Browning T-bolt t1 1965

noremf · May 22, 2014

I have a T1 T-Bolt, serial #1005X5. All original, would rate as NRA new condition wise but is not unfired. Have had it a few years. Original manual, 3 5 rd mags, extra receiver sight, no box no other paperwork. One "family" owners.

I originally was told that it would have been the one-thousand and 5th one made in the first year of production, 1965, by an RFC guy but in a discussion over the past couple of days with a Browning rep that started about a different subject I asked him and he said that the first 1 made was serial #1 and was kept. He also was not sure how many VIP guns were made but all of them would have been numbered under 1000 and generally Browning did not make more then 50 or so VIP specials.

Then they started at serial #1000 and went from there so mine would be the 5th one made in the general for sale production run in the first production year of 1965.

Guy I talked to probably was not even born then and mentioned right away about how the records are screwed up and the "find" your serial number and year of manufacturing has a number of errors in it but based on the pictures of the serial number and cartouches etc. I sent him he said another tech rep agreed with him.

He also said for $40 they would send me the info on Browning letterhead plus anything else they could dig up which he doubted would be more then what he sent me in the emails or told me on the phone. I am keeping the emails as provenance even though it still is a shooting weapon for me and mine, not something to hang on the wall.

Nice young man, great service and he basically saved me 40 bucks at least for now. Probably will get the paperwork later.

Any thoughts on what he said and if different, any copies of records etc.?

noremf(George)

jerryray · May 23, 2014

I don't know about that but I just picked up a 1971 T2 T-bolt this winter and what a nice rifle it is. Awesome if yours is such an early one.

Camster · May 23, 2014

I've never heard of special numbered VIP models.As far as I'm concerned,you have the fifth one made.Period.

sheriffjrb · May 12, 2016

not the 5th one made, as i have one, a T2 with a serial #below 50. It does not have sling swivels studs.

M2HB · May 23, 2014

Pictures, we need pictures.:bthumb:

noremf · May 24, 2014

Pics

Here ya go.

In checking the finish it had lacquer in the barrel channel and inletting along with under the front sling swivel. It had BLO on top of the lacquer on the other areas of the stock.

That was the main reason I called Browning. To check the original finish. According to the manual that came with it the T1's were finished with BLO and the T2's with semi gloss lacquer.

Browning said that lacquer was used for both in the early runs and often for both models depending upon cost at the time of production for the chemicals and the cost of work in process.

Cleaned the stock. Removed the BLO which was not too tough cause it was lifting all over the place anyway. Was put right over the lacquer.

A restoration, not a refinish. All battle scars remain and lacquer touch up was done to match the rest of the aged finish.

Then Renaissance wax applied.

Pic color is good.

Gun with stock iron sights is a 2MOA rifle with 3 different bulk ammo brands.

noremf(George)

M2HB · May 24, 2014

Very nice looking rifle.:bthumb:

A square 10 · May 24, 2014

beautiful rifle

pump .22s · May 25, 2014

I do like the grain in that wood. :t

toomanyguns · May 25, 2014

Very nice rifle.

In your first post you said "All original". Does that include the sling studs or did you add those? My 1970-ish T-1 did not come with sling studs.

noremf · May 25, 2014

sling studs

Mine has factory installed sling swivel studs according to the owner(s) which are the grandsons of the guy who originally bought it. They remember shooting it on his farm in Furnace Run PA when they were young. They said that grandpa ordered it directly from Browning in advance of their introduction. No paperwork to support that though other then theirs.

Browning guy said he could not guarantee if that would show up on the paperwork because the rifle could have been ordered through Stoeger's which was very popular in those days for rural folks and that paperwork might not be available.

His opinion from the pics I sent him supports what I have been told by the owners though.

I got hooked up with it from a guy in my SF unit in Nam who knows the owners. He said the owners were right people. They told me they would hold my check for a couple weeks or so until I had a chance to shoot it and check it out and if I was not happy I could send it back and they would tear up my check and send that back to me.

Probably gonna send Browning $40 and see what they come up with.

noremf(George)

IHMSA80x80 · May 12, 2016

I have a thought...you should sell that to me, then you wouldn't have to worry about the serial numbers.

Browning T-bolt t1 1965

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