Any FN 1910/Browning 1955 collectors?

[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.

 

[Kurusu]

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.

Maybe I am not alone in my dislike of the "pistol logo grips" (find them "corny" to say the least) and FN realized that really soon.

 

[hardknocks]

Mags

I had a 1955 380 and bought a 32 acp mag and it worked with my 380.
That's my experience.
I was hesitant to carry with one in the chamber but that's a can of worms. Probably never be a problem.
Ultra kool guns, great for point and shoot practice.
I searched for a 32 acp barrel with no luck.
Regards
Mike

 

[rgppgr]

I found that the parts of your 1910/55 will be stamped with a number the number will have 1,2,3,or all 4 sides of a box around it. From what I understand the box sides represent the quarter of that year. The number inside translate to the year that part was made. Between that and the serial one can figure if it's a 1946 or 1956. Mine and I suspect Me239's 1910 with wood grips is a 1946 vintage. I also found that the addition of 'Montreal P Q' was added when the Montreal location was bought out by Browning. So there are those years that 'Browning Arms Company St. Louis Mo' is what was marked on the slide. My 1910/55 parts are stamped with a 3. The slide markings would tell if it's 1953 or 63. Well that and the serial. I hope this helps. Disassemble your pistol and look for boxed numbers. Thank you Mark for this information.

 

[Absalom]

I found that the parts of your 1910/55 will be stamped with a number the number will have 1,2,3,or all 4 sides of a box around it. From what I understand the box sides represent the quarter of that year. The number inside translate to the year that part was made. Between that and the serial one can figure if it's a 1946 or 1956. Mine and I suspect Me239's 1910 with wood grips is a 1946 vintage.....

Well, that's a nice piece of detective work. Good to know. And it confirms my extrapolation. Now it would be interesting to figure out who did the parkerizing, whether it was unofficial or in-service from one of the post-war contracts.