John Browning patented the SA-22 design in 1914 — his only .22 rimfire semi-auto, and a takedown bottom-eject design that has stayed in continuous production for over a century. FN of Belgium built it through 1976; Miroku of Japan has built it since. Browning himself died in Liège in November 1926, twelve years after the SA-22's patent; his last completed firearm design was the Browning Superposed shotgun (introduced posthumously in 1931). The receiver is engraved, the stock is American walnut, and the finish is polished blued steel. The premium over other .22 LR semi-autos in this class is entirely aesthetic and historical, not functional.

The SA-22 feeds from a tube magazine in the stock that holds 11 rounds of .22 LR — the same bottom-eject design Browning used in the original. It's a takedown rifle: the barrel separates from the action with a quarter turn for transport or storage, which was innovative in 1914 and remains practical. The 19.38" barrel, 3.5 lb trigger pull, and 83 oz total weight keep it light and easy to shoot off-hand. Folding leaf rear sights and a gold bead front are traditional; the receiver is drilled for optics. It ships with no detachable magazines — feeding is tube-only.

Buy the SA-22 if you want a .22 LR you'll pass down — the fit, finish, and provenance put it in a different category than any other semi-auto rimfire at this price. Skip it if you want a practical range rifle or a workhorse plinker. The Marlin Model 60 fires from a tube magazine for far less, and the Savage A22 delivers a better trigger at a lower cost.