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Good evening-

Looking for some insight on a rifle i picked up a little while back. Any help or history would be appreciated. I understand firearms international (DC) did a lot of importing in the 60's. Didnt want to take the base off to see the Mauser Crest, but if thats what it would take....

No other identifying marks other than the crest.
Dual set triggers
Chambered in .264 win mag- can't comment if barrel is original.




Left side of the action

Right side



[img]http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/...D-4215-9197-8D824C844830_zpsrli3y3j2.jpg[/img]

Thanks for looking.

FN Mauser action, basically the same thing as a Browning Safari Grade. Most had an aluminum alloy floorplate

I grew up in the Washington, DC area and used to see ads for firearms and sporting equipment sold by Firearms international, Washington DC. I wanted to visit the company, but could never find it as no address was given, other than a PO box. I even bought a rifle from them (by mail order - it was legal then) to learn the shipping address, but alas, only the PO box was given as a return address.

When ZIP Codes came into being, theirs was listed as 20022 which is in a large warehouse district in NE DC (off New York Avenue). I drove through the area and couldn't figure out where they were. Later I heard that the sporting goods business was a legitimate front for their real owner - the CIA who also supported a number of firearms activities in supplying "things" around the world.

Also located in the DC area was Sam Cummings Interarms Co., also a front used by the same agency. They had a retail outlet (Ye Old Hunter - at the end of Prince Street, Alexandria, VA). I'd go there and see literally piles of Lee Enfields ($19.95), M-1 Garands ($49.95 and up), Johnson Automatic Rifles ($69.95), Mausers ($19.95 and up), etc. They also had 3 Boys anti-tank rifles on the floor (forget price, but it was probably in the range of $100) and 2 Lathi 20mm Anti-tank guns (probably about $500). They also had boxes of loose ammo from which I started a pretty good cartridge collection.

God, do I wish I had bought the guns then that I'm paying a lot for now!!!

Interesting rifle, and story! The dark wood on the comb almost looks original, and the light wood underneath added. Sure is a high comb!

There may be markings on the bottom of the barrel that would indicate manufacturer and date. It would be interesting to remove the stock and take a look.

Certainly an FN action, but not near identical to the Browning. Floorplate is most likely steel, as this is not the "Supreme" model as evidenced by the bolt sleeve and safety. Interesting with the double set triggers, as not many of these guns came with them. The ejector mechanism is pure Model 98 Mauser; Browning had a significantly different one.

Gun was most likely a rebarrel, and was again most likely offered in 7mm Remmy mak-num.

Either way, it sure is nice!

Way Way back in the 1990s there was still a gun shop at the waterfront on Prince street. Interarms, who imported Norinco and Star firearms was just up the street aways on Prince. I visited there once to pick up a jacket that was being offered for people who bought a Star firearm. Aaaaahhhh the good old days.

It appears to be a Firearms International "musketeer", which was the economy grade rifle as opposed to the FN Mauser itself. The rifle used the standard FN Mauser action which preceded the "supreme" action. The primary difference between the two being the bolt sleeve. Browning used the a version of the supreme, however they modified the bolt release. All these actions have the long extractor. The 264 Win Mag was a standard chambering in the "Musketeer" Google "Firearms International Musketeer" and you will find a guns magazine containing an FI advertisement showing the rifle.

As everyone has already said, the rifle uses an FN Deluxe action. Double set triggers were probably an addition as was the cheek piece. Most likely their Musketeer model. Though they did offer them in the 264 Win Mag chambering, yours was rebarreled.

Thanks for the responses guys. I will be taking the stock off to clean it up and look for any other markings. Will also be loading up some ammo soon enough and see how she shoots, which is what I'm most interested in. Adding musketeer into the search gave me loads more information.

Not that I will ever sell it as i just find it too neat, and will shoot it often- Any guesses as to the value?

GF1- can you say for certain that any came with double set triggers? I have been looking around the web and haven't see others like it. Thanks

robert,

That is an interesting rifle, and if I had a chance for it, I'd likely buy it, too. Some years ago, I owned a F.I. Muscateer in .308 Norma Mag. I wish I'd not sold it, but alas, it's gone.

F.I. imported rifles on both the FN Deluxe and Supreme actions. And also imported Sako rifles at one time. Somewhere amongst my treasures, I have an early 60's Firearms Intl' catalog.

Great rifles, even today...

GH

Owned one once in a 300 Win. It's one of the few guns I let go, because I was on about a 15 year run of chasing nothing larger that deer. A very well made rifle with full length fiber glass bedding. I too know nothing of the company though.

I can not, and should have been more clear. My meaning is that if the double set trigger was original it would be very rare. Quite likely that it's been added, though nothing else appears to be changed on the action. Any pix of the bottom metal?

I should be able to get some posted this evening. Any other pictures that would be helpful?

Bottom of the barrel with the stock removed.

The rifle is worth what you say it is worth. If you say it is worth $10,000, then that is what it is worth. If you sell it to someone for $600, then you both consider it worth $600. There is no more to it than that.

Really like that set trigger. I have a FI Musketeer that came with a Sako trigger. I'm not thrilled with the high Monte Carlo stock on mine, but it shoots very well.

Right side



Serial number is 4 digits

The set trigger does what it supposed to. VERY light. As high as stock looks it fits pretty well when throwing it up to my shoulder. Pleasantly surprised