Browning 1910 .32 ACP

SouthNarc · Feb 18, 2024

I’m a big fan of the .32 ACP cartridge and the turn of the century “pocket” auto-pistols centered around its chambering.

The FN/Browning 1910 is one of those sleek, almost art-deco pistols of that genre’ that I just really find aesthetically pleasing much like the 1903 Colt Pocket Hammerless and the Savage 1907.

The FN/Browning 1910 is probably most infamous in its .380 chambering as the pistol that ignited WWI when Gavrilo Princip assassinated Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914.

I found this odd example of a really clean Browning roll-marked 1910 in a .32 ACP chambering. I say odd because apparently all the ones roll-marked Browning were imported into the states in .380, and this one is in .32

I found a thread over on the Luger forums where another guy had a pistol like mine and apparently his was one of a special run that was imported into the states in 1959 in .32 ACP.

Regardless I got this little pistol for 6 bills flat and am super happy with the condition it’s in. Very sleek, retro little gun.

chief38 · Feb 18, 2024

I have not kept up with market values as of late, but for one in that condition I'd say you got a very very good deal! That pistol is as clean as a whistle! Use it well!!

Erich · Feb 18, 2024

That is gorgeous and classy, my friend. And the 7.65 is a wonderful round: accurate and penetrative (I hope you have some S&B ball around - great stuff).
Nice find - thank you for sharing with us.

mikerjf · Feb 18, 2024

Cool gun. I remember my 380 as being one of the hardest-to-rack autos I’ve had.

ReloadforFun · Feb 18, 2024

A long time ago I p[icked up a rough condition 1910 in 32 with the thought of converting it to 380. I never got around to that. The finish is shot, and the grips appear to be glued on.

I seem to recall the last time I shot it it had problems extracting. It made me wonder if I had bulged the chamber with my early reloads - though I was not trying to load hot.

I need to dig it out and work with it some more and figure out what is needed for it to function reliably.

alwslate · Feb 18, 2024

I have seen a few of them in .32 ACP marked as Browning on GB from time to time but not many. That serial # looks more like near the end of importation in 1968, but I'm working from memory as I have two .380s that date to 1968. Realize that barrels are interchangeable and could have been swapped out and the caliber roll marking is only on the barrel. Check the trigger. If it is plastic the gun is likely 68 importation. Triggers were plastic or steel, no Aluminum and are hard to differentiate just by looking. People don't like the plastic triggers but due to the design it makes no difference as to function. A great simple design, it was JMB's personal CC gun in .32 ACP.

Ol' Drover · Feb 18, 2024

I bought one just like it in 1969 when ATF was letting Browning put together and sell their parts on hand before the GCA '68 went into effect. I carried it off-duty for several years before it got away from me.

Fortunately, I inherited its twin from my uncle when he died. It's pictured here wearing a .380 slide and barrel I picked up later along with my hand-crafted take down tool.

alwslate · Feb 18, 2024

To me the 1910/55 guns in .380 seem to be a bit small and delicate. Until you handle one and shoot it. Solid steel where needed and all springs are STRONG! Yes, hard to rack. Disassembly of the frame parts is easy as pins are slip fit and retained by the grips. The magazine safety is easily removed if you don't like them. I have two Browning marked .380s and two old FN marked .32s and all four have no magazine safeties now.

burneyr · Feb 18, 2024

SouthNarc said:
The FN/Browning 1910 is probably most infamous in its .380 chambering as the pistol that ignited WWI when Gavrilo Princip assassinated Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914.

I was at a gunshow and remarked to a seller that the Browning on his table killed more people than any other handgun in the world. He looked at me like I was nuts - figured the explanation would have been too much work.

Very nice score you made with this one. I've never seen one in such great condition.

Ivan the Butcher · Feb 19, 2024

ReloadforFun said:
I seem to recall the last time I shot it it had problems extracting. It made me wonder if I had bulged the chamber with my early reloads - though I was not trying to load hot.

The extractor jumping off the rim is a common indicator of a "Hot" load. Try totally different loading data next time. RWS/GECO 32 ACP from the 1970's was the hottest factory ammo I've ever seen! It FTE on many guns. But not on a PPK.

I have been using Winchester Silver Tipped Hollow Points for 32 ACP defense loads since I got a WWI Ruby in 1981. I've had about 15 different 32 autos and am down to 3 now.

Ivan

M_conrad_0311 · Feb 20, 2024

Very cool piece. The 1910 was also the weapon used to assassinate Senator Huey Long ... according to the report. I am on the lookout for an early one myself. I have the investigating director's Registered Magnum. The assassin's pistol was "lost" for many years until reinvesting the crime in the 1990's found it in a safety deposit box willed to his daughter. I would like to one day display a 1910 with the RM and General L.F. Guerre's involvement with Long's assassination.

Hugo Stiglitz · May 20, 2024

Browning 1910/71 FN M125

Picked this up a few weeks ago on GB for a fair price in .380 and with a complete upper barrel, slide and recoil spring in 7.65. I have seen these in .380 but never 7.65. Were these sold in the US in 7.65? It's a little tack driver too. Magazines are interchangeable between 7.65 and .380. Browning also designed these to be able to swap calibers with just a barrel change. 1910 grips without the thumb rest fit the 1910/71 so do the magazines.
Everywhere I have looked on the web does not show it in 7.65. When I saw it I had to have it. The barrel is marked with many different proof marks unlike the .380 barrel. So I believe it was for the European market and somehow made it's way over here. The .380 just has the Belgium crown/oval proof mark. I know they didn't sell well over here, only for a few years. I read they were made up until the 80's in Europe, but I know the gun is older than that. If you put a bright light on it, it has a deep purple hue. Found a FN M125 that I believe were Dutch Contract pistols. How it got over who knows!

H Richard · May 20, 2024

I've had 2 of the .380's, great little pistols, and so naturally fit your hand is the reason they shoot so well.Just like pointing your index finger at the target. Here's my last one with it's stable mate.

Hugo Stiglitz · May 20, 2024

I put a set of the Grips that are on yours on mine. I retired the thumb rest grips and your magazine fits my 1910/71. The grip length is the same on both pistols the thumb rest grips extend past the frame making it look longer.

Retired W4 · May 20, 2024

Compliance with GCA 1968 generated the 1910/71. Oh, it's a target gun.

hardknocks · May 20, 2024

1955

I picked up this 380 recently for under 6 bills locally
Then I found a 7.65 barrel & spring on ebay, almost a drop in fit and works perfectly.

sigp220.45 · May 20, 2024

Mine is a .380, Browning marked 1955.

It was an impulse purchase. Because of our 3 day wait and a cruise I didn’t pick it up until a month after I bought it.

I hated it when I first shot it. The non-existant sights and surprising recoil turned me against it.

But, I already owned it. So I determined to get to like it.

300 rounds later, I’m almost there. It is my only “point and shoot” handgun. I stick it out at arm’s length and trigger off rounds using the top of the slide to index. I can actualy hit stuff out to 10 yards. This week I’m heading down to 15 yards.

I’m gonna find a .32 barrel and keep at it.

Retired W4 · May 20, 2024

hardknocks said:
I picked up this 380 recently for under 6 bills locally
Then I found a 7.65 barrel & spring on ebay, almost a drop in fit and works perfectly.

double like on that one.

hardknocks · May 20, 2024

380

sigp220.45 said:
Mine is a .380, Browning marked 1955.

It was an impulse purchase. Because of our 3 day wait and a cruise I didn’t pick it uo until a month after I bought it.

I hated it when I first shot it. The non-existant sights and surprising recoil turned me against it.

But, I already owned it. So I determined to get to like it.

300 rounds later, I’m almost there. It is my only “point and shoot” handgun. I stick it out at arm’s length and trigger off rounds using the top of the slide to index. I can actualy hit stuff out to 10 yards. This week I’m heading down to 15 yards.

I’m gonna find a .32 barrel and keep at it.

Not much fun for me with 380.
32 is much milder.

Hugo Stiglitz · May 21, 2024

There is a slide and barrel on ebay right now. FN Model 1910 1955 Browning 7.65 m/m Slide Barrel Mag Grips Springs Misc Parts

Browning 1910 .32 ACP

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