Can anyone please tell me what the time period for salt wood was?

Would a higher grade superposed bearing ser# 554xxV9 be part of that era?

Thanks,
CJ

Roughly '67-72.

jack

CJ,
Here's a link to the Browning web site dates of Manufacture, it looks like early 69 ?

http://www.browning.com/services/dategun/detail.asp?id=42

edit:
Schwing's book says '69 too - the early '69 20 ga guns had the V9 suffix and mid year they changed to the 2 digit suffix.

That one is 69 and could well be salty.Look for both dark wood and rust where buttstock meets receiver.Those FKST's are right in the thick of it and the higher the grade the more likely the salt.

CJ: I deleted my guess at YOM above because I wanted to check the Browning code material. Now I'm a bit confused. I thought your gun was a 20 ga. (V) l969 (9) but the serial no. site suggests that beginning 1969 two digit code should follow the gauge code (V69). As you indicate yours as V9, perhaps the site is in error (or I am). I have an "S8" suffix which I interpret to be 12 ga. 1968 YOM and the site (Midwest Gunworks) agrees. I couldn't Google Browning site; perhaps you should look at the date code material there.

jack

copped from the Technoid
"To detect salt wood on 1966 to 1972 guns, first check for outward
appearance of dark or discolored spots. Check every place that wood
meets metal, as on the rear of the forend and at the head of the
stock. Rust on the metal will be apparent if there is a problem.
According to Schwing, the definitive test is to remove the butt
pad/plate, scrape away a little wood from the exposed butt and apply a 1% solution of silver nitrate to the fresh wood. If the silver nitrate remains light purple, there is no salt. If the silver nitrate turns white, you have a salt gun."

Yeti has it! Not all those guns are FK. There are RKSTs in the mix also.

jack

Thanks to all for your help!

I had a look at the gun and sure enough it's a salty!...the corrossion is not that ovious but it's there,.. I worked on a few of these in the past to know that it will be worse on the inside,..not really bad but the rust is there.

So here is the question!...how much for 20 bore Diana FKST/ 28" bbls in about 70% overall condition?

CJ

Whatever it is worth, it will be worth more restocked. I think Browning charges around $1100 for this or you may find a stock from someone. I think David Trevallion may have a set or two. It you know the original owner, he can get it restocked for free. I have contacts who can restock it if you cannot find an original and don't go to Browning. Just e-mail me.