I'm been looking for a classic Belgium FN Browning Safari Grade rifle for a couple of years. Every time I think I'm getting close to one, it either turns out out to be a Sako-made push feed or a salt-wood FN.

Any help would be appreciated.

GA,
Get a copy of the Gunlist, they have a whole section of Browning Rifles and the 375's show up all the time, they run from $1300 to $1600 depending on condition and ever so often a sleeper shows up at a great price...Also you might get really lucky and find an original FN for sale in that column....They were the first of the Brownings.

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GAHunter,

As Ray notes I usually buy the Shotgun News and The Gun List newspapers when I am seriously hunting something. I used to subscribe to both, but the continuing temptation!

You might also try the Browning Collectors.

http://www.browningcollectors.com/

I have not tried them for a search, but I have used other collector associations in the past.

Alf,

Would your RSA friend like to adopt me?

jim

Thanks for the tips guys. I'm going to pick up a copy of the Gun List today.

I've wanted one of these rifles since 1968 when I was 16 and worked after school at Roach Sporting Goods in the Atlanta suburb of Buckhead. Roach was an upscale outdoor shop that catered to a more discriminating sportsman. We were Atlanta's main source for Parker, L.C. Smith and Winchester Model 21 shotguns, and offered a wide array of fine rifles, unfortunately, mostly Weatherbys and Winslows. My job was to simply make sure that none of these guns ever showed a speck of dust or a finger print.

Every day I would take a lightly oiled rag and fondle all 100-or-so guns in the rack. I would quicky labor through the wimpy Parker and Smiths in order to get to the "real" guns -- the rifles.
Once there, I would slow down as I probed and explored every curve, recess and smooth surface of these magnificant works of art with the rag. The working parts (bolts) were cleaned with loving devotion, and stocks wiped with tender care. I am convinced that Dr. Ruth was inspired to enter her career by observing me undertake my daily chores.

But after finishing with the custom and semi-custom Weatherbys, Winslows (now defunct), Mannlichers, Mausers and double rifles, I would move into the "stock" rifles -- Remingtons, Winchesters (ugly post'64s) and Brownings. Of all the guns in the shop, it was the three Brownings on the rack that really caught my interest. They were different from the other factory guns in that they were pretty. The Safari Grade had a cape buffalo engraved on the reciever and the stock was understatedly simple and round, especially compared to the gaudy Winslows and Weatherbys that we were pushing as the "ultimate" rifles at the time. The Browning action was silky smooth and locked up solid. I found out from the manager of the Gun Department that the reason it operated so well was that it was built on an FN Mauser action (whatever that was), same as the Winslows that cost three times as much.

The price on the Browning Safari was $499. (Remember, this was 1968, when Winchester Model 70s were $149.99). Although pricy for a factory rifle, it was a heck of a lot better than what we were getting for the Winslows (they started at about $1,200).

In all the time I worked at Roach, I never saw a Browning Safari Grade go out the door. I always felt that this was the most underappreciated gun on the rack and wished I could afford one, even though I knew I would NEVER be able to afford a Safari.

Well, times have changed. Roach has been out of business for 30 years, but those three Browning Safari Grade rifles are still on that same rack in my memory. They are waiting for me to come pick one out and shell out the the $499 to take one home.

I've decided that at least one of them should wait no more.

GAHunter,

That is too good a story not to write the rest of the story -- your hunts with that rifle.

jim

I talked to George at Champlin Arms today. They have a Browning Safari Grade, .458 Win Mag in unfired condition. Unfortunately, it's a push feed model that replaced the Mauser CRF action toward the end of the model run.

George was very interesting and knows just about everything there is to know about the FN Browning Safari Grade. He was very helpful in pointing me in the right direction and narrowing down just what years the Browing I want was manufactured. He also put me on their contact list should one turn up.

HunterJim,

Before I can write about hunting with "that rifle", I have to find "that rifle" to hunt with! This is turning out to be rather problematic.

I must admit, however, I have managed to find one long extractor, Browning FN in .375 -- In Thailand!

Anybody want to run over and pick it up for me?

Gahunter: look for such a gun here. I saw several and due to present economical troubles firearms are disposed of at dirty cheap prices. The magazines Vida Salvaje, Magnum and Weekend, among others have advertising sections which may or may not quote a Browning FN. Also most gunshops sell by order of their customers. Try Worns or get in touch directly with La Brama Custom Guns (they have a web page).
Good luck

there is one for sale in the last issue of Gunlist...Lots of them show up there.

Ray,

You must have a different edition of The Gun List than I bought last Thursday. There were a couple of FN Safari Grades in it, but none in .375. Also, many of the FN big bores on the market are push feeds, so unless it says "long extractor" it is problably a push feed.

Would you mind PMing me the particulars, including contact info, on the gun in your Gun List?

Thanks.

GAHUNTER,

There's one listed on Auction Arms, item #5088654

David,

Thanks for the tip. I have been visiting Auction Arms every day, but got no hits on my search for Browing/fn/.375.

Can't tell from the picture if it's a long extractor or not. I'll call tomorrow.

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Alf,

Thanks for the very valuable info. Since the year that I worked at Roach was 1967-68, I think the gun I'm after would be one of the FN Highpower series. Unfortunately, I am not sure which grade my memories focus upon, but I am relatively sure that at least one of the guns of the rack was a Medallion or Olympian grade, due to the engraved buffalo (silver I think) I remember being on the floor plate.

Do you know when they changed over to push feed? Most of the Safari Grades I've run across lately have been FN push feeds in .458.

The sad part of all this is that once I get a Safari Grade, It will never live up to the idealized memory that am trying to capture. Thomas Wolfe had it right; you can't go home again. Maybe I'll just have to start a collection of ALL GRADES and STYLES of the FN Browning rifle!

After all, It's only money!

[ 10-20-2003, 06:53: Message edited by: GAHUNTER ]

/

According to George at Champlins, the "Short Extractor" FN model ammounts to a push feed action. The ones that I have seen locally at gun shops were definitely push fed. The bolt face looks just like a Remington Model 700.

According to Blue Book, the long extractor models are on average 15% more valuable than the short extrator models. I might also add that every one of these that I have seen has been in .458 and was made between 1971 and 1974.

[ 10-20-2003, 19:04: Message edited by: GAHUNTER ]

Gunlist: 375 Browning Medallion, excellent over all; 27" barrel with brake (not good but can be cut off and your looking for a shooter).... Price is $875 and thats good......Tel: Dorlyn at 607-8298668,,,,

I would definatly want the long extractor myself...

But then I would find me an old FN Mauser in .375 or 404, they are pre-Browning in a since and to me they are a much better rifle...They show up from time to time in the gunlist, as will a Browning like you want...

GAHUNTER,

Here's another one:

www.gunsamerica.com item #976395859

Listed under Custom Rifles, a .375 H&H built in 1976 in new condition. Seller specifies the long extractor. Good luck in your search.

David

Update:

The Medallion in the Gun List is an A-Bolt;

The Safari Grade in Auction Arms is a short extractor model (which means that the Reserve price is about $400 over Blue Book for a 100% rifle);

Nainital, importing a firearm into the U.S. is a heck of a lot more trouble than it is worth, even if I were able to find a GREAT deal on one offshore;

I'm intrigued by the custom gun in Guns America, but I'm going to have to get a lot more info on it. The ad says it is made from a Browing FN action, circa 1976. Thing is, Browning discontinued the FN rifle in 1975. He could be mistaken about the year of manufacture, or it could be a commercial FN action. Also, although I don't know this for sure, from what I've seen, most of the Brownings built after 1970 were short extractor models, this one claims to be a long extractor. Also, I HATE IT WHEN THEY ONLY PROVIDE PICTURES BY REQUEST!!! I ain't buyin' no pig in a poke.

That's my update. Keep your eyes open folks.

I just looked at my .375 H&H Browning. It is definately a push feed although the extractor is a SaKo style. The thing shoots cloverleafs at 100 yrds. Did Sako make actions for Browning?-Rob

Rob,

I, too, was under the impression that the push-feed models were made by Sako, but, according to the Blue Book History of Browning, Sako only made the short-length (.243,etc.)actions for the Safari Grade. The short extractor models for the long and magnum-length actions were Sako style, but were made by FN.

The Book didn't say if the short extractor and long extractor models were made simultaneously.

Don't know is this is correct, but it's what the Blue book says.

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!

I BOUGHT ONE! I BOUGHT ONE! I BOUGHT ONE! I BOUGHT ONE!

Don't have time to go into details right now, but surfice it to say that it's effin' beautiful.

Many thanks to DavidW for putting me on it. I knew detailing my search on this forum was the right thing to do.

What approximately does a .375 H&H browning push feed/ short extractor gun go for these days? Congrats on your purchase also!-Rob

Rob,

According to Blue Book, a short extractor model Browning Safari Grade, .375 H&H in 100% condition is worth $1300. If it's in 98% percent condition -- $1000.

A long extractor adds about $200-$300 to the value.

Congratulations! Glad I could help.