When did FN first begin to make 98 Mausers?
Did they make commercial rifles before WW II?
What can you tell me about FN commercial Mausers marked 50, 51, and 52 with nothing like Higgins, Herters, etc markings?
Thanks captdavid

FN, or "National Military Weapons Factory" existed before WWI and would have made, under licence, the Mauser and of course other weapons.

In WWII in came under German control and still made what it was then making but for the Nazis. After WWII and liberation pretty much the same.

https://www.fnbrowning.com/fn-mauser-rifles

This book covers the classic line of FN military Mauser rifles and carbines including contracts for the Model 1889, the Spanish Mauser (1893), Model 1922, Model 1924, Model 1930, and variants. Belgian arsenal models like the Belgian Model 1935 and 89/36 are covered in detail. Training rifles such as the Model 1905 and postwar Model 1930 variants are also discussed among other single-shot sporting rifles. The line of FN Deluxe and Supreme sporting rifles, especially variants imported into the United States, are also included. Much attention was spent on documenting and illustrating FN and Belgian bayonets and explaining common misconceptions.

The first "commercial" FN actions that I'm aware of were nothing more than military 98 actions supplied to Husqvarna for the manufacture of the M146 series rifles. This was in 1937.

After the War, FN began making their Commercial, sans thumbcut, actions in 1948.

I have a very early FN Sporter (No.3XX) that has the thumbcut in the action, a factory barrel band for sling attachment, no receiver crest, European caliber marking for .30-06 and horn buttplate. These early ones are exceptional.

Mauser and FN were children of the same parent company Ludwig Loewe of Berlin
FN acquired the licence to manufacture the M89 in 1889 and they made some 275,000 rifles on this action.
The FN Mauser action as we know it now was introduced in 1948.

The "magic" logo on the front bridge !

That FN book looks good but the text is unreadable on my screen. According a Browning book I have lent out, FN was, despite its name, not a government factory but an amalgamation of Leige(?) gunmakers about 1880 in response to some sudden competition. They did make early bolt-action military rifles IIRC.

John Browning sold almost all his designs to Winchester for lump sums until about 1901 when he came up with the A5 shotgun, which he perceived would be a world-beater, and asked for a percentage of sales as well. When Winchester refused, he took the proposition to FN, which accepted.

So, despite FN making military rifles before and after Browning, I'm sure he really tied the firm together, and even died on a visit to the factory.

An FN is an FN, a Mauser is a Mauser, there was no FN Mauser, or so Im told by a couple of well know custom smiths and collectors..Cutting hairs? maybe, I don't know but sometimes over time mistakes become reality or acceptable..

I traded a saddle for a wellused but clean WR in 450-400 on an Enfield action in the early 1950s, beautiful old gun sold it as no ammo or components were available. It was original..I swapped it for three pre 64 mod. 70s
If only I had known what a bad deal I made!