FN Mauser?

[89yj]

I'm looking at a used Mauser at the local gun store. It's listed as an FN Sporter .30-06. I'm guessing it's a commercial model since I don't see a crest but it does have scope mounts covering the reciever. The markings are Fab Nat. D'armes de guerre Herstal-Belgique serial number on action and barrel 2116X. It has a Buehler safety and the plastic buttstock plate says Fajen. It looks like it originaly had iron sights that have been removed. Currently has a Simmons 3-12x40.
Can anyone give me some information on this firearm?

 

[El Mariachi]

Pics pics pics pics pics.

Or could it possibly be one of these? A Sears/JC Higgins Model 50 or 51? If so, they're most excellent guns. And have chromed barrels to boot...

 

[shootr]

I have an FN Mauser in 06 made in the 50s and it is a tack driver. Jump on it!

 

[DougW]

I have a commercial FN Mauser 30.06 dated 1954 in a Bishop stock. It is also a tack driver, so I woul suggest jumping on it also!

 

[waidmann]

FN supplied actions to Husqvarna and others in addition to their own label. The rifle is likely a good hunting piece but would not merit a collector's price.

Another possibility is that it was a Belgian Army 98 action, in this case a crowned ABL will be under the front mount.

 

[Jonny V]

FN Mausers are the bomb. Far superior to any mass produced rifle these days. Look at it this way, all your parts are made by hand, (and machined out of virgin steel), by a skilled craftsman. There are NO stamped parts in an FN Mauser. All the mass produced rifles these days (including all major brands) are basically copies of what you have, except that they substituted a bunch of stamped, slapped together junk, (made out of three or four time recycled metal) in place of the careful handwork that you have in your hands. Don't let anyone BS you, no remchesterby is half the rifle you have.

 

[Smith357]

The early post war FN Mauser used left over military actions these can be differentiated buy the thumb cut for stripper clips out on the rear of the receiver after about 1948 the went to the reviver without the cutout. If the rifle is later than 1948 and has the thumb cut out then chances are it's a sporterized militarty model. FNs are some of the finest Mauser action rifles IMHO, these rifles went on to become the early Browning Safari rifles. Later in the 60-70 Browning started using other actions on the Safari.

You can see the thumb cut out on this 1947 FN Commercial Mauser in .30 US or .30-06 to us Americans. Its topped with a Peclar Berlin 4x10 scope.


A full length shot with the barrel mounted sling swivel.


The 47 up front with a 53 in the back. The 53 needed the stock restored. They have some very nice checkering. Also notice the safety went from the the bolt safety to a rocker style.


The rifles have very tight chambers and are capable of very good accuracy.

 

[89yj]

Thanks for the replies.

I went ahead and bought it last night. I brought it home and a quick wipe down cleaning turned into several hours and basicly a full teardown and scrubbing. Under the scope mount, I found a crown over a large B and smaller ABL. The date looks like 1952, the scope mount screw hole goes throught the middle two numbers. It also has the thumb cut out for stripper clip feeding.
So it looks like I got a sportsrized Belgium military Mauser. The stock was bedded around the front of the action and continues about 2 inches down the barrel. The stock has a few minor dings but is in good overall shape. I'm thinking about refinishing it and adding a recoil pad because the plastic buttpad isn't a very good fit to the wood.
I took it to the range and fired a few rounds to test it out. At 50 yards I had 4 rounds around an inch and a fifth that opened it up to about 1.5 inches. The trigger pull wasn't helping my accuracy. It seems to have the original military trigger. I'm going to look into either a replacement trigger or a trigger job.
It came with a made in Japan Simmons scope that was still zeroed pretty good as all the shots were right at an inch high and strung horizontaly.

 

[Jonny V]

Great score! the thumb cutout (and stripper clip guide) give it away as a military action, but that shouldn't bother anyone much. FN manufacturing techniques from back in the day are exactly what the mass-commercialized modern corporate system has worked so hard to get rid of. They don't build them like that anymore.

 

[Hizzie]

Timney makes a great mauser trigger. If you are feeling frisky, pics of the markings on the rifle would be nice. Be sure to look underneath the woodline too.

 

[stan rose]

Nice rifle, like others here, my friend has a FN in .30-06 that is not only a tackdriver, but reliable as anything ever made. Congrats, and enjoy.

 

[NCsmitty]

I have a '52 FN also, and they are beautifully machined actions in spite of being military. It's been a while since I shot it, but I take it out to clean and admire occasionally. I love that gun.


NCsmitty

 

[Jim Watson]

No steps I can see on the barrel. Either a replacement or lathe turned to a sporter taper as part of the work.

 

[89yj]

Timney makes a great mauser trigger. If you are feeling frisky, pics of the markings on the rifle would be nice. Be sure to look underneath the woodline too.

I'm just starting to research triggers. The Timney is high on my list as I've been considering one on my AR. I regret not taking photos while I had it apart, but I was eager to get it to the range.

No steps I can see on the barrel. Either a replacement or lathe turned to a sporter taper as part of the work.

I'm going to guess lathe turned original. About the first two inches are unturned with a serial number that matches the one on the reciever and what appears to be a proof mark(?) half hidden on the woodline. It has about an 1/8" turn down step at that point and everything after that is a smooth taper.