BLR manufactured by TRW

davy442 · 12-31-2007, 05:46 PM

I'm looking at an older BLR .243, manufactured by TRW, as they supposidly manufactured a small run of BLR's for browning back in the early 70's.

Is this gun collectable? How does it's worth compare to the early BLR's manufactured in belgium and japan? Are any of the BLR's collectable?

Mooseman684 · 12-31-2007, 06:54 PM

As a Collector...I will say to you...JUMP ON IT FAST !
The TRW rifles were all supposed to be destroyed...50 to 250 escaped the destruction, making them worth almost Double what a std. BLR Belgian or Jap version is.. Condition is the main factor...New in Box is worth over 1000.00 Dollars!
It should have a 2-line legend on the right side marked..."MADE IN USA" and "PATENT PENDING" if it is real!
They are considered prototypes !
Rich

davy442 · 01-01-2008, 12:31 AM

Thanks for the response.

I don't remember seeing any markings on the barrel, although I'm going to go back and look again. I know it didn't have the serial number under the receiver like my current BLR has. It has the "serrated" grips on the side of the magazine hanging below the receiver.

The main and forestock are scratched moderately, as is the receiver and barrel to some degree, well used and not taken care of to some degree. It has a leupold scope, I think 3-9X, and the asking price is $560 at a local gun store. I'll see if they're open tomorrow to check it out again.

davy442 · 01-02-2008, 05:48 PM

Well Rich, I checked it out again.

Did a little research as well. Apparently TRW did the initial construction of the guns in 243 and 308, and were to possibly do all the guns for browning, but I think TRW wanted higher reimbursement than Browning was willing to pay, so about 250 guns were made, with additional parts for another 500 guns. Some guns (few) were sold to the public, and some were given to TRW executives. After the deal fell through, many guns that were already assembled were to be destroyed, and alot were, but some were unaccounted for, and thought to be "lunch Box Specials", i.e. taken out the back door.

I called Browning, and they said all the guns should say "made in USA", and have a serial number like 6K01XXX , stamped on the barrel.

This gun's serial number 340XX is on the bottom, foreward part of the receiver. There is nothing on the barrel, no caliber or "made in XXX", as the barrel is completely smooth. Maybe this gun is one of those "lunch Box Specials", at least that's what Browning customer service told me, as it is a federal law that all firearms have the caliber and country of origin stamped on the barrel.

One final thing, the bolt carrier doesn't close completely when closing the action. The rotating bolt closes/rotates the whole way, but the bolt carrier sticks out the back end of the receiver about 3/16". It easily then pushes foreward, flush with the back of the receiver, but there is obvious play that isn;t there with my other BLR, a belgium 308.

Rich, I don't know. DO you think I should ask him to test fire it? If it fires, do you think the price is right? Probably, I guess. The bolt carrier thing is kind of hokey, and I'm told that the TRW gun parts may not be interchangeable with the belgium/Jap guns.

What do you think?

Mooseman684 · 01-02-2008, 06:44 PM

There is a strong possibility it is a FAKE...Since it doesn't live up to what the true prototype guns were and are valued as such...Plus if the bolt doesnt operate properly, barrel not marked properly, etc. Then I would shy away from it. Somebody could have just put it together, and this would not even fall under the same category, so Value would only be as a shooter....
IT PAYS TO INVESTIGATE !!!
Otherwise, you can get burned real quick on a fake or POS gun...
I hope this helps ya !
Rich

davy442 · 01-03-2008, 08:34 PM

Rich, thanks. As the gun is on conseignment at the store, I spoke to the current owner who told me he got it from one of the TRW engineers, who was given the rifle as a present. Or, he could have done a lunch box special, as I was told by the Browning people, that he thought any gun given to any the employees/executives would have been properly marked, but who knows for sure. If it wasn't for the loose bolt carrier, I would probably have bought it already. I'm still doing some investigating on it though.

12-31-2007, 05:46 PM	#1
davy442 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 8 Trader Rating: (0)	BLR manufactured by TRW I'm looking at an older BLR .243, manufactured by TRW, as they supposidly manufactured a small run of BLR's for browning back in the early 70's. Is this gun collectable? How does it's worth compare to the early BLR's manufactured in belgium and japan? Are any of the BLR's collectable?

12-31-2007, 06:54 PM	#2
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,055 Trader Rating: (0)	As a Collector...I will say to you...JUMP ON IT FAST ! The TRW rifles were all supposed to be destroyed...50 to 250 escaped the destruction, making them worth almost Double what a std. BLR Belgian or Jap version is.. Condition is the main factor...New in Box is worth over 1000.00 Dollars! It should have a 2-line legend on the right side marked..."MADE IN USA" and "PATENT PENDING" if it is real! They are considered prototypes ! Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

01-02-2008, 06:44 PM	#5
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,055 Trader Rating: (0)	There is a strong possibility it is a FAKE...Since it doesn't live up to what the true prototype guns were and are valued as such...Plus if the bolt doesnt operate properly, barrel not marked properly, etc. Then I would shy away from it. Somebody could have just put it together, and this would not even fall under the same category, so Value would only be as a shooter.... IT PAYS TO INVESTIGATE !!! Otherwise, you can get burned real quick on a fake or POS gun... I hope this helps ya ! Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

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01-01-2008, 12:31 AM	#3
davy442 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 8 Trader Rating: (0)	Thanks for the response. I don't remember seeing any markings on the barrel, although I'm going to go back and look again. I know it didn't have the serial number under the receiver like my current BLR has. It has the "serrated" grips on the side of the magazine hanging below the receiver. The main and forestock are scratched moderately, as is the receiver and barrel to some degree, well used and not taken care of to some degree. It has a leupold scope, I think 3-9X, and the asking price is $560 at a local gun store. I'll see if they're open tomorrow to check it out again.

01-02-2008, 05:48 PM	#4
davy442 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 8 Trader Rating: (0)	Well Rich, I checked it out again. Did a little research as well. Apparently TRW did the initial construction of the guns in 243 and 308, and were to possibly do all the guns for browning, but I think TRW wanted higher reimbursement than Browning was willing to pay, so about 250 guns were made, with additional parts for another 500 guns. Some guns (few) were sold to the public, and some were given to TRW executives. After the deal fell through, many guns that were already assembled were to be destroyed, and alot were, but some were unaccounted for, and thought to be "lunch Box Specials", i.e. taken out the back door. I called Browning, and they said all the guns should say "made in USA", and have a serial number like 6K01XXX , stamped on the barrel. This gun's serial number 340XX is on the bottom, foreward part of the receiver. There is nothing on the barrel, no caliber or "made in XXX", as the barrel is completely smooth. Maybe this gun is one of those "lunch Box Specials", at least that's what Browning customer service told me, as it is a federal law that all firearms have the caliber and country of origin stamped on the barrel. One final thing, the bolt carrier doesn't close completely when closing the action. The rotating bolt closes/rotates the whole way, but the bolt carrier sticks out the back end of the receiver about 3/16". It easily then pushes foreward, flush with the back of the receiver, but there is obvious play that isn;t there with my other BLR, a belgium 308. Rich, I don't know. DO you think I should ask him to test fire it? If it fires, do you think the price is right? Probably, I guess. The bolt carrier thing is kind of hokey, and I'm told that the TRW gun parts may not be interchangeable with the belgium/Jap guns. What do you think?

01-03-2008, 08:34 PM	#6
davy442 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 8 Trader Rating: (0)	Rich, thanks. As the gun is on conseignment at the store, I spoke to the current owner who told me he got it from one of the TRW engineers, who was given the rifle as a present. Or, he could have done a lunch box special, as I was told by the Browning people, that he thought any gun given to any the employees/executives would have been properly marked, but who knows for sure. If it wasn't for the loose bolt carrier, I would probably have bought it already. I'm still doing some investigating on it though.