Is your rifle a Safari, Medallion or Olympian Grade Bolt action? Assuming it is in absolute mint condition and no salt wood, the Safari is worth $850-$1050, Medallion grade $1,900-$2,100 and Olympian Grade $5,200-$5,800. The price range is based on condition of the rifle, wood grain and engravers (Olympian Grade). Your rifle is a short extractor model (1968-1975) which typically doesn't command the same price as the long extractor rifles (1960-1967) and it is a 7 mm. The 7 mm is one of the highest number produced calibers for that era rifle. One thing you need to do is test the wood with silver nitrate solution to find out if it is a salt wood rifle. Browning tried to cure the wood on their stocks quicker back in 1967-68 by putting a mound of salt on the stocks. The salt was pulled into the wood and now we have salt wood stocks. The majority of people will tell you that you only need to be concerned about salt wood from late 1968 to 1971. That is not true and I have prooved it. I have personally tested 1968-1974 rifles with salt wood stocks. Unfortunately, if it is a saltwood rifle you are looking at almost giving it away to get rid of it.
Your Browning model safari bolt action rifle,which was made in the year 1968 with the serial number that you provided,will be valued according to 2 different things.One is if your rifle,s receiver is not damaged by the salt wood that was used by FN to quickly age and dry the wood used for your stock,or not damaged by this process.If your rifle is not damaged(pitted) by the salt then between 750-1,100 dollars dpending on the overall condition of your rifle.If it is pitted then between 200-400 dollars.
Typically 1970-1974.
During the time frame of 1966 to 1971 Browning salt cured (or salt dried if you prefer) their stocks. When rust problems began to arise, Browning offered to replace the "salt wood". You had to prove you were the original ower as the warranty didn't transfer to subsequent owners.
Between 1966 and 1972, the Morton Salt Company sold Browning a new salt method of "speed drying" walnut blanks when Browning's ability to provide kiln-dried wood couldn't keep up with demand. There was a down side to this process. It yielded a good many salt-filled stocks and/or forearms that resulted in rusting metal surfaces where there was wood/metal contact.
Only the Browning factory would have the answer to that question.You may want to inquire what the Browning service department did. Contact them by phone or through the web site.
The term "Salt Wood" is due to wood having been cured by salt. The long range effect that salt had on the gun metal resulted in rusting and pitting of the metal. Salt wood resulted from a process used on some Brownings to speed up the curing time of wood used for gunstocks. The salt would draw out the moisture and speed up the drying process. Some of the salt residue remained in the wood grain and caused damage where the metal and wood made contact. The wood was from a supplier to Fabrique Nationale at the time, around 1965. FN made the guns for Browning, and had no idea of the impact that it would cause. Browning recommends checking Superposed shotguns and T-Bolts made between 1967-1973. Also Belgian made Bolt Rifles made between 1967-1976. Other models could also be affected.
Assuming that you have a Browning safari grade bolt action rifle which is chambered in a standard caliber(270 Win.) the value of your rifle with a original finish between 60%-90% is 550 -1175 dollars.Your 6L prefix to the serial number indicates that your rifle was made by FN of Belguim for Browning in 1966.This was during a time when FN used salt to cure and age the stock wood quickly.This caused the firearms to rust under the stock line!If yours has this problem then the value would be diminished quite a bit,
You will need to contact Browning
your 1989 made browning medallion is going for between 265-600 dollars depending on the overall condition of the wood and metal.
Contact Browning.
I wish to start by saying you have a browning sweet sixteen shotgun(not rifle) that was made by FN in belguim for browning in 1962(not 1960).The value of these fine made shotguns have been selling for between 650-1,000 dollars for a nice gun with 70%original finish remaining on the steel and wood finish.It must also have a good bore.