FN Mauser 98 .30-06 Custom Sporter (Belgium) — Controlled-Round-Feed FN Model 1950 Action, 24-inch Barrel, High-Gloss Walnut Monte Carlo Stock
This custom sporter is built on FN's post‑war Mauser 98 action, widely known as the Model 1950 (Mle 50), purpose-adapted for the .30-06 Springfield. Made in Herstal, Belgium and marked "FN ACTION – MADE IN BELGIUM," it combines a controlled-round-feed large-ring action with a 24-inch sporter barrel and a finely finished walnut Monte Carlo stock. The receiver is drilled and tapped with two-piece scope bases installed, and the polished bright bolt underscores the rifle’s quality build.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The walnut stock shows scattered scuffs and dents to the wood furniture. The bore is bright and clean.
What’s Included
- FN Mauser 98 .30-06 bolt-action rifle
- Installed two-piece scope bases
The heart of this rifle is FN’s large-ring Mauser 98, a controlled-round-feed system with a full-length external claw extractor for reliable cycling. The action is Belgium-made and receiver-marked "FN ACTION – MADE IN BELGIUM." It features a solid rear bridge without a charger guide, an internal Mauser-type double-stack box magazine with floorplate (5+1 capacity), and a turned-down bolt handle with a round knob. Metalwork is blued, with the bolt body left in a polished bright finish.
The custom walnut stock is a high-gloss Monte Carlo design with a rollover cheekpiece and crisp skip-line checkering for secure purchase. Period-style accents include a contrasting forend tip and contrasting grip cap, white/black spacer lines, and an inlaid white oval at the grip cap. A ventilated recoil pad with a white-line spacer and sling swivel studs round out the configuration. Length of pull measures 13.6 inches.
The 24-inch sporter-contour barrel has a plain unthreaded muzzle and no open sights, keeping the profile clean and streamlined. The receiver is drilled and tapped, and two-piece scope bases are already installed, ready for the buyer’s preferred optic mounting solution.
As a post‑WWII design, the FN Model 1950 modernized the Mauser 98 for .30-06, the then-standard U.S. military cartridge. The pattern is known for its controlled-round feed, typically a 24-inch barrel, and, in Mle 50 receivers, a small notch cut in the top of the receiver ring to aid loading the longer .30-06 cartridges. FN produced these using wartime-era tooling, exporting actions and rifles broadly; military contracts often wore crests, while commercial variants like this are typically blued. The strong forged FN action earned a reputation for durability and smooth operation, and many were chosen as foundations for custom sporting rifles—exactly the case with this example.