Have opportunity to buy one or both of subject rifles which are in like new conditon, have been in storage for some 30 plus years and realize a certain range of mfg. of Brownings were so called "salt guns" and would like to know the years or S/N range of those?? All help would be appreciated. Thanks,
martin

Just take the actions out of the stock. No guessing game. The proof will show on the steel or lack there of beneath the wood.
I have an old T bolt (22 LR) with a salt stock, It messed up the barrel a bit where next to the wood. I clean it up and completely glassed in the action and barrel. Re blued the gun and it just drives tacks. That was 30+ years ago. Going strong!
Depends on how much erosion to the action and barrel there has been.
I really like the old long extractor safari grades.

There's salt, and then there's SALT. SALT will be immediately and unmistakeably visible. A "bad" salt gun will eat up the stock crossbolt pretty quickly. A "light" salt gun may show spots of rust where the metal contacts unfinished portions of the stock (barrel channel, magazine cut, etc.) Removing a screw from the buttplate will tell you if there is any trace of salt in the stock.

Light salt guns simply need the rust spots cleaned with steel wool and oiled. The stock should then be sealed with a varnish. I'm not too leary of such guns, but the ones that show heavy salt corrosion should be treated as salvage projects.

Suggestion of removing butt plate screw is a good idea. The Safari models I am looking at purchasing range in the early 60's and upon verifying S/N w/ Browning, these are pre salt problems-'62 vintage. According to Browning, from '68-'74 were the predominant salt years.
Thanks for the feedback.

You really should remove the entire action from the stock in searching for a salt gun. Myself, I looked for years to find a salt gun because I happened into a really fine AAA stock inletted for a FN/Browning, and I never did find that salt wood gun. Look and be certain!

LLS

I'm beginning to think that 'salt' issue was a lot more rare than most folks believe. I've had an awful lot of them - more than twenty, I'm sure - and still have a half dozen or so. I have yet to come across one with 'salt wood'.

Buy those rifles immediately and don't look back.