Please help me to work out a date of manufacture

[k8purvis]

Hi All,

Very new to all this and know absolutely nothing except that I am trying to work out which one of my late dad's guns to purchase from his estate. I am buying it simply for sentimental value but am planning on learning how to use it as well through a shooting club. He taught my oldest brother and I to shoot when we were kids and loved his guns. I wish I had asked and learnt more!!

He had about nine guns but I am trying to figure out if this is one of the ones he used as a young man and was given to him by his father. The best way I can do this is by date of manufacture but I cannot seem to figure this one out. (Pretty sure I have sorted the other ones)

I only have the photos that I have as they are all locked away in storage in another town now so unfortunately cannot get any more and will just have to do the best I can with what info I have.

I have contacted Browning but they say that this gun is not one of theirs and was made by FN for Mauser.

These are the details that I have on the storage receipt from the gun shop.
Browning .250 serial # B3037
FN Mauser 98 250/3000
Bolt action rifle
mag cap/ch:0004

Any help would be very much appreciated
Thanks
Kate

 

[k8purvis]

some more photos

Some more photos

 

[k8purvis]

And the last photo

And the last photo

 

[Scorch]

Your rifle is a field grade FN Sporting rifle, built on a FN-made commercial Mauser 98 action, a very popular model of rifle from the early 1900s until the mid 1980s. It has been drilled and tapped for scope mounting, something that was not available in the USA on FN factory rifles until the mid 1950s, although may have been available from the factory in Europe as telescopic sights were popular there long before they became common here in the USA. From the design of the bolt shroud, your rifle was made sometime after the mid-1950s when they changed the bolt shroud design from the knobby "military" gas shield bolt shroud to a more streamlined "commercial" design.

Just to clarify, FN made and sold Mauser-designed actions under license from Mauser, they did not make actions for Mauser.

Your rifle is essentially the same rifle manufactured by FN and sold in North America as the Browning High Power Rifle in Safari, Medallion, Midas, and Olympus grades (different grades of wood and levels of embellishments on each grade). Browning held the distribution rights for FN products for North America until the early 1970s, FN sold under their own name throughout the rest of the world, so your rifle was imported from outside of the United States (either as a personal firearm purchased overseas, or imported from Europe after WW2, as many firearms were imported used from Europe from the late 1940s until quite recently).

Value of the rifle is approximately $600-$800. Your rifle is chambered for the 250-3000 cartridge, also known as the 250 Savage. Ammunition is available, although it can be quite hard to locate. Your rifle would be a good rifle for hunting game up to deer or wild boar size (200-300 lbs). In the hands of an accomplished hunter, it is an entirely adequate cartridge and very enjoyable to shoot.

 

[Blindstitch]

If the prices aren't to crazy I would buy a few and decide later. When my grandfather went to live in the VA home the rifles in his estate were put up for sale. Eventually I bought 9 or so not needing them but then I was able to ask and show him pictures to figure out which more valuable to him.

 

[COSteve]

It's a shame you didn't get the chance to discuss them more with your dad before he passed. As a father, I've made sure that my heirs get all my firearms as I have a special Joint Ownership Firearms Agreement that states in part that when I pass or become unable or unwilling to own firearms, they immediately pass to the designated heir. This agreement is also noted in my Will. Every time I make a change to my firearms, I update the information on a spreadsheet that is an attachment to the agreement.