1962 Browning Belgium-Made SA-22 Semi Auto Rimfire Rifle - Good Condition

Description:
Collectors, the SA-22 is no longer in Production.  This is a 1962 Belgium-made rifle that shows some use.  The barrel is threaded, and it has a grooved receiver for a scope mount.  The metal shows some light spotting.  Overall, good condition and solid rifle.

Front blade sight with adjustable rear sight.  The wood has a blonde oil finish and is in good condition with some handling marks.  The metal is in good condition and shows some light spotting.  The barrel is 19".    LOP is 13 1/4".  The serial number is 99789.

OVERVIEW:
Anyone who has read about John Moses Browning will, no doubt, have come across those two iconic photographs of “le maitre”. In each, he is holding examples of his genius: the unmistakable FN Browning Auto-5 (the ‘humpback’) and the FN Browning .22-calibre Automatic Rifle. The latter became the most successful of Browning’s small-calibre sporting rifles, also taking credit for being the first production semiautomatic .22” rifle.

Introduced in 1914, this blowback action self-loading rifle has an overall length of 37 inches (94cm) with a round, ‘take-down’ barrel of 19.25 inches (489mm). It was also known as the ‘Browning Semi Automatic 22’ or ‘SA-22’. A leaf rear sight with a knobbed wheel adjustment was later replaced with a simple fold-down rear sight. A small bead front sight was common to almost all models.  A tubular magazine is located in the walnut butt-stock, and, in early rifles, loading was done using a port located in the top of the stock. In later versions, this was replaced by a side-loading port on the right side of the stock. This enabled the capacity to be raised from eight rounds of .22” LR to eleven rounds and eleven rounds of .22” Short to sixteen rounds. A cross-bolt safety is positioned at the front of the trigger guard.  The one-piece receiver has an opening at the bottom for the ejection of spent cases, with FN’s brochures claiming, “complete protection of the user from hot powder gases or defective cartridges is assured”.  The downward ejection makes it suitable for either right or left-handed shooters.  ‘Taking down’ the rifle is relatively straightforward. The barrel lock, located underneath in front of the breechblock finger piece, is pushed forward while the breechblock is moved back about a quarter of an inch. This prevents the extractor from catching during disassembly. By rotating the barrel a 90-degree turn to the left, it can now be pulled forward and out. The firing mechanism can be removed from the receiver with no need for tools. It is not uncommon to find examples where the butt-stock has been gripped, instead of the receiver, to gain extra leverage on disassembly, resulting in a split developing in the wood.  With no side ejection port, the receiver had a large “canvas” for engraving. There were six grades in total, with the higher grades including gold inlay and elaborate wood carving. I

During the move of production, in 1974, from Herstal to Miroku, Japan, the order of the serial number code was, in effect, reversed. The serial number now preceded the calibre code, followed by a two-figure year code. E.g. 1270T74 = a 1974 semi-automatic rifle in .22” LR calibre with the serial number 1270.  This arrangement was only used until 1976, when Browning standardised its serial number identification. The serial number remained at the front, but a two-letter code now denoted the year of manufacture with a three-digit numerical code for the firearm type and grade of finish. E.g. 01035RT246 = a .22” Semi-Auto Grade 2 rifle, made in 1976 with the serial number 01035.

This is a used item. While we do not test-fire our used firearms, we perform an inspection and function check to ensure that they are fully functional to the best of our ability. 

Layaway: 1/3 down, 90 days
Shipping:  $50, insurance extra upon request
Payment:  Personal Check, Money Order, Cert. Check, or Zelle
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Returns without damage or alteration within 3 days of delivery, minus a 20% restocking fee 

Curio/Relic: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Manufacturer: Browning
Model: SA-22 Take-Down
Serial Number: 99789
Barrel Length: 19
Bore Info: Good
Condition: Good
Metal Condition: Good
Wood Condition: Good
Bore Condition: Good
Action: Semi Auto
Triggers: Single
Stock: Black Walnut
Butt Pad: Factory Plate
Finish: Oil
Sights: Metal
Manufacture Date: 1962
Case: Optional
Grips: Pistol

Price: $649.00
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