Browning BLR

Made: TRW, Cleveland, Ohio, 1966-68. FN, Belgium, 1969-73. Miruko, Japan, 1972–present Variants: Three base versions: straight grip, pistol grip, and take-down. Short or long-actions in 20 chamberings from .22-250 to .450 Marlin, with 16 to 24-inch blued or stainless barrels, walnut, maple, and laminate stocks. Several grades including premium White Gold Line and commemoratives. Production Estimated 250-700 by TRW. Estimated 30,000 by FN. Miruko totals unknown Original Price: $149.50 US, 1971 Current Value: Used: BLR 81, $1,000New: $1,369-$1,720 Browning BLR classic lever-action My friend’s 1977 .308 Browning BLR is a classic lever-action. Its iconic straight grip reflects its 19th century Henry and Winchester roots. Its pistol grip version also shows Marlin 1895 and Savage 1899 influences. The innovative mid-20th century Winchester Model 88, however, shaped it the most. The resulting BLR is an attractive, high quality, well-made, and accurate lever-action that’s prevailed for 55 years. The Browning family also influenced its development. John Moses Browning’s designs for Winchester’s Models 1886, 1892, 1894, and especially the 1895, with its internal magazine for Spitzer bullets, provided inspiration. In the mid-1960s his grandson, Bruce, collaborated with Karl Lewis on the BLR’s design. Bruce’s brother, Company President John Val Browning, also helped by moving production from FN in Belgium to Miruko in Japan in 1972. From 1966-68, Browning contracted Thompson Ramo Woolridge Inc., (TRW), an automotive parts maker, to make BLR prototypes in Cleveland, Ohio. Fabrique Nationale in Belgium Once perfected, production moved to Fabrique Nationale (FN) in Belgium in 1970. FN made about 30,000 BLRs before shifting to Miruko. Like Winchester’s Model 88, BLRs featured a short-throw lever with a travelling trigger disconnect system, side-ejection, and detachable box magazine. Browning kept a traditional exposed hammer and half-cock safety. They added an innovative silky-smooth rack and pinion action with a rotating lugged bolt head to engage the receiver. These early short-action BLRs came in .243 or .308 calibre. They featured a chequered walnut straight grip stock, carbine forend with barrel band, oiled (FN) or polyurethane (Miruko) finish, hooded gold bead front sight, adjustable rearsight, tapped and drilled steel receiver, 20-inch blued barrel, red ventilated recoil pad with spacers, and sling swivels. Gold triggers and .358 cal. came after 1976. Significant refinements appeared in 1981 with a flush-mounted magazine, flatter receiver sides, cylindrical fluted bolt with fewer lugs, and no hood. Browning added five short-action calibres by 1990 and several long-action calibres in 1991. Further