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I have a line on one of these and need to let the person know in the next couple of days. Having a hard time justifying another 30-06, but this one feels right.

It's a 30-06 with a 22" barrel from the early 60's from what I can tell. Easily 95%+ gun, original owner claimed to never have fired it. Has some minor rust on the floorplate and the bolt is real sticky. Wood is plain jane/montecarlo/cheek piece.

What also is throwing me off is some of the markings or lack thereof on the receiver. There isn't anything marked on the side wall or any proof marks above the woodline. I have not seen it out of the stock. The only thing visible is the caliber stamp and serial number.

The serial number begins with the letter J followed by 4 numbers. I am far from an expert, but when trying to look up FN's from this era, none of them seem to have this type of serial. It seems that most of the ones I can find with J are all Browning Safari's? I know it's the same action, just seems odd.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

What leads you to believe that it is FN if it is not marked?

It sounds like High Standard High Power rifle. These had commercial FN Mauser actions with military-style swing safety and were made in small numbers in .270 and .30-06. Some were sold by Sears Roebuck under their own model number.

The Sears model had checkered steel butt plate, pencil barrel and varmint style for end stock section.

Belgian FN Mauser would have Belgian proof marks and large FN monogram on front ring/bridge of the action.

A quote from a book Bolt Action Rifles by Frank De Haas.
"All in all there never was, nor is there now, an action more widely used for sporting rifles than the M98 Mauser."

Whelennut, it has a side safety, checkered underside on the bolt knob, hinged floor-plate.

It has a vintage Redfield mounted, and the base is blocking any front bridge marking.

If you through in anything with two opposing front lugs into this equation then yes. I do not consider guns like Remington M700 a Mauser. One does have to realize that even guns that share common M98 features like ZKK/CZ550 and Winchester Model 70 (Springfield derivative) are not true M98 sporters.

With lack of proof marks on bolt, action, rifle barrel it's beginning to sound like something from old Herter's.

Every FN I've seen has had something on the order of "Made in Belgium" on the left side of the action between the receiver ring and the bridge.

Sears guns should have "J. C. Higgins" marked on the barrel. If the buttplate is original, it will be plastic with the Higgins logo.

FN Musketeers have checkered stocks, side safeties, and aluminum floorplates. The Supremes imported by Firearms International will be similar, but have steel floorplates and nicer stocks as I recall. There are also FN sporters with wing safeties, nice checkered stocks with "beadwork" on the bottom edge of the grip checkering, and if original, plastic buttplates with FN markings.

Your rifle may be put together with an FN action or barrelled action and an aftermarket stock. It may also be a Marlin, Colt, or Monkey Wards. If it doesn't say FN somewhere, chances are it ain't.

Pictures would be very helpful

I doubt that it is made by FN if it has no markings.
Also because you say it is sticky.
A Belgian made Mauser would be very smooth.
I remember people trying to make Santa Barbara actions smooth. Very labor intensive.

I ended up buying it, couldn't resist!

It's even weirder than I thought. No FN crest on the front ring under the scope base, nothing, nadda. On the right side of the receiver, just under the serial and below the wood line...FN stamp with "Made in Belgium" below it. On the bottom of the receiver is some numbers, proof marks, etc.

So to summarize:

1.) The only visible markings when the rifle is complete are the serial number L29XX and CAL.30-06 that's it.

2.) Underside of the receiver marks are * over a C, Lion over F.V and Perron.

3.) Trigger appears to be Sako as it's stamped made in Finland.

Will try to get some pics soon.

FN sold actions for awhile also. Sounds like a custom built on one?

The Musketeer my brother purchased through the mail from the original Gander Mountain company had a Sako trigger. It was a Firearms International import.

$108.00 as I recall.

Sako made some FN Mauser action rifles in the 50's. FN action, Sako barrel and trigger, nice stock, what's not to like?

FN definitely sold some with less obvious markings. The serial numbers don't really seem to make any coherent sense. Some in the sixties that went to some custom makers and less high profile makes, like Montgomery Ward had sako triggers and were marked below the wood . Some that went to Husqvarna, not marked at all. The bolt handles are frequently a distinguishing feature.

This rifle is pretty mint. The blueing is excellent, and my pictures suck

It's feels and looks like a brand new rifle. Everything is tight, the raceways barely have a mark on them. Just some minor rust on the trigger guard and receiver face. Trigger breaks at 2.5lbs like glass.

What to do, what to do....

Here is my FN Mauser .270. Bought it at a LGS 18 months ago.

That stock looks very Sako-ish.

Go forth and slay.

Beautiful rifle. I'd use it!!!

Go shoot it !

(BSA beat me to it...)

What to do? If it were mine:
1. Scope it and check accuracy. If good,
2. Decide on permanent scope and mounts.
3. Fit a more attractive recoil pad (my opinion only.)
4. Consider a safety that blocks the striker.
5. Enjoy it!