My Belgian FN 98 safety

[dryheat]

I have looked at a few reviews, ect. and haven't seen another rifle with the safety on the right hand side like mine. Maybe FN did it? I'm thinking the owner had it modified. I like the safety like this. Another question. It has a scope mount. Did FN ever set these commercial rifles up for a scope or is this another modification by an owner?
I have come to the conclusion that this rifle was made in the early 1950's.

DSC00327.jpg

[JimF]

Looks like a Buehler safety . . . .common on sporting Mausers.

[Vern Humphrey]

Looks like a Buehler safety . . . .common on sporting Mausers.

That's what it is -- I've had several rifles with Buehler safties.

[fguffey]

I have looked at a few reviews, ect. and haven't seen another rifle with the safety on the right-hand side like mine.

I do not want to waste your time so please tell me the position of the safety when in the fire position and safety position.

F. Guffey

[dryheat]

If the rifle has been cocked and the switch is in the down position like in the picture, the rifle is ready to fire. If flipped up, it isn't. I didn't know the name of the safety, but the blue kind of told me it was an add on.
But the other question is: Did FN drill and tap for scope mounts? I see lots of these rifles with scopes and I'm sure hunting was the main purpose of them. Did FN figure this into their plan? In the rear right side of the receiver(in the picture) there are holes for a Williams peep sight. I don't recall the exact name of that sight. So, did they figure, that's plenty; If someone wants a scope then the buyer had to get it done.

[JimF]

I think FN did D&T the receiver . .
Being that the hole spacing is the same on a Lyman 48 or 57, AND a Williams Foolproof, this option is available to you.

[fguffey]

If the rifle has been cocked and the switch is in the down position like in the picture, the rifle is ready to fire. If flipped up, it isn't. I didn't know the name of the safety, but the blue kind of told me it was an add on.
But the other question is: Did FN drill and tap for scope mounts? I see lots of these rifles with scopes and I'm sure hunting was the main purpose of them. Did FN figure this into their plan? In the rear right side of the receiver(in the picture) there are holes for a Williams peep sight. I don't recall the exact name of that sight. So, did they figure, that's plenty; If someone wants a scope then the buyer had to get it done.

All of my Mausers flip to the left to fire, yours flips to the right. I do not have a Mauser that flips to the right to fire, if it did you safety would have to stand straight up to set safety. I have to go see a doctor, I do not know which one but it seems everything has run together.

F. Guffey

[Vern Humphrey]

All of my Mausers flip to the left to fire, yours flips to the right. I do not have a Mauser that flips to the right to fire, if it did you safety would have to stand straight up to set safety. I have to go see a doctor, I do not know which one but it seems everything has run together.

F. Guffey

That's a Maynard Buehler Low Scope Safety. It replaces the standard Mauser 3-positon safety. It has only two positions -- up for safe and down for fire.

[fguffey]

If the rifle has been cocked and the switch is in the down position like in the picture, the rifle is ready to fire. If flipped up, it isn't. I didn't know the name of the safety, but the blue kind of told me it was an add on.
But the other question is: Did FN drill and tap for scope mounts? I see lots of these rifles with scopes and I'm sure hunting was the main purpose of them. Did FN figure this into their plan? In the rear right side of the receiver(in the picture) there are holes for a Williams peep sight. I don't recall the exact name of that sight. So, did they figure, that's plenty; If someone wants a scope then the buyer had to get it done.

All of my Mausers flip to the left to fire, yours flips to the right. I do not have a Mauser that flips to the right to fire, if it did you safety would have to stand straight up to set safety. I have to go see a doctor, I do not know which one but it seems everything has run together.

F. Guffey

[fguffey]

Did FN drill and tap for scope mounts? I see lots of these rifles with scopes and I'm sure hunting was the main purpose of them. Did FN figure this into their plan? In the rear right side of the receiver(in the picture) there are holes for a Williams peep sight. Iname of that sight. So, did they figure, that's plenty; If someone wants a scope then the buyer had to get it done. don't recall the exact

I have FN receivers, all use 98 Mausers parts, some Belgium Mausers were different. The ones that were different required different parts. There was one that would allow the bolt to be assembled and installed into the receiver without the safety. The safety could be installed after the bolt was installed, if the proud owner of the strange rifle pointed the rifle straight up, the safety would slide out. It is unlikely anyone will come across a Mauser with a right hand safety.

F. Guffey

[fguffey]

Three position safety: the third position locks the bolt but if the safety fires when turned to the right the safety locks the bolt when turned to the left.

F. Guffey

[JOHN COOK]

ALERT…ALERT. You guys are trying to explain the correct position of the safety to someone who invented HEAD SPACE and has hundreds of gauges. Good luck..
John in S.C.

[barretcreek]

All four of my FN commercial Mausers have that type of safety. I will check my 1955 Gun Digest to see if it mentions the receivers are D&T.
The Buehlers 'fire' position is down to the right. Some FN commercial rifles on GB show the 'fire' position to the left, with a two position safety.

[dryheat]

There are a lot a variation with military safeties, which I think Guffey is getting at. I don't have a "real" K98 anymore, but I think it had a three position safety. Thanks.

[Art]

There are a lot a variation with military safeties, which I think Guffey is getting at. I don't have a "real" K98 anymore, but I think it had a three position safety. Thanks.

The flag safety on Mauser rifles is one of the most universal features of these weapons. From the back all the way to the right is safe and locks the bolt, straight up is safe but is the "lock and load" position which allows you to open the bolt and load the rifle on safe, or for a quicker move to the fire position, all the way left is fire.

Since the military safety is awkward for low 'scope mounts companies came up with modifications, probably the most common is the one on the rifle in the OP which was used by both commercial manufacturers and gunsmiths converting military rifles into sporters. It simply replaces the military flag safety with a similar flag safety that was two positions and, because it only rotated up about 45 degrees, didn't interfere with a 'scope mount, IIRC up fire down safe. The Winchester had a different solution for a bolt mounted safety on the Model 70 which used a three position safety which moved fore and aft instead of up and down.