Pair of FN .25s: 1905 and a Baby

[Teddydog]

Got these two little .25 autos this week.

I bought the FN 1905/6 pocket pistol first thinking it was a Baby. (I think FN called it the 1906, but a lot of source call it 1905.) Yeah, I didn't do my due diligence and took the seller's title to be accurate. But I like little guns and don't mind the purchase. It has some areas of spotting and a little light pitting, but overall isn't bad to look at and seems to be complete and functional. It is based on the same patents and design as the Colt 1908 pocket .25 with some small details that are different (I have one of the Colts, too). This one is a "late" pattern made about 1920 and has a grip safety, thumb safety and a magazine disconnect safety.

The Browning Baby is what I really wanted and got this one complete with zipper pouch, box and manuals. I've never seen one with this type of box before and it has no markings at all, so I'm not certain it is correct. It is just the right size and has a place for the papers.

Here are the magazines back to back so you can see the slight sight difference between the two (Baby on the left).

Any comments or input is welcome.

Rob

 

[robertrwalsh]

Those things are cool. I own several and shoot them every now and again. Would shoot them more but .25 auto ammo is hard to find and expensive.

 

[Teddydog]

Yes, they are fun to shoot. In addition to the 3 mentioned above (the FN, Baby and Colt 1908), I have an Ortgies and a Beretta 950.

I have about 750 rounds stashed away, so I can feed them and shelter them. Send any strays my way.

Rob

 

[Jimmyjones]

Those are really nice. I have a pretty extensive collection collection of .25 and .22 short pistols. I really love them. I was fondling my Colt 1908 yesterday and have a 950 in my pocket.

But I still don't have a Baby.

 

[kaaskop49]

I have a few .25 autos, hard for me to turn them down when I see them on consignment shelves. The Baby is the tiniest of my 'brood,' but I have difficulty loading the magazine beyond 4 cartridges. I believe its capacity is 6.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[desi2358]

They are both very nice guns. I have owned a couple of each, my first 1905 was an early one without the manual safety (just had the grip safety). I rescued it from a junk box at a Memphis gun show many years ago. It was missing a couple small parts and the barrel was stuck. Got the barrel loose and found that Colt parts fit and I soon had it running again. Wish I still had it today.

The later Baby models are really small, fun to play around with. Actually shoot quite well in my experience. Sometimes carried one as a hideout gun. Very reliable little thing and certainly capable of doing some damage especially at contact distances (which was about the only time I could see using it).

 

[27 Man]

I bought a “Baby” at a swap meet a couple of years ago. It has some bluing wear and probably was carried in a pocket for a time. It jams on feeding about every other shot. Never determined the cause.

 

[H Richard]

My most recent purchase was a Baby Browning, and it's my 2nd one. This one is 99% with the pouch, my older one is about 95% and has been shot several times. I just can't seem to pass up a good buy on one.

 

[kaaskop49]

Have handled every model of the standard Ruger LCP in my pal's LGS. None "speak to me" the way these little .25s do.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103