Quetions on my 30-06

[HUNTNMT29]

http://s1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff499/piratedad29/30-06/ what i have or what i think i have, is a FN 30-06, its been in my family for a long time it supposedly came from germany via my great grandad during or sometime after the war while he was over there, but thats about all i know other than posting these pics, it shoots fantastic and it doesnt miss a hunting season over my shoulder, even if it only for a long hike in some cases. If any one might have some info for me that would be awesome to find out more about my favorite hunting partner.

 

[RickMD]

It's an old 98 Mauser of FN manufacture apparently made in Belgium. It has the military type bolt shroud and safety. FN cranked out millions of them over the years. They're strong and extremely reliable. In fact, they were Roy Weatherby's initial choice of action when he brought out his high intensity line of cartridges. 98's are always a good choice for a hunting rifle.

 

[HUNTNMT29]

98 Mauser alright do you know if theres a way of looking up serial numbers or finding out when or around when it was made,someday i have to pass this down to my boy and it would be neat if i had some history on it.

 

[natman]

FN commercial sporter, made in Liege in Belgium probably in the 50's, very nice gun. Looks like it's experienced.

 

[Slamfire]

I am very certain what you have is a FN Deluxe rifle. I recently bought one of these in 270 Winchester.

A picture of a vintage ad is here:

http://store.valueweb.com/servlet/vintagepaperads/-strse-52365/1954-F.I.-Gun-Ad/Detail

I have limited documentation, but I believe these were post war, made up to 1956 or 1957, imported by FIE. These were not cheap rifles in their day, you could buy a M70 for $109 or a FN for $148 with sights. With inflation $140 is $1200-1300 in terms of today's money.

These early FN's share more M98 features than the later FN Supreme. The 98 action is the best overall action ever built. Later actions were cheapened to compete with lesser rifles on the market. These older actions have more safety features and better machining than the later actions. That military bolt shroud uses a safety that cams back and positively blocks the forward movement of the firing pin. To get that firing pin to go forward you have to shear the shroud safety or break the firing pin. Later actions used a sear blocking safety in the trigger mechanism which is not as positive or as certain. Sear blocking safeties have been known to "jar off".

I took pictures of my bolt and you can see some of the safety features that Paul Mauser designed into this action.

The firing pin has an interlock. If the firing pin breaks and the lugs are not engaged, the firing pin cannot reach the primer. You can see the interlock through the gas ports. This feature was deleted in later FN actions and I am not aware of this feature in any American bolt action. All other actions the firing pin tip will stick out through the bolt face if the firing pin breaks.

The 03 Springfield has a very poor and weak firing pin design. I have had strikers, collars, and firing pin tips break in these actions. Thank god nothing evil happened to me. Jack O'Connor had a 03 which broke its firing pin. He did not know that the firing pin was sticking out, the next round went off before the bolt closed, and Jack almost lost a thumb when the bolt blew out of the rifle.

Interlock on, firing pin flange not in bolt recesses, firing pin tip inside bolt


Firing pin rotated, interlock off, firing pin flange in bolt recesses.


If there is gas escape from a pierced primer or a blown case head the firing pin will move backwards in all bolt actions. In the M98 action the firing pin moves backwards to this point and is stopped. This also effectively blocks gas from coming right down the firing pin shaft into your eye. It works as I have had pierced primers in military Mausers and never received gas in the eye. If you ever get a pierced primer in a M70, better be wearing glasses!

This feature was deleted in later FN actions.

You can see the guide rib on the bolt, deleted in later FN actions and you can see the third safety lug. This safety lug also blocked gas coming under the bolt, and it was removed in later FN actions.


Your rifle was drilled and tapped for a scope some time later in its life. . Based on these ads, the rifle came from the factory drilled and tapped only for receiver sights. I have never seen one of these receiver sights so I guess most of them went in the trash can. I do not know if a Lyman 48 M will fit these rifles.

 

[HUNTNMT29]

wow that makes me wonder where old grandad did end up with it, it is experianced my dad handed it down to me 16 or so years ago his dad to him and so on,and i use it all the time never thinking to much about it until i did a little research on a different rifle of mine(1959 Sks matching Romy) that i decided to look into it

 

[HUNTNMT29]

most of the scratches and nicks on the stock arent very deep and are mostly in the finish. do you think it would effect the future value of the rifle it i was to have it refinished or put a new stock on. And i was also wondering if anyone might know the approx value to list on my insurance, right now i have it at 200 bucks i think

 

[RickMD]

If you're going to keep it and want to refinish the stock I wouldn't hesitate to do so. Although it's of very high quality, so many were made that it's not considered a collectors item. (Refinished guns to collectors are a no-no) The Blue Book currently lists the value at $400 in 80% condition. Hope this helps.

 

[Smokey in PHX]

I have a couple Browning Safari Grade rifles made by FN which are great shooting guns. You have a keeper there. I would refinish the stock rather than put a new stock on it.

 

[HUNTNMT29]

Thanks for the advise when I'm ready to hand it down hopefully many years from now ill have it finisheded up and looking good, until then its not retired yet so the battle scars are gonna have to stay for awhile, they add some character, but now I know not to be worried about doing it when the time comes, ill have to post some shots next time I go out with it..

 

[Slamfire]

Although it's of very high quality, so many were made that it's not considered a collectors item. (Refinished guns to collectors are a no-no) The Blue Book currently lists the value at $400 in 80% condition.

I don't think that many were made.

I just looked on Gun Broker. I found one FN Deluxe, looks worse than 80% and has one bid at $585.

I found six pages of pre 64 M70's, most of which are going for more than the FN Deluxe. A decent price on a pre 64 M70 is about $650, some are going for many times more.

These are rarer than pre 64 M70's, but they don't seem to be attracting the same high prices.

In my opinion, the FN Deluxe has the better action.

Since these are going for less than pre 64's, I think I am going to be keeping my eye out for the other calibers.

 

[HUNTNMT29]

I've never seen another one just like it yet, not that that's saying much I always assumed it was a old generic german hunting rifle, it great to finally know alittle more about the rifle that has filled my freezer many times I just looked at the one on GB, you guys were right on what i have, my finish isnt in very good shape on the stock but over all i think my guns in better shape especially with my 3x9 leopold scope

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

Was thinking there were 3 grades Crown grade, Supreme grade and I don't remember the other. maybe field grade. I liked them because they were pretty much the same thing as the Browning High Power, for all I know they were built by them. Had one in 250 savage

Thinking back on it I bet FN did make the Browning rifles since they were making the A-5s, and the pistols at that time.
FN grades were DeLuxe , Supreme, Presentation.

 

[HUNTNMT29]

that crazy i didnt think my old hunting rifle had so much in its past

 

[RickMD]

I don't think that many were made.

They were manufactured from 1947 through 1963. They were made for Browning, Sears, and and sold under numerous other private labels as well as FN. One can't use a specific auction on GunBroker to determine the value of a firearm. I've see uninformed buyers pay three times what the going retail is as well as guns that sold for one third their actual retail value. Dealers go by the Blue Book unless they stumble over a buyer with more money than brains.

 

[HUNTNMT29]

I'll never even think about selling this rifle when the end of days come and if i dont make it they'll find me mummified with my family an GUNS. but it is cool to know my old reliable(taken deer at 250+ accurately,and some longer ones that some may call lucky) that a matter of opinion has some come history i found out from dad that great granddad special ordered it and bought it brand new with fits with what everyone has agreed on what it is, i dont know the exact year it was purchased but im gonna see if grampa has any more info.

 

[Smokey in PHX]

It seems to me that I've seen these FN Mausers in the higher grades along with the pre-64's selling for close to $800+ many years ago at the big gun shows in Dallas. FN did make a lot of the Browning High Powers and I have seen these for over a $1000. All of these rifles were in excellent condition.

 

[natman]

do you think it would effect the future value of the rifle it i was to have it refinished or put a new stock on. And i was also wondering if anyone might know the approx value to list on my insurance, right now i have it at 200 bucks i think

Great gun that it is, FNs don't have a lot of collector interest, at least not of the kind that is going to lose value because the stock is refinished. The stock looks sound, just finish wear, so have it refinished, not replaced.

 

[HUNTNMT29]

great info everyone i think im just gonna leave it alone for awhile when it gets closer to when my son gets it handed down to him ill think about getting it prettied up, other wise i think id be to scared to take her for a hike all dolled up

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

Rick is correct I have seen 2 marked JCHiggns, rest of it not so much. When I was a kid unless you were standing there, when it hit the rack you couldn't hardly buy a Browning Bolt used. And I looked, it is the same gun.

I was however mistaken on grades that was Husqvarna 98 Mausers in Crown grade.

This rifle in this shape I would value the same wether it was Browning or not. I would say $500-575 and I wish millions were made.

 

[natman]

Rick is correct I have seen 2 marked JCHiggns, rest of it not so much.

The JC Higgins Model 50 and 51 used the same action as this gun, but the barrel was supplied by High Standard and the trigger and stock were different.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I have a 1953 version of this rifle in .250-3000 that was my first and only high power rifle for a very long time.
Years later my brother-in-law purchased a J.C. Higgins in.30-'06 and the rifles are nearly identical.
Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to refinish this rifle down to even rebluing.