Any FN 1910/Browning 1955 collectors?

[Alk8944]

Yes, and it is also referred to as the "Sport" model as I recall. I believe it pre-dates 1971 a bit and was Browning's concession to GCA 1968 that prohibited importation of small handguns that didn't score enough "points" to allow continued importation. Additions included those horrible stocks with the thumb rest as the lengthened barrel and added sights didn't add enough points.

 

[beagleye]

Those are the same sights they were putting on the HP sports model in the early 70s- "beer can sights" I think

 

[GAPP]

FN 1910/Browning 1955 collection

When I started my Police Career in 1973, down under, our issued pistols were Browning 1910s & Colt 1903 in .32 ACP for uniform and plainclothes and 1910/22 long slides for our Highway Patrol. We used the .32ACP instead of the .380ACP as it had more penetration and that was a factor with gthe old roundnose copper jacketed bullets we used in those days. We continued to use them until the 1980's when we modernized to S&W revolvers. Our sister State Police used the Browning BUT in .380 ACP calibre, way out in the bush we used to purchase the "other" barrel so if we were on a "joint" patrol we could run with the same calibre in our pistols. There was no problem swapping .32 and .380 barrels over and we used the same magazines and recoil springs. I have several in my collection in both calibres and the barrels swap quite readily amongst them.
Of recent interest is the conversion of .32ACP barrels to .32NAA
calibre which is a bottle neck .32 projectile in a .380 case. Velocities are excellent, the recoil is NOT severe and the guns are holding up to this calibre which appears to be adding new life to these pocket pistols. I will certainly be looking at getting one of these barrels for my 1910's 1910/22's

 

[H Richard]

Although it is much fun to shoot, I rarely shoot it as the tear down for cleaning is a pain in the a** getting the barrel bushing back in place. Even with a piece of rubber hose (thank whomever made that recommendation) it is still somewhat difficult.

 

[Walter Rego]

I posted several weeks ago about an Astra Model 4000 Tri-Caliber Kit that was offered in 1956-57. It came with a complete additional slide assembly and magazine in .22 LR and a .32 ACP and .380 ACP barrel for the regular slide assembly. Both of the centerfire magazines are identical and not marked as to caliber. Antaris' Astra book shows a photo of how it was packaged originally, and mine is the same.
I have not yet test fired it but it appears that all that is needed to swap between .32 and .380 is to swap barrels. Both magazines feed .32 A-Zoom dummy rounds into the .32 barrel when worked by hand and both mags feed dummy .380 rounds into the .380 barrel the same way. I assume that a change in recoil springs and even magazines is not necessary and the extractor must be designed in such a way as to work properly with both centerfire rounds. Perhaps the OP's Browning is just as easily changed, with just the barrel swap needed ?

 

[jframejoey]

Lost out on a nice 1910 while hymming and hawwing about it. When I decided to grab it the guy said he had just sold it and I regret it to this day. I would love to find one of the stainless ones made right here in the good ol' US of A. Wondering what the hell I'm talking about? There was a small up start in Texas in the 80s called LONE STAR ARMS if memory serves me right. Made a copy of the 1955 model in .380. Wish I could find the mid 80s Gun Digest or Shooters Digest with its ad on the back cover. If any one has one or old ads for it please post it.

 

[britbike1]

I can not claim to be a collector but I have a couple, a .32 and a .380, due primarily to the historical connection. They are fun to shoot.

I always thought if you had one you were an owner and if you had two you were a collector!

 

[Stevie]

I can tell you this much about reproduction mags for the FN 1910...they will work with 7.65mm/.32acp but I bet they won't take .380acp! At least not the generic blued mag I bought as a spare for my 1910.

I had trouble with the cartridges (.32acp) getting stuck just short of the top feed position and it wasn't the follower hanging up. I wedged a appropriate diameter wood dowel down into the mag in a 'just so' fashion where it expanded the mag-body side to side a bit but didn't disturb the feed lips. That got the repro mag working fine with .32acp...however the original magazine is noticeably roomier inside than the reproduction magazine.

 

[les.b]

One of the first handguns I owned was a .380 Browning 1955 model. My dad and mom bought it for me when I was about 16 or so. I kept it for many years, and foolishly traded it off about 15 years ago. I have regretted it ever since, mostly for sentimental reasons.

Best Regards, Les

 

[rgppgr]

FN Browning 1910

I never read an answer to the original question about age. As it turns out I've exhausted myself looking for the same info. And for almost the same 32. Mine has a 480*** serial, parkerized finish and ,after looking at Me239s pictures, the same wood grips. No import marks though. The closest I've come is maybe pre WW II. 400,000 was close to the start of the war I've read? Anyway this thread is as close as I've come to an answer. I also have another question about a 10/55, 380 from around 1965 vintage. The slide side is stamped "Browning Arms Company St Louis Mo." without the "Montreal PQ" that I see on every 55+ vintage. Those are my inquiries. Can anyone give me the answers. And Me239, did you ever find out the vintage of yours? Thanks

 

[Absalom]

I never read an answer to the original question about age. As it turns out I've exhausted myself looking for the same info. And for almost the same 32. Mine has a 480*** serial, parkerized finish and ,after looking at Me239s pictures, the same wood grips. No import marks though. The closest I've come is maybe pre WW II. 400,000 was close to the start of the war I've read?....

I know nothing about the post-war Browning-branded US variant, so no help there.

But your 480xxx-range gun falls into an interesting period. There are no authoritative lists of serials with dates. But from Vanderlinden, some extrapolation is possible.

The Germans produced very few standard sized FN 1910s during the occupation, likely no more than several thousand; the focus was on the enlarged FN 1922 variant, of which around 450,000 were made from 1940 to 1944.

Vanderlinden documents a few 1910 guns that bracket your serial and thus provide at least a ballpark: a 1940 gun made at the beginning of the occupation, in the 470xxx-range, and a post-war pistol made for police in occupied Germany around 1948 in the 490xxx-range.

If your pistol shows no wartime stamps like WaA Waffenamt marks, it's likely post-war production from the later 1940s. I don't think the parkerizing is original in that case.

 

[old tanker]

I've got a couple, a 1922 produced during the occupation and a post war 1955

 

[OLDSTER]

I believe dick723 is talking about a legitimate variant. While the 71 does indeed refer to 1971, that was the year this particular variant was introduced. It has nothing to do with a manufacture date.

The Model 10/71 was a version of the 1910 with adjustable sights and longer slide. In Europe it was sold under a different name; I've seen it referred to as a Model 130.

I thought that rear sight looked familiar. Same "beer-can" sight used in 70's vintage Hi Powers. Beautiful 10/71 you have there.

 

[Kurusu]

I don't collect FN 1910 pistols. Bur I do have one(from1914), I do collect JMB designs.

 

[italiansport]

I have a very early example with the long cutout on the slide. My understanding is it's within a couple of hundred serial numbers of the one Princip used in the assassination.
Jim

 

[Absalom]

I don't collect FN 1910 pistols. Bur I do have one(from1914)...

How did you determine the year?

 

[Kurusu]

How did you determine the year?

I used info from here:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj10_XG4OHiAhVOrxoKHZqOCqYQFjAAegQIARAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Funblinkingeye.com%2FGuns%2F1910FN%2F1910fn.html&usg=AOvVaw1KbD2jEKIibdx7LR2BBT3U

Edit. Basically configuration and number of slide serrations; serial number and markings, if I recollect correctly.

 

[Absalom]

I used info from here:
......
Edit. Basically configuration and number of slide serrations; serial number and markings, if I recollect correctly.

Ah ja. After taking another look at Vanderlinden, it's reasonably easy to pin down. Production started in late 1912 and stopped for the duration of the war in mid-1914 at 63- to 70,000 pistols.

Mine is likely early 1913. Not the pistol logo grips of the early months, but the first-year long curve of the slide.

PS: Not in exciting shape, but it was inexpensive, and got me within a few months of the gun that killed the Archduke; as close to important history as I'm likely to get

 

[Kurusu]

Mine is likely early 1913. Not the pistol logo grips of the early months, but the first-year long curve of the slide.

Did they use a pistol logo grip in the 1910? My 1900 is from approximately 1902 (don't ask me how I got there, can't remember anymore, I have at least 10 duplications of books that I didn't remember I already had) and it doesn't have pistol logo grips anymore. I thought they had given up the ideia by then.

Edit. So you know. I passed the opportunity of buying a relatively scarce FN 1899, for a good price and in very reasonable shape, because I simply dislike the "pistol logo" grip panels. Guns are really not an investement for me.

 

[Absalom]

Did they use a pistol logo grip in the 1910?...

To quote Mr V. directly, "Pistols manufactured during the first months of production were assembled with FN 1910 pistol logo grips. For the first year of production the slide had a distinguishing long curve at the bottom. Both the pistol logo grips and early slide variant were discontinued in late 1913. (P. 212)

Assuming my pistol's grips are original, highly likely given the condition, the pistol logo was discontinued earlier than the slide.