Saltwood
When looking at Browning,they mention saltwood stocks,or not,what are they talking about
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(From "Browning Sporting Arms of Distinction" by Matt Eastman)
Browning procrastinated in signing a wood contract in Europe because there was a price spike. BA thought it was a ploy and put off the purchase knowing there was plenty of cheap California wood available if needed. By the time the European wood deal fell through the California wood was gone.
The only figured wood available was planks bought in California but sent to South America for furniture. BA was trapped and had to take it. *That's* where the salt curing was being done but BA missed it being a problem.
BA *tried* to sell some to TRW for M-14 stocks but Claro walnut failed the physical test and was never used. Bishop, Fajen, the so-called Warsaw (MO) pact, bought some and sold it in semi-inlets.
BA nearly went broke from the fiasco. A serious tax problem about the same time almost put them under and as a result they lost the FN connection and were forced to Japan and Portugal for guns and parts.
1968 was the "1964" of Browning Arms. That's why round knob, long-tang, (RKLT) Brownings are more desirable.
If a Browning has French walnut stocks it can't be salt wood. All Claro, especially the higher grades on superposed, is suspect.0 -
Does the salt corrode the metal,are my belguim BLR"S saltwood,thank-you very much 0 -
Probably not. The models most affected were the Superposed and the bolt-actions.
Scrappy Doo sleeps with the fishes.0 -
After this many years, if you had saltwood, you would know the minute you pulled the barrel/action out of the stock.
If you are looking at one that is for sale, tell the seller about your concern and, at the minimum, ask them to let you pull the butt plate. If the screws are not corroded and don't appear to be recent replacements then you should be good. If the screws appear to be to new or if they are stainless, either back away or insist on a full tear down inspection.
If the seller will not cooperate w/ you then you don't want to buy, no matter how good the deal, etc.
If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!0 -
Most sources indicate that the problem guns were manufactured between 1966 and 1972. T-bolts were affected too. 0 -
And BAR's.
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