Baby Browning & Colt Det. Pics Added Another .38 and .25 comes in. Post #18

Dump1567 · Sep 30, 2013

I picked-up a nice Baby Browning that dates to 1968. It has the pearl grips on it. Anyone know if these are original and were offered on a blued BB in that year?
Thanks.

Info and Pics Added:

Also got this 1951 Colt Detective from the same guy. Both came with holsters.

I love these old school guns. Oh, and both of these only cost about $400 in traded gear.

Update: Another .38 and .25 come in. See post # 18.

jimmyj · Sep 30, 2013

Hi:
A "Baby Browning".25acp was my first "Backup". It fit in my handcuff pouch. IIRC these came blued with black plastic grips. There were "Presentation" Models that came nickeled with pearl grips.
The Colt is in a "Lewis Police Special" holster. IMHO the best OWB holster EVER !
Jimmy

Dump1567 · Sep 30, 2013

Thanks for the info. Mine has the plastic pearl, so I'm thinking the original owner added these. Unfortanetly I can't ask him, as he is now deceased.

Really nice little gun that's in excellent+ condition. Still need to take it apart and clean it.

2152hq · Sep 30, 2013

The 'plastic pearl' grips were standard on the Lightweight (alloy frame) 25acp pistol. The alloy frames on these were a satin nickel anodize w/ the rest of the steel parts adv as high polish 'chrome' plated. Trigger gold plated.

The same grips were used on the Renaissance grade pistols as well.
They were made of a polyester and trade named 'Narcrolac Pearl' when used by Browning.

The blued 25's (steel frame) had the black plastic grips as standard.
I don't recall any options being offered as far as grips go in the standard off the shelf 25 Automatic Pistols.

FWIW ,,the 'Baby' was the redesigned FN Vest Pocket 25acp pistol.
So it's a Baby-FN

A 1930 design it had 'Baby' imprinted in the top of each grip panel.
That's where the name comes from.
That same pistol is what Browning started importing into the US in 1954.
But the US imports thru Browning Arms Co are marked 'Browning' on the grips,,not 'Baby'.
A very few early imports carried the FN 'Baby' marked grips though so I'm told.

To some true collectors, the only 'Baby' .25 is the FN marketed & marked pistol.
But the name stuck to the Browning import as well and has become instantly recognizable to most when mentioning the little 25.

alwslate · Oct 1, 2013

Your pearl look plastic grips might be the type that were often used
on the Browning copy, the Bauer.

Dump1567 · Oct 1, 2013

Thanks for all the info. Cleaned it up last night. Probably only been taken out and fired once. All matching serial #'s and marked "Browning" "made in Belgium". "FN" on mag base plate. Pearl grips have a black backing and a silver stamping of "50" and some other unreadable marks on the back.

2152hq · Oct 1, 2013

The grips may be aftermarket from someone like Jay Scott Co. They usually have a thin black backer on their imitation pearl grips. Others do as well. 'Jay Scott' is a very common replacement pistol grip brand & still in business I believe.
No matter,,sounds like a very nice FN-Browning.
Congrats on a fine little pistol!

shouldazagged · Oct 1, 2013

Nice find. Should be a nifty backup or third gun.

Dump1567 · Oct 4, 2013

Info and Pics Added.

labworm · Oct 4, 2013

Very nice pair, two beauties, enjoy, as I am sure you will.
Good Luck.

pineappleshooter · Oct 4, 2013

Please tell me it was $400 each and not $400 for the pair. If you got both for $400 I might have to throw up in my mouth a little out of envy. I have been looking for a DS like that. I have a post 66 DS with the shroud but prefer the old look.

Dump1567 · Oct 5, 2013

pineappleshooter said:
Please tell me it was $400 each and not $400 for the pair. If you got both for $400 I might have to throw up in my mouth a little out of envy. I have been looking for a DS like that. I have a post 66 DS with the shroud but prefer the old look.

Sorry, it was $400 worth of trade for both. I actually could have got them both for free, but that just didn't feel right. The owner just wasn't that interested in them and had offered to give them to me.

Things like this are rare, but do happen every now and than. About 15 years ago someone gave me a Ruger .22. Pistol.

2152hq · Oct 5, 2013

Beautiful condition handguns. Two classics for sure.

I had one of the Lewis Police Special holsters at one time. Came to me w/an early Colt DS in it. Of course they're both gone!

Mine was made up in 2 tone leather colors. Pretty snappy looking. Just the thing for an LAPD Detective 1950's style.

Donn · Oct 5, 2013

An old Colt 38 "Dick" special? I'm green with envy. Would love to have either a Colt or an old S&W Chief's special. They don't last long at the LGS or gun shows. Maybe some day.....

JcMack · Oct 5, 2013

Both guns are certainly an excellent acquisition. The "stocks" (Colt terminology) are "Coltwood" (Colt for plastic). Most Coltwood grips shrink over the years, yours are perfect, as is the hammer which in the white usually shows some corrosion. Since that gun has the shorter ejector rod it might be considered first issue?

Dump1567 · Oct 5, 2013

Thanks for the info. on the Colt. I really don't know much about them. A little research revealed it's a transitional gun (parts from 1st and 2nd issue). I was probably going to order a T-grip for it.

I was extremely happy with both the year of manufacture and the Holster. I love the "LA Confidential" era guns. A buddy at work is retired LAPD and has several Lewis holsters.

I can't believe how small the Browning is. Not sure if I could even shoot it with my large hands. My wife loved it.

The two guns my buddy kept were a .22 Jenny's (what I consider a cheap copy of the Browning) and a yet to be confirmed 5" Smith in .38 S&W. I guess both came from his dad a retired SEAL. The S&W was traded to his dad from an Italian soilder during joint operations. I was thinking a lend/lease gun or a copy, but I still need to see it.

The Browning was his father in-laws and the Colt was his Grandfathers. Some people just don't see the sentimental value in guns, but I'll take good care of them.

Double-O-Dave · Oct 5, 2013

Dump1567 said:
Sorry, it was $400 worth of trade for both. I actually could have got them both for free, but that just didn't feel right. The owner just wasn't that interested in them and had offered to give them to me.

Things like this are rare, but do happen every now and than. About 15 years ago someone gave me a Ruger .22. Pistol.

Dump1567: you must be living right. I've often been offered the bullets from a gun, but never the gun itself.

Congratulations on two great firearms.

Regards,

Dave

Dump1567 · Nov 28, 2013

So after getting the Colt and Browning, a retired LAPD friend wanted to get rid of a .38 and .25 auto. Took these in trade for an AR I'm building him. Not sure how much I'll have into both of them, but I'm guesing around $300+.

I guess .38's and .25's were popular back in the day.

1979 S&W Model 49 and Beretta 950.

policerevolvercollector · Nov 28, 2013

You hit the jackpot w/ these four numbers!!

Bald1 · Feb 24, 2022

I recently traded a baby browning with original black plastic grips. It dated in the 1950s but I forget exact yr. I literally hadn’t shot or even handled it in 15 yrs. I traded in heads up for a K22 dated 1950. I’ve always liked pocket pistols. I still have a Brauer ( browning knock off) a Beretta a mini revolver and a matching set of J-22s………. I know , I lost u at J-22. Lol

Baby Browning & Colt Det. *Pics Added* Another .38 and .25 comes in. Post #18

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Baby Browning & Colt Det. Pics Added Another .38 and .25 comes in. Post #18