sir. I was in communication with the seller but passed due to various reasons. The rifle looks nice, hope you enjoy!

As to your question about whether those rifles were sold in higher grades, Kevin, yes! One I recall was called Olympian. It had engraving and maybe double-set triggers.

Wood on the higher Medallion and Olympian grades was nearly always excellent, while the base Safari grade wood varied from decent to outstanding. I had the opportunity to pick through about a dozen of them when the Penney's department store in Lubbock, Texas (yes, that's right, J.C Penney used to sell guns!) closed out their inventory of Safaris. I found one with really outstanding wood which I bought for my brand new baby boy.

Very nice looking rifle, congrats. I have owned a couple of the Safari grades from that era, and as others have mentioned they often have very nice wood. Yours looks to be in the range of the wood mine had. I don’t think a 30-06 would have come with a pad, so that is a small change from original. If it dates to 62, you are well clear of the salt issues.

That's a good call out on the recoil pad. I was curious so I checked the rifle and it is a Mershon White Line Deluxe pad, expertly fitted. I googled that name and went down a fascinating web rabbit hole of the relationship between Mershon and Pachmyar.

Kevin,

The 30-06 Safari that I had was very accurate. The one I now have in 300WM is .5 MOA. Those rifles both had nice wood but not as nice as yours. You done good!

Mark

Great guns on great actions, you cant do much better..scope doesn,t do much for me..

Ray,
I saved the scope and mounts to stay with the rifle If I ever pass it along to a collector type. It now wears a pre 1973 Leupold Vari X 3-9 on a one piece leupold base and rings. Still somewhat period correct, but much better usefulness. I absolutely love the feel of this rifle and enjoy shooting it.

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Kevin,
Beautiful rifle you have there - congrats!
The only thing I would change, if it WERE mine, would be the recoil pad to a period Browning tan color - OR a period black butt plate which it probably came w/ from Browning?
Enjoy it!