[Stucki]

The Browning Model 1906 is called by some collectors and authors as Model 1905. It seems that FN mentioned in some booklets, that this pistol was inevnted in 1905 and that the production started in this year too(e.g. see Matt Eastmann, Browning Sporting Arms of Distinction 1903-1992, page 28).
However to my knowledge FN referred to this pistol normally as the Model 1906. An early instruction manual of the Model 1905/1906 is called "Die Browning Pistole ca. 6,35m/m Modell 1906" and in another manual of the Model 1910 is mentioned, that the production of the small 6,35mm pistol started in 1906. You can find the same statement in a small booklet from Browning Arms Co too (see Browning Arms Co., A History of Browning Guns from 1831, St Louis 1942, page 36).

I think that the designation Model 1906 is appropriate.

comments are welcome

Alex

 

[Darwin]

I have wondered about that too. However, there are two different models, one without manual safety and one with safety and slide lock. From what little information I have found about these pistols only a few were made before the safety was added. Could this account for there being references to models 1905 and 1906?

Here is a picture of an early model without safety.

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[Stucki]

It depends what you consider as "few". According to an manual for FN 1906 the pistols with SN above 250'000 got the additional safty lever. I suppose that was around 1910. This manual was printed in 1912 and it was mentioned that more than 300'000 pistols were already sold. The pistols above SN 250'000 where called pistols with 3 safeties by FN: the original grip safety, a magazine safety and the safety lever.
To my point of view guns under and above SN 250'000 have the same designation

Alex

 

[Darwin]

Well, 300,000 is hard to call "few". I hope somebody else will chime in on this. I have wondered about the confusion too. I also have wondered what the official FN designation for the FN 1922 (or FN 1910/22) is. In the US it is commonly referred to as FN 1922 and occasionally as FN 1910/22 but I understand in Europe it is more commonly referred to as FN 1910/22. But I have never seen anything that tells what FN's official model designation for the pistol is.

 

[Darwin]

The answer to my own question was right under my nose all this time. In "The Belgian Browning Pistols" on page 159 shows a page from an original early 1920's catalog for "Pistolet Automatique Browning Calibre 9mm Modele 1922". So, it would seem the official designation is Model 1922, not 1910/22. Now, if only the book covered the 1905/6 model about which this thread originally addressed.

 

[Nolle47]

Here in Belgium we call them Mod.1906
Im posting some pictures of mine. Serial 971262.
I am a little puzled about the mark on the right side.
Is it the usual GECO mark or somthing else.
Is there a way of knowing wich year the pistol is made?
Regards,
Arnold


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[Nolle47]

Try again something went wrong first time.

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[Nolle47]

Pictures upload but dont appear?

 

[Darwin]

This is just a guess so it may or may not help but try removing all the spaces from your file names.

 

[Nolle47]

Try again


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[FNitis]

The 1905 and 1906 designations have nothing to do with the added safety (takes place later in 1908/09 production).

In the U.S. the pistol is referred to as the 1905 because of the date on the Browning Patent. In Europe the pistol is always refered to as the 1906 model as this is the first year that the pistol was produced and sold. Both designations are correct as well as FN Vest Pocket or Browning Vest Pocket (not to be confused with the later Baby model).

The added safety was introduced around 1909. I state around because there is no clear starting serial number at when the slide safety was introduced. FN used up all parts so for a time, they were producing pistols with the new added safety while others were completed without.

This safety is interesting as this is the only time FN accepted / copied something from Colt. It was added after FN engineers examined one of the earliest of Colt Browning Vest Pocket pistols.

 

[FNitis]

quote:Originally posted by Darwin

The answer to my own question was right under my nose all this time. In "The Belgian Browning Pistols" on page 159 shows a page from an original early 1920's catalog for "Pistolet Automatique Browning Calibre 9mm Modele 1922". So, it would seem the official designation is Model 1922, not 1910/22. Now, if only the book covered the 1905/6 model about which this thread originally addressed.

Darwin, The next book will cover the .25 caliber pistols in detail.
As to the model designation. The most accurate designation is indeed "FN 1922". I still do not know for cetain where the 10/22 designation comes from or where/when it was first introduced. It may have been made up in order to differentiate it from the John Browning 1922 prototypes which have nothing to do with the Model 1922. In my opinion the 10/22 designation fits only those rare intermediate models made by FN.