5 more

I am pleased to add the following five (5) SN's including pictures for your perusal

1) 227988

2) 252583 Baby

3) 373983 Baby

4) 914546 with Wien/Austrian acceptance

5) 993051 with Australian marking - Alcolk & Pierce

Bruno

 

Bruno, thanks very much for your contributions, they are much appreciated. I have added the 1905s to the list (the Babies will be another project).

I have assumed that, given the serial numbers, the manual safeties on all three of the 1905s are of the 2nd style - can you confirm this?

It is interesting to note that over 900,000 guns had been made by the year 1929, judging by the proof on pistol no. 914546 - leaving more than a decade to produce the remaining 170,000 or so. I find the numbers astounding. Imagine the hours of machine time that it would take - especially in those days - to produce the components for nine hundred thousand pistols, particularly the complex machining for the slides and frames. Even distributed over the course of about 25 years, it staggers the mind. And that's only for this particular model.

Something else caught my attention when organizing this data: I had long heard that serial numbers for this model continued above 1,100,000 in limited post-WWII production. Until I compiled this list, however, I didn't realize that apparently I don't even have a single serial number higher than the 1,084,000 range. Vanderlinden reports a highest known serial of 1,311,256 (albeit with "large gaps" in the post-war serialization).

I am very interested in post-WWII production of this model and would be most interested to hear of any reports of very high serial numbers that might help narrow down the ranges in which these post-war guns were numbered.

 

Bob, Browning 1905 with grip safty #75138. It came to me in a brown holster.
Joe

 

Serial 687614 No Liege proofs or calibre visible through the ejection port.
Flanged trigger, Original Horn Grips

Serial 1082669 Full Liege proofs and calibre are visible. Black FN synthetic grips.
Flanged trigger. (I'm guessing this pistol was completed in 1940.
Can anyone confirm this ?)

 

Thank you Joe! Can you confirm that your pistol has no manual safety lever and has a plain (smooth-sided, non-flanged) trigger?

Some of you may have noted the remarkable anomaly of pistol no. 81975, which is listed as having a 2nd style manual safety - remarkable because this pistol is more than 50,000 numbers below the next earliest pistol with a manual safety (no. 133193, reported by Vanderlinden).

Though I was unable to communicate with the gun's owner, I have several photos of the pistol and while they are not of the highest quality, after scrutinizing them I am fairly certain that the serial number was not digitally altered or "photoshopped" for privacy reasons as some sellers are in the habit of doing (note that all it would take is a "1" before the serial number and the gun would fall neatly into the proper range for a plain trigger, 2nd style safety variation). The pistol looks completely right and unaltered, with even, consistent wear. The slide legend is sans serif as one would expect for the serial range.

 

Thank you very much, Ned! The list is updated.

To all contributors - it would be helpful if the trigger style and type of safety lever (if any) were specified when reporting your pistols. I know it's pretty much a given that pistols above 250,000 have flanged triggers and 2nd style safeties, but it would still be good to have the info. There are exceptions out there.

Note the scarcity of guns with the 1st style safety lever - only 3 observed. Hopefully there are more out there to be reported.

 

left side

Hi Bob, here is a visual confirmation of info required about the 3 subject pistols:
1) 227988

2) 914546 (Austria)

3) 993051 (Australia)

BTW, why not a STICKY?
Bruno

 

Bruno, thanks for the additional images. It is always good to see positive confirmation of the features.

I asked for the post not to be stickied simply because I find it annoying when there get to be so many stickies at the top of the forum that you have to scroll an entire page to get down to the latest threads. Just a pet peeve of mine. Also, I believe that most people don't pay much attention to stickies, notwithstanding their position at the head of the page. I think most people just scroll past them without reading them until they get to the threads.

 

Bob,

Thank you for your great research! Here is a FN 1905 rig that I picked up earlier this year. It is a lovely gun except the cracked grip.

SN 937391. There are no markings on the holster.

Earl

:

 

Bob, in my opinion, unless members keep on reporting new SNs on a current basis, I am afraid the thread may just disappear in bottom pages. I too am anxious to reach new postings, but the stickies are an excellent reminder and a quick reference for addings. I am not sure I would spend time heading for the thread to report or consult, if it is not visible anymore. That’s my two-pfennig, for your appreciation. -- Bruno

 

Here is one more FN 1905. SN 418659.

On the right side of the slide it has "Fahnz See Kreewin M53201" scratched into it. I do not know if it is a guy's name or unit or ship or what. Any help that you gentlemen might offer about this marking would be appreciated.

Earl

 

Earl, thanks so much for the pictures of your excellent rig and the other pistol too (very intrigued by the marking).

Bruno, you have persuaded me. I edited my request at the top of the original post to ask that it be stickied if the mods think it qualifies.

 

Update? Will this thread eventually become a STICKY? I'm curious to know what conditions apply. -- B.

 

S/N 649677 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, no proofs/caliber marking visible through ejection port

Sorry - no pictures

 

964AWACS,

Many thanks for your contribution. I will be updating the list with your serial number and several others.

 

Bump for "Sticky" request. Thanks!

Also, click on the archive link on the left of the webpage below to see Early, Mid, Late and Special versions of the FN "1906".
http://www.vestpockets.bauli.at/

More info on the dates of manufacture.
http://precisionsmallarms.com/index.php/about-us/history

 

16096 No safety, plain trigger, engraved(non-factory?), grips with silver medallions(star, hammer-sickle), monogram "IVS" - Iosif Vissarionovich Stalin?

 

Guy (Xotech), thank you very much for the helpful information! Please don't think I was ignoring your PMs - I will work on updating the list as soon as possible. I have many new numbers to add in addition to yours.

Oleg, that is a really interesting gun! Is it yours? Does the engraving look old or recently done? Do you know anything of its history?

By the way, the monogram looks like "UBC", not "IVS". Am I missing something?

 

Unfortunately it's not mine... I got the photos from russian forum guns.ru Monogram in russian - "ИВС", suppose to read "IVS" in English transcription. The style of monogram and silver medallions make me think it was done in late 1930-th.

 

Hello all,
I am glad to find you and would like to offer to the list my 1905.
SN 685902
and matches on the frame, slide and barrel, it has the 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, no marks on the barrel other than the serial number and prof marks shown here:
http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/fn-baby-browning-manufacture-date-and-value.-23237728.html#232860

 

Hi Alex, glad you found this thread and thank you for sharing the information about your FN! Although I appreciate all contributions, data about guns such as yours showing a proof year is especially valuable because it serves - however tentatively - to relate serial numbers to actual dates. Very welcome information.

 

This subject caused me to dig my 1906 out. Serial 8912XX, second model safety, flanged trigger . Surrendered late 1944 southern Germany. Came with holster and extra FN marked magazine. Do you have an idea when this Browning was manufactured? Thanks Henri

 

I just acquired SN 1086296 with 2nd style safety and flanged trigger. Looks like a "M" or "2N" on the top right trigger guard bow. It came equipped with repro' FN grips by Franzite, probably a 1960's or 70's replacement?

 

I just acquired SN 1086296 with 2nd style safety and flanged trigger. Looks like a "M" or "2N" on the top right trigger guard bow. It came equipped with repro' FN grips by Franzite, probably a 1960's or 70's replacement?

Bruce, thanks very much for the new serial number, much appreciated. I saw this gun up for auction but the seller had x'ed out the last digits of the serial number and had only a single, left side photo of poor quality. I did notice (because of the escutcheon) that the grips did not appear original. It's nice to have confirmation.

This gun is of particular interest to me because it has the highest serial number I have yet observed on any FN 1905 pistol - by more than 2000 numbers. It is noteworthy that in his book FN Browning Pistols, Anthony Vanderlinden states that the highest recorded serial number for this model is 1311256. I find this intriguing, as I have observed hundreds of serial numbers for these pistols (dozens of which are not yet recorded in the list on page 1) and have yet to see one in the 1,087,000 range or higher. Vanderlinden does say there are "large gaps" at the end of production, but even so, those last pistols must be very few and far between if years of my diligent searching have not turned up single one.

Even with the repro grips, I think you did well. From what I could see in the seller's photo, the condition looked nice. Is there any chance you could post photographs of this gun? Given its significance as the highest serial numbered 1905 I have personally confirmed, it would be great to have a photographic record of it for reference.

 

Bob,
Here is my 1905 for your list, no pics:

788369 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, Czech proofed 8805.26

 

Bob,
Thanks for the reply. I'll try to get you photos when my wife gets back into town (she's the computer literate one here!). It is in about 95% condition with an original FN mag and an aftermarket mag with folded bottom tabs (French?). Any idea where I might find correct original grips? Any idea of the DOB?
Bruce