The Galleries
- Robert E. Petersen Collection
- Ancient Firearms - 1350 to 1700
- Road to American Liberty - 1700 to 1780
- A Prospering New Republic - 1780 to 1860
- A Nation Asunder - 1861 to 1865
- The American West - 1850 to 1900
- Innovation, Oddities and Competition
- Theodore Roosevelt and Elegant Arms - 1880s to 1920s
- World War I and Firearms Innovation
- WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Beyond - 1940 to Present
- For the Fun of It
- Modern Firearms - 1950 to Present
- Hollywood Guns
Browning FN High Power Bolt Action Rifle
These rifles were offered in a variety of options, including this Safari Grade example. SN L7168
1959 Browning Safari Grade Bolt-Action Box-Magazine Rifle (repeater/ breech-loading/ smokeless powder/ cartridge ammunition) In the late 1950s and early 1960s, lower air fares, an urge to travel, and a healthy economy turned many American hunters into world travelers. Trips to Canada or Alaska for elk, moose, grizzly and polar bears; journeys to Africa for a multitude of large game; jaunts to India for tigers and elephants; all these became common-place.
New designs and larger calibers were now a must. Browning's response to these demands was to issue a Safari Grade rifle of 'African caliber,' namely the .458 Winchester Magnum. This rifle came as a surprise to more traditional big game hunters who thought single- or double-shot rifles were more sporting. The new breed sold well and soon outdistanced its older rivals. Eventually, however, costs caught up with the Safari, and it was replaced by a cheaper model. --Dr. William L. Roberts, THE AMERICAN LIBERTY COLLECTION; #154