Encouraged by a discussion on FN actions, I went to a gunshow today in seach of the $300 dollar FN Deluxe Mausers.

I suspect I misunderstood the discussion. There was an FN Deluxe in average condition, in the 30-06 I want, but the guy wanted $1100 for it, not $350. I think my misunderstanding was in searching for something labelled "FN," instead of "Sears," Western Field," or some other off-brand name.

He also had a Browning Safari bolt (.338), and wanted $1300, IIRC.

I'd appreciate getting straightened out on the real prices for them, and maybe a link to a source to get educated, both on what's available and the prices.

Thanks.

Jaywalker

IMHO this dealer can want $1100 in one hand and poop in the other. Guess which one will get filled first.

I just saw (as in missed) a really nice FN Supreme untapped in great shape with original Lyman 48 for $575. That would be a slightly better than average price for that type of FN. OTOH, I just bought a Husky 30-06 all original, un-drilled, built on an FN for $420 shipped. Same exact action in the same shape and I really paid about $50-$70 too much but I wanted it.

A J.C. Higgins is again the exact same action but I don't think I'd pay more that 3 bills for one. Odd, isn't it?

OK,

Here is the rub, forget finding cherry FN's in compete rifles for $300, only real luck is going to land you there. My original FN's are worth a fair amount more than that, and only a fool is going to sell one in good condition for that.

Yes, The Browning uses a FN action, but a Saafri grade FN is not going to be cheap either, I am not going to run to my blue book and check but these are not cheap guns, they always have fancy prices.

So how do you find a reasonably priced FN you ask. First an original with problems, stock and blueing are common faults. I won't touch a rifle or action that Bubba has destroyed, keep walking. If you look original FN's can be found, you just got to look. Ok I did go get out the blue book a 100% deluxe is $650 with a slide on condition to $250 on a 60% rifle. My book is out of date add a couple of percent for new book values. Here is another point if its a Supreme grade with select wood its value is close to double that, many of these were engraved not all though. If you are seeing a very nice factory stock expect higher prices. And magnums and usually carry a non blue book premium which you can agrue about with the seller.

Unless the guy was selling you a supreme grade he wanted too much money.

Ok, I have covered looking for a poor condition original, moving one, Monkey Wards and Sears are where your going to find your deals. If your making a custom only your gunsmith and you will ever know once you pull the barrel. I suppose a real expert might be able to tell, but put a Sears FN action and a original on the table out of the stock with the brarrl dropped, they are just about impossible to tell the difference. These are the bargins. Another source is FN sold these actions for years in just actions and barreled actions to the custom gun trade, at one time they were around $80. Keep your eyes peeled for these. These range all over the map from very expensive customs made by some of the great makers of the day to bareled action dropped into a Fajen or a Bishop preinletted stock. Your more likely to find a Bishop stocked FN as they stopped selling these in the early 60's and Fajen came later, but they do exist. Guess some guys bought them and they sat in their gunsafes a while.

Next word of advice, if your heart is set on a FN, squireel the dollars away and keep it in reserve, you have to look and Murphy's law dictates after looking for six months hard one will show up the week you don't have funds.

Next word of advice is don't bother looking in a gunshop for an original FN, I have yet to see one that wasn't marked up out of its value range in a gunshop, twenty years of hunting FN's I have seen only a couple in a gunshop that I thought was a straight deal. Dealers look at the original FN's as pots of gold.

A last good source is talk to a gunsmith, I know several gunsmiths that squirrel away FN actions, if you pay them to barrel the action they will sell you the action at a reasonable cost. These aren't for sale as an action only, but smiths keep their eyes open for these and buy them when they run across them, cause they know that there are guys looking for them. I know of several of these actions currently but they aren't really for sale, only by talking to the smith and getting him motivated to dig in his safe are you ever going to know he has one.

Hope this helps, I was at a big show about two weeks ago, out of hundreds of tables, I saw three rifles that caught my interest, there were a few other decent pieces but it wasn't what I had my eye open for. If I hadn't meet my normal gunsmith there, and got set up with my stockmaker, the show was a big waste.

I find when looking at gunshows, to radar several potentially interesting rifles is more productive. I always keep my eye out for old commercial banner mausers, Brno's, FN's and pre 64 WInchesters. JP Sauer rifles always catch my nterst also. In several shows I usually find what I want if I open up my serach zone.

Another place to look is get on gunbroker, look up a Sears model 50, and keep at it they do show up, I saw one a week or so ago.

Another tip rare calibers on the FN's drive prices into the realm of stupid, book doesn't support it but anything that was made for only a couple of years like a 250-3000 is going to get pricey cause they are rare, there are a couple of oddball calibers they dropped quickly and these the collectors are all over.

Keep looking!!!!!

schromf,

Very nice rundown - thanks. The FN I mentioned was a Deluxe, and had the safety on the left side of the bolt. The stock was very nice wood, and the price included an older Redfield scope.

Nice tips, thanks. I'll keep my eyes open.

Jaywalker

Jaywalker,

Your welcome, BTW the FN you described is about a $500-$550 tops rifle. Unless the stock was something special ( they do exist I have one in my safe ) I would have asked the guy what he was smoking, I will pay top dollar for an original FN and $600-700 wouldn't bust my chops. but the condition and stock must be there for me to even consider it, and the caliber must be something I want. A 06 wouldn't cut it at that price.

Be patient on this my friend, another good tip is watch the classified adds here, they show up but usually don't last long.

They are worth the wait, these are excellent actions, and a nice FN is one of my favorite rifles.

quote:

Be patient on this my friend, another good tip is watch the classified adds here, they show up but usually don't last long.

Yup...that's where I got my J C Higgens .30-06....it was missing a trigger and safety but this was something I just happened to have and I got the whole thing for under $300 including shipping and $20 paperwork charge.

This gun is a shooter too....

Here's a couple of interesting rifles. The Sears might be a pre-64 M70 action, and the JC Higgins doesn't look bad, either, though I think I'm holding out for a Supreme.

Jaywalker

The M53 Sears rifle used a push-feed Winchester action. The M50 (like the second rifle which by-the-way has an altered bolt handle) used the FN Deluxe. Late M51s used FN Supreme actions (adjustable trigger, side safety).
Higgins, Western Field, other house-brand rifles using FN actions are the least expensive route, factory FN Sporters (similar to Browning Safari) are worth more ($550 and up if in excellent unaltered condition).

Some of those J.C. Higgins rifles are excellent shooters. I found one totally original at a gun shoe for $300. I figured to use it to build up a .35 Whelen. That old saying to not shoot a donor rifle holds true with this one. I loaded up some 190 gr. Hornady match bullets I had with a stiff load of IMR-4350. Three shot groups were bug holes, mostly looking like three leaf clovers. Guess I'll have to leave that one be and look for another.
A friend came by about two weeks ago with a totally stock Husqvarna FN style Mauser. It has never even been drilled and tapped for a scope, but has been factory drilled for a peep sight. I think that one will do nicely for my new Whelen. I do like my FN Mausers.
Paul B.

There is a FN Supreme in pretty decent condition at the Lehi, UT Cabelas for just over $500 if I remember correctly. It was in the used gun rack when I was there friday night. I can check tomoow for you if you are interested.

Jaywalker,

I saw a very nice FN Mauser rifle in 30-06 at Barry Levin's gun shop in Des Plaines a month or so ago in 30-06. He was asking $ 775 for it and the rifle looked like it had hardly been used. If you want contact details, please let me know and I'll put you to him.

I know where there is a 1960 era FN deluxe that has a douglas 244 barrel in a herters stock that can be had for about 350-400. If you're interested send me a PM & I'll put you in touch with the guy

I just saw one go at an auction, closed at about 10:15 this morning $226 plus $20 to ship it was an FN for Sears in 270, I nearly bought it but I didn't want to go over $250 incl the FFL $20 so I passed. Looked 80% all the way around except broken safety and a little wood burning art on the butt. Not a Deluxe.

Anyone know what FN Deluxe and Supreme actions weigh?

Jaywalker

quote:

Originally posted by Jaywalker:
Anyone know what FN Deluxe and Supreme actions weigh?

Jaywalker

Tricky question, to get a straight answer on, which FN action is the first question, remember these were sold in seven different models. Further complicationg that is old FN's were C rings, and newer action post WWII were H rings, so there will be a slight variance on that. THe #6 actions were the benchrest version and had no mag opening and were solid on the bottom.

Another varaible is some had aluminum bottom metal like the Brownings, and others were steel. Taking all the variances above into consideration, target 46 OZ, thats a reasonable base number.

Okay, thanks. So, in any case, assume slightly heavier than an M70 long action, and a buildup rifle with a wood stock and a Win70 FWT contour/length barrel would not likely be a seven-pound , I'd guess...

Jaywalker

I took a tour of two auction sites and gunsamerica yesterday, and there is a range of FNs available. Some serious customs too.

jim

quote:

So, in any case, assume slightly heavier than an M70 long action

No,

Old Model 70's are heavy, I think they are close or just a tad under.

Stuart Otteson gives action weights in his book The Bolt Action:

M98 goes 45.2 oz
pre '64 M70 goes 45.5 oz (Featherweight 42.6 oz)
push feed M70 goes 44.3 oz

jim

I was at a gun showthis weekend, The one at witch i found my pre 64 30,06. Had I a little more money I would rather have bought one of 2 FN Browning safaris a guy had. 1 was a relitivly plain jane 7 mag for I think 700.00
and the other was a beautifull fiddle back walnut stocked .264 win mag for 850.00. I Am realy happy to get a real nice pre 64 featherweight 30,06 for 550.00 but the .264 was simply beautifull and i am sure a supreem long range deer antilope and caribu rifle... tj3006

Okay, thanks, all. I think I now have just enough education to get into trouble.

Jaywalker

Jaywalker:

A really nice H&R Ultra on an FN action just appeared in Guns America for $600. They are very nice! You might do a search there and check it out!

LJS, do you have a link? I can't find it.

Jaywalker

Jaywalker: I just type Guns America and up it comes. They will list the categories and the gun I mentioned is listed under Harrington & Richards rifles. I'm not very computer literate and this is about as technical as I can get. Perhaps another AR reader can get you a link. I checked and the gun is still listed. Sorry I can't help more.

Thanks, I found it.

Is that an FN Supreme action?

Jaywalker

Here is a 340, the cheaper version. Its on the FN action also. Now these H&R rifles are made on the supreame action with a side safty. My generic FN has a very nice Sako trigger with side safty. FNMauser http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976616786.htm