[VAC]

Early type
View attachment 331833 View attachment 331841
But strange marking on barrel, "Piglon a Paris passage verdeau" It was changed? The others side of barrel have standart Belgian marking

This passage was built in the late 19th century, and now represents a lot of bookstores, second-hand shops and antique shops; is possible also buy vintage postcards and photos.

 

[Anthony Vanderlinden]

I am looking for information relating to my pistol. I am having trouble finding information so maybe someone here can help. Here are a few things I would like to know.

1) Year manufactured?
2) Where manufactured, if possible to know.

3) Is the 502/1000 legitimate? I just haven't seen any other FN's have limited amount.
4) Value of this pistol?
5) If anyone has history of this model please share.


Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

I cover the Baby Browning extensively in our book FN Browning Pistols. Note that this is a Baby and not a FN Model 1905. Yours is modern, made in the 1980s at MAB in France after production was moved from FN. It is a factory pattern but that does not maen it was engraved at FN, I suspect that it may have been engraved in France as they were trying to generate interest and sales.

Anthony

 

[Anthony Vanderlinden]

Early type
View attachment 331833 View attachment 331841
But strange marking on barrel, "Piglon a Paris passage verdeau" It was changed? The others side of barrel have standart Belgian marking

That is a very neat retailer marking! I would love to show this one in a new edition...

passage verdeau is nothing more than the location of the retailer. These were typically known as galleries where narrow streets or passages between two major streets were covered to make pedestrian shopping more convenient and protected from the elements. There are several like it in France and Belgium.

Neat!
Anthony

 

[Humble Pie]

Early type
View attachment 331833 View attachment 331841
But strange marking on barrel, "Piglon a Paris passage verdeau" It was changed? The others side of barrel have standart Belgian marking

Belov,

A fantastic retailer marked 1905. I love these kinds of markings - they add so much individuality and, by connecting the gun to a specific outfit or business, provide the potential for further research. A "way in" to the gun's history, so to speak.

Is this one yours?

 

[Aladin]

Bob, not my... selling here in Russia as deactiveted..

 

[MAUSER888]

He is a neat one with capture papers. Serial number 712247 as noted on the paper. I believe made very late 1924 or very early 1925 with really nice complete finish.

 

[Humble Pie]

Thanks for posting, Tom, that's a great one! It's nice that there are a few Czech proofed and dated guns in the list to "anchor" this one as far as approximate date of production. Some of the other portions of the serial number range are still unclear to me as far as production timeline goes.

It staggers the mind (or my mind, at least) to consider that FN produced nearly three quarters of a million of this model in only a twenty year period, before production started to really slow down. These days, if one considers the technology available to gunmakers with molded polymer frames, CNC, etc., 750,000 guns would not be quite as amazing; but when you think of what it took in the early twentieth century to mill and turn carbon steel with the level of precision evident in these pistols, it's incredible. And they did it without carbide and the coolants we have now. Cranks and dials, patience and true craftsmanship.

Every time I pick one of these up, even if on the outside it looks like it's been to hell and back, the level of quality delights me. Of course it's possible for one of these guns to be abused or neglected to the point where it will no longer function properly. But the overwhelming majority of the time, everything works just as it was designed to - tight, smooth and solid, even a century later.

Whatever may have been the personal troubles and sufferings of the many individuals who worked on these guns, what a consolation it would have been to know (as some of them doubtless did) that many of the pistols they were making would still be around long after they were dead, still serving and protecting, and appreciated by collectors like us.

 

[Anthony Vanderlinden]

Hi Bob,

I have been fortunate to see some of these old-time production methods and talk to many retired workers and what has always impressed me was the efficiency of how things were made. We have lost those skills in manufacturing. The FN production supervisors were quite impressive in analyzing flows and often reorganizing and working on people's strengths. That said, they were also stern, cracking down on talking, gossip, and lazy behavior. They would separate friends and keeping them apart in order to avoid distractions. All had quotas to meet.

Also of related interest are the purposely relaxed tolerances. They could make these much more precise and tighter but tolerances were relaxed so that the guns would function with bad quality ammunition.

Anthony

 

[Humble Pie]

Anthony, that sounds like my kind of workplace. Especially this:

That said, they were also stern, cracking down on talking, gossip, and lazy behavior. They would separate friends and keeping them apart in order to avoid distractions.

 

[bruno38]

Here's a recent acquisition: FN 1905 s/n 68410
No safety, plain trigger - Condition is like-new, almost unused
Provided with unmarked holster

 

[Humble Pie]

Wow, Bruno, that is a peach. Thanks for sharing.

 

[bruno38]

holster

Wow, Bruno, that is a peach. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Bob.
For your curiosity, please find pictures of the holster.
Inside are written the names of two previous Canadian owners.

First one (in black ink) is a fellow from Marine Depot in Ottawa, Ontario.
The other (in blue ink), named Pettigrew, was from St-Leonard (now a district of Montreal, Quebec).

 

[Anthony Vanderlinden]

Very nice! Love the holster and overall condition.
Anthony

 

[Yoebuff]

Been looking for one of these for a while. A German Occupation made FN 1905/06.

 

[Anthony Vanderlinden]

Congrats, you stole it. I considered bidding but already have enough... I was hoping that it would go to a good home. Glad it did!
Anthony

 

[refurb]

Very nice rig particularly the holster.

 

[Humble Pie]

Very nice, Sam, thanks for sharing. Did the holster come with the gun or did you pair them up?

 

[Yoebuff]

Bob.. I paired the gun with the holster. I had the holster for a while and it actually has imprints of FN grips on the interior. so it was just waiting on the right gun! Thanks for all the comments. I too thought it went cheap Anthony. I figured it may have been because it was listed as an 1906 instead of a 1905. I do find people get confused about that and then with the Baby Brownings. People use the terms incorrectly and interchangeably so I always expand my searches to take into account their lack of knowledge. Which I owe my knowledge to you and your books Anthony!

 

[Garbagegoat]

Looking for info on a FN 25. 919817 is serial number.

 

[Humble Pie]

Hi Jeff,

Sorry for the delayed reply. It might help if you could elaborate on exactly what sort of information are you looking for. Aside from a rough estimate of 1929 production, I can't provide anything specific to this exact gun.

Have you considered acquiring Anthony Vanderlinden's book FN Browning Pistols: Sidearms that Shaped World History? If you have any interest in FN firearms, you will enjoy this book immensely. It is a treasure trove of accurate information and delightful little factoids you will not find anywhere else. Worth the (very reasonable) price many times over.