I bought this little Browning SA22 a couple of years ago and finally have the time to start working on it. I remember the owner well......
"This is a Belgium Browning 22 and I'll take $600.00 for it"..........
Well Sir, it is a Belgium Browning let me look it over.......
After a few minutes of inspecting the rifle and test firing it (always test fire old 22's......(ALWAYS BEFORE you buy it), I return to to let him know what I had found...
1. There is zero original finish on the rifle and it is covered in rust.....
2. The buttstock is cracked on both sides and someone had already done an irreparable stock repair.
3. The barrel lock ring spring and detent were missing.
4. It fired but otherwise wouldn't eject and cycle.
5. Bore extremely dirty, but found serviceable after I ran a brush and patches through it.
" Well I would take $500.00 then"
Uhmm.....no........
"$400.00 and I won't take any less"
Uhmm....no.....
"What would you offer me?"
$150.00 and not a penny more......
I explained to him that replacing the stock and forearm would be a minimum of $400.00 and that is for grade 1 wood......
Refinishing the gun would cost $200-$300.00 and have still have pitting.......
And it would still only be worth about $500.00 because the refinish, metal condition and non original wood......
The collector value of the gun was nil....because of the condition....
I bought it, scrubbed it down with 4/0 steel wool, wiped it down with oil it and it sat in the back of the safe till now..
Depending on how the metal turns out I will decide on restocking it......either way it will be my shooter......my other two SA22s are in mint condition...
Normally I say leave old guns as they are...........but when they are in this condition my opinion changes.......
Note the barrel condition in front of the forend
The bolt says it all.......
Inside the receiver.....
even the trigger is rusty....
"This is a Belgium Browning 22 and I'll take $600.00 for it"..........
Well Sir, it is a Belgium Browning let me look it over.......
After a few minutes of inspecting the rifle and test firing it (always test fire old 22's......(ALWAYS BEFORE you buy it), I return to to let him know what I had found...
1. There is zero original finish on the rifle and it is covered in rust.....
2. The buttstock is cracked on both sides and someone had already done an irreparable stock repair.
3. The barrel lock ring spring and detent were missing.
4. It fired but otherwise wouldn't eject and cycle.
5. Bore extremely dirty, but found serviceable after I ran a brush and patches through it.
" Well I would take $500.00 then"
Uhmm.....no........
"$400.00 and I won't take any less"
Uhmm....no.....
"What would you offer me?"
$150.00 and not a penny more......
I explained to him that replacing the stock and forearm would be a minimum of $400.00 and that is for grade 1 wood......
Refinishing the gun would cost $200-$300.00 and have still have pitting.......
And it would still only be worth about $500.00 because the refinish, metal condition and non original wood......
The collector value of the gun was nil....because of the condition....
I bought it, scrubbed it down with 4/0 steel wool, wiped it down with oil it and it sat in the back of the safe till now..
Depending on how the metal turns out I will decide on restocking it......either way it will be my shooter......my other two SA22s are in mint condition...
Normally I say leave old guns as they are...........but when they are in this condition my opinion changes.......
Note the barrel condition in front of the forend
The bolt says it all.......
Inside the receiver.....
even the trigger is rusty....