Belgium Browning Olympian .30-06 with scope rings
Guns International #: 100495181 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Browning Belgium Rifles - Olympian - Browning Belgium Rifles
Seller's Information
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Seller: Kephart Firearms
Company: Kephart Firearms
Member Since: 6/14/08
State: North Carolina
Country: United States
Phone: (828) 837-8067
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Certified Funds
About Us: In business in Murphy, NC since 1981 still just a $20 fee for transfers. Will also sell consignments for 10% above costs.
Description:
Belgian Browning Olympian (not Safari or Medallion) in .30-06 caliber
To start with, this is a salt gun and has some pretty bad salt exposure rusting on it. However, most of the rust is confined to below-the-stock-line (so that part doesn't matter much anyway in regard to appearance), the crossbolt and sling studs (which are both replaceable for a reasonable price), and the trigger housing. There are several certified Browning repair centers whom specifically list re-bluing and re-greying an entire Olympian for around $500.
Inside the rifle the action is virtually rusted up as well as the trigger will only move a little and the safety won't move at all. With a little finagling it will cock and snap the action so it does work. I have not detached the stock so I don't know how bad it really is but then again, it's a basic long-action Mauser which happens to have the most plentiful supply of parts for any gun in history. Getting original or even upgrade parts should not be a problem.
The stock is also cracked behind the receiver so it is definitely not safe to shoot as-is now, but I do think it is a beautiful stock and once you have a cheap utility stock fitted to the gun this wood would still make a nice display with the barreled action in it, just check it often or line it with wax paper to prevent further metal damage. If the stock had a small hole drilled and a dowel pin inserted with epoxy it should be safe to shoot again. I know it's hard to believe such a beautiful piece of wood is the cause of all this salt damage but I have actually seen worse Olympians be restored. This gun is totally salvageable to be a beautiful shooter.
Basically I am selling the art of the gun which the receiver and floorplate are still in really good condition. I can find only one engraver's initials which are AM on the floorplate. I have sold Olympian floorplates for as much as $1500 in the past and an engraved action ought to be worth at least $1500 - plus it has engraved rings on it. This is a 1970 rifle.
This is an as-is sale, I've tried to be up front as possible and will send as many pictures as you want to make a decision. I feel you could spend about $1500 on this and have a really nice piece with a synthetic or laminated stock, re-grey and re-blue, and retouching some of the engraving. If you replace the stock with similar wood and carving you'd still be a couple thousand under the normal price of another Olympian nowadays. Add $50 for shipping - I ship only by usps - no returns - no trades (except maybe a 2 1/2" Python in good shape).
SOLD