In House Shipping:
Make: Browning, MFG. in Belgium
Model: 22 Semi-Auto Rifle, Grade 1
Serial Number: 1T10972
Year of Manufacture: 1961
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Action Type: Takedown, Buttstock Mag Tube, Semi-Automatic Rifle
Markings: The top side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY ST. LOUIS MO. & MONTREAL P.Q. / MADE IN BELGIUM”. The left side of the barrel and bottom of the bolt have a Belgian proof mark. The left side of the barrel is marked “CALIBER .22 LONG RIFLE. The left side of the chamber is marked with Belgium proofs. The right side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING PATENTS”. The bottom of the barrel bares the serial number “1T10972”. The sides of the receiver and the bottom of the trigger guard are scroll-engraved and border-engraved.
Barrel Length: 19 1/4”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is a folding “U” notched sight with a white triangle aim guide; there are screws for fine elevation adjustment. The rear sight is dovetailed into the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with flat-bottom semi-pistol grip, straight comb, and serrated blued steel buttplate. The buttplate is relieved for the magazine tube. There is a loading port on the right side of the buttstock. There are scattered tiny nicks and dings on the buttstock. The checkering is sharp. The LOP measures 13 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate shows thinning around the edges. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good to Excellent condition
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. The bore rates 10/10 in this writer’s opinion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its metal finish. There is good olor retention all around. There is very light operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are crisp. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good-Fine to excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is some play between the barrel and the receiver. We did not fire this rifle. It has a cross-bolt safety at the front of the trigger guard. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with a Browning leather carry case.
Our Assessment:
The FN Browning SA-22 is among the most elegant and enduring rimfire rifles ever designed, and this 1961 Belgian-made Grade I example is a near-textbook case of its lasting appeal. From its inception by John Browning in 1914 to this post-1956 variant, the SA-22 offers a blend of refined form and function. Its takedown design, buttstock tube magazine, and top ejection were innovative in their time and remain uniquely attractive features today. The scroll and border engraving on the alloy receiver and trigger guard reflect a level of craftsmanship that makes FN-era production rifles especially collectible.
This rifle retains approximately 99% of its original blued finish, a testament to both preservation and quality. The metal shows only the faintest signs of operational handling, with sharp markings and screw heads. The bore is immaculate—bright, sharp, and free from erosion—with a bore rating of 10/10 in this writer’s opinion. The finely checkered walnut stocks show only light handling marks and remain crisp and sharp, with a pleasing oil finish. Though there is minor play between the barrel and receiver—a common trait in takedown designs—it does not detract from mechanical function.
Topped off with a Browning-branded leather carry case, this rifle would make an excellent companion for casual target shooting or small game, but it's equally compelling as a collector-grade rimfire from the golden era of FN production. For those who appreciate early postwar Browning firearms or who collect rimfire rifles of enduring quality, this is a clean, complete, and highly attractive piece.