The pre-war FN actions are identical to the Mauser 98 pattern but with gently curved down bolt handle with knob cut and checkered on underside,thumb cut,long magazine tang with lock screw on outside and C collar.

The post war 1947 version has the swept back low bolt handle of the Deluxe and Supreme action but retains the 3 position wing safety. It has a thumb cut in left wall but the sides of the clip slots on the rear bridge are cut straight (instead of like a claw). The rear bridge retains the hump. Solid round bolt knob.Short magazine tang with Forster screw on inside.

The next version 1948 same as above but no thumb cut and with H collar. Has extended floorplate release latch as found on Deluxe and hump as above.( My favorite. Has M98 cues and stronger left wall.)

The next version is the Deluxe action as above but with flat rear bridge with no clip slot.Bolt knob cut and checkered on underside.Two position low scope safety and FN logo on front receiver bridge. Contoured trigger guard. No Forster(lock) screws. Made until 1963.

None of these are factory drilled for peep sights or for scope mounting. Scope mount hole locations were standardized in 1951 and it's only after this date that FN started drilling holes on right side of rear bridge for peep sights and on top of receiver.

The Supreme or 400 series was introduced in 1959 and has a much improved trigger with a sliding 3 position safety. This allows a streamlined bolt shroud. The floorplate is hinged with a release in front of an even more contoured trigger guard.These were drilled for scope mounts. Many were also drilled for Peep sights. Built until 1974.

In 1967 FN introduced the New Magnum. Increasing manufacturing costs forced a redesign replacing the long controlled feed extractor to the Sako type. The bolt guide rail was eliminated and the mechanical ejector was replaced by the plunger type.

No matter which one you get they are all the finest post war actions available and were the action of choice for H&H, Rigby, Dumoulin, Westley Richards,and Weatherby. They even found their way into the J.C. HIggins offered by Sears Roebuck.

Left, pre-war (1939)FN,Mauser 98 clone with bent handle, Right 1948 FN solid left wall, parallel clip slot walls, swept bolt handle.

1947 FN action on Husqvarna 640, 9.3x62.
Swept down bolt, thumb cut,short TG front tang with lock screw.