BROWNING 1965 MEDALIST CASED PISTOL

SERIAL NUMBER: 47538U5S. BARREL: 6 3/4". CALIBER: .22 LR. MANUFACTURED: 1965. This 1965 Browning Medalist .22 LR Target Pistol is a pinnacle example of mid-century Belgian craftsmanship, manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN) in Herstal, Belgium. Verified by serial number 47538U5S, this firearm features a highly collectible "U-S" frame variance. During peak production eras when standard Medalist frames were scarce, FN hand-selected premium Challenger "U" frames straight from the production line, hand-fitted them with top-tier Medalist target components, and stamped them with the "S" suffix to indicate a specialized factory modification. Because its "5U" date code places its production firmly in 1965, the pistol stands as a coveted "pre-salt era" piece, completely free from the rust-prone, salt-cured walnut factory issues that plagued Browning firearms manufactured between 1966 and 1971. The right side of the barrel features the crisp factory roll-stamp reading "BROWNING PATENTS," while the underside of the barrel assembly bears the official crowned "ELG" oval definitive black powder proof mark from the historic Liège proof house, certifying its final Belgian mechanical inspection.

Mechanically, the pistol is an engineering marvel designed explicitly for high-level bullseye competition, built around a blowback-operated single-action system. It features a heavy match bull barrel outfitted with a prominent 5-vent ventilated top rib engineered to dissipate barrel heat and eliminate target-plane light glare. The sighting plane utilizes a fully windage-and-elevation adjustable rear target sight paired with a glare-reducing, undercut serrated Patridge front blade sight. Shooters interact with a high-visibility, factory gold-plated target trigger equipped with an internal adjustment screw for custom tuning of over-travel and pull weight. Additionally, the manual safety incorporates a built-in dry-fire mechanism that securely blocks the firing pin from impacting the chamber face, allowing extensive trigger-control practice without risking rimfire structural damage.

The ergonomics and modularity of the Medalist are further defined by its specialized woodwork and balance systems. The firearm is stocked with hand-checkered, wrap-around deluxe walnut target grips sculpted with a prominent thumb rest to maximize shooting-hand stability. Notably, the right-hand grip panel hosts an integrated ejector deflector pin-a unique vertical steel post designed to intercept spent brass and deflect shells forward, preventing them from hitting neighboring competitors on the firing line. The underside of the barrel assembly features a specialized machined dovetail slot that secures a Schnabel-style wooden forend. Removing this forend allows collectors to mount the factory steel weight adapter block and configure the three included multi-sized counterweight bars into six distinct balance and weight variations to suit individual shooting preferences.
This premium firearm is