NICE Engraved FN Belgium Browning Model O/U Express, Blue 24” Over/Under Double Barrel Rifle, MFD 1981
SOLD FOR: $3,182
LSB#: 160109CH06
Make: Made by Fabrique Nationale for Browning
Model: O/U Express Rifle
Serial Number: 177PZ01289
Year of Manufacture: 1981
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Over/Under Top Break Opening, Single Selective Trigger.
Markings: The right side of the barrel block is marked “30.06”. The left side of the barrel block is marked “01289 / 177PZ” and with a crowned proof. The left side of the lower barrel in front of the block is marked with a crowned “PV” proof with a Perron in the center, an inspection mark and “60 BARS”. The left side of the top barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q.”. The right side of the top barrel is marked “MADE IN BELGIUM .30-06 CALIBER ONLY”. The underside of the latch at the back of the forend is marked “289”. The left side of the water table is marked with a crowned “PV” proof with a Perron in the center. The upper tang is marked “177PZ01289” and the underside of the receiver is marked with a circled “R” proof and “BROWNING”. The top, sides and underside of the receiver, and the trigger guard and lever are heavily engraved with scroll engraving from the factory.
Barrel Length: The barrels are 24” in length.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass bead dovetailed into a raised ramped base fixed to the barrel. The ramp is finely checkered to reduce glare. The rear sight is a folding express sight dovetailed into a boss fixed to the top of the barrel. The leaf in the sight is a flat blade that has a fine adjustment for elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece dark fancy walnut with a straight grip and a black plastic shotgun style buttplate marked “BROWNING”. The grip checkering extends past the back of the lower tang about two thirds of the way between the trigger guard and the butt. The forend has a Schnabel tip. There is a light mark at the front of the comb on the right side of the stock, a small ding about 2” behind it and a light mark and a ding below that just above the checkering. The checkering is sharp and without mars. The LOP measures 14 3/16” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate, which shows no marks. The buttplate and the stocks are in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: The barrels and receiver are blued and the trigger is gold plated.
Finish Originality: The finish is original.
Bore Condition: The bores are bright with very light wear in the rifling. There is very light erosion in the grooves of the top barrel near the muzzle. Our bore gauge measures the ME of the top barrel at 1.0 and the bottom barrel at 0.7.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99+% of its metal finish. There is a very light mark on the left side of the bottom barrel, probably from rubbing on the forend. There is also a small spot of surface loss on the upper tang just to the left of the safety. The screw heads are sharp and the markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has an inertia trigger. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: This is a beautiful over/under Express Rifle made by Fabrique Nationale for Browning and chambered in .30-06 Springfield. The rifle has a single folding express sight, checkered fancy walnut stocks with a straight grip and Schnabel tipped forend, and is elaborately scroll engraved on the receiver, lever and trigger guard. Even the screw heads are engraved. Please see our pictures for a better idea of how beautiful this rifle really is. The rifle is in about Excellent condition with over 99% of its original finish remaining. There is a light mark on the left side of the lower barrel from rubbing on the forend and there is a spot of surface loss at the left side of the safety. There are a very few light marks on the right side of the buttstock and the checkering is still sharp to the touch and without mars. The bores are bright with light wear in the rifling. Unfortunately, the top barrel has extremely light erosion in the grooves near the muzzle. Our bore gauge measured a ME of 1.0 in the top barrel and 0.7 in the bottom. At 6lbs 14 oz., this is a very nice light rifle that would be perfect for deer hunting. However, there weren’t all that many of these made, and in this outstanding condition, the collectors are going to be all over it.
