Browning T-Bolt 22 Grade 2
I have a 1972 Belgium made Browning T-Bolt 22 Grade 2 that I was given, new, 30 years ago. I fired it once, cleaned and oiled it thoroughly, and put it into a gun case for storage and left it alone all these years. I decided to look at it the other day and to my surprise there was some corrosion on the front of the trigger guard, where the paint appeared to "bubble off" the underlying metal surrounding the hole where the bolt that attaches the trigger guard to the barrel passes through. I disassembled it and found there was some additional corrosion on the aluminum trigger housing around that bolt.
I called Browning and they informed me, to my disbelief, of the "salt wood" problem they had back during that time period and that apparently this was causing the corrosion. Aside from the corrosion, the rest of the gun appears to be brand new, and I also have several spare, brand new magazines, the original owners manual in like new condition, and the single shot conversion kit.
I have decided to get rid of it while it is still worth something but have no idea of it's value because of the "salt wood" problem. I have talked to a couple of people that have given me wildly conflicting advice, from calling it a "boat anchor" to suggesting it be sold for parts. I've been told that some of the parts, like the magazines and peep sight can have substantial value. Any advice would be appreciated.
I called Browning and they informed me, to my disbelief, of the "salt wood" problem they had back during that time period and that apparently this was causing the corrosion. Aside from the corrosion, the rest of the gun appears to be brand new, and I also have several spare, brand new magazines, the original owners manual in like new condition, and the single shot conversion kit.
I have decided to get rid of it while it is still worth something but have no idea of it's value because of the "salt wood" problem. I have talked to a couple of people that have given me wildly conflicting advice, from calling it a "boat anchor" to suggesting it be sold for parts. I've been told that some of the parts, like the magazines and peep sight can have substantial value. Any advice would be appreciated.
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You have a T-2, not a grade 2. They made a T-1, T-2, and a late production T-2 only. No grades.
Guns need a little more attention than once in 30 yrs. From your post, I have some doubt as to whether this is a salt gun. The places you describe corrosion are not typical of a salt gun. My gut says this is just poor storage/care, not salt. The guy at Browning is dangerous with info sometimes. He hears "T-Bolt and corrosion" then says "salt" everytime. Not every T-Bolt with corrosion has salt issues...guarantee. Typically, salt guns had damage where wood and metal join only. Plus, you said 1972. Most salt damage ended with 1971 mfg. But Browning/FN is known to use prior year parts all the time. Never a clean cut-off on production.
I am bias because I want to possibly purchase your rifle. But, a "salt gun" is typically worth approx. 50% of it's value if "no salt". (Per Blue Book) If salt, this gun will have to be restocked or refinished...wood and metal. Wood will have to be sealed. This is expensive to have done right. If not salt, still needs some work. The gun will never be a collector piece either way. Or you can part-out the gun. Never a boat anchor. This also happened to many VERY expensive Superposed shotguns too that are worth thousands. Please contact me if you want to sell. Thx.
a5bbq05@juno.com and remove the a5 due to spam. I am a BCA Life member.
America...Bless God.0 -
Copy of somebody's prior post.
Salt wood resulted from a process used on Brownings to speed up the curing time of wood...the salt would draw out the moisture and speed up the drying process, unfortunately the salt residue remained in the wood grain and caused metal corrosion where the metal and wood made contact. This was not a Browning problem, but a supplier problem.
About 1965, a large wood supplier sent wood not only to Browning for FN's use but also to Bishop, Fajen, Winchester, Ruger and to the US Military for M-14 stocks. This company was drying their walnut using granulated salt, by covering the wood with salt and placing it in quonset huts.
The wood dried so quickly that the workers said they could actually see a steady drip of moisture coming from the wood. The wood was already cut into the appropriate size planks and no one thought that any salt residue would remain on or in the wood after final shaping, sanding, and finshing.The US Government stopped using walnut for the M-14 rifles and went to other types of wood because properly cured wood was so scarce at the time.
In Brownings case, the problem first showed up starting in 1966 and ends on their guns about 1973. Superposes and T-Bolts made between 1967-1973 should be looked at; Safari, Medallion or Olympian made between 1967-1976; and any A5's 2,000,000 edition Commemoratives should be looked at.
Inspect any place the metal touches the wood. Take out the butt plate screws and look them over carefully. If you find no rust, the gun is probably OK. Sometimes you can test the wood with silver nitrate. Place a drop or two on a hidden spot on the wood, if it bubbles you have a problem
(From "Browning Sporting Arms of Distincction" by Matt Eastman)
Browning procrastinated in signing the wood contract it 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, is suspect.
America...Bless God.0
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