FN / Browning M.1900 (Browning No.1) pistol (Belgium)

FN - Browning M1900, left side.

FN - Browning M1900, right side.

Sectional view drawing of the FN - Browning 1900 pistol.

Characteristics

Type: Single Action, semi-automatic pistol

Chamber: 7.62x17mm SR (.32ACP)

Weight unloaded: 625 g

Length: 172 mm

Barrel length: 102 mm

Capacity: 7 rounds

The FN / Browning model 1900 pistol was a first of a long and extremely successful

series of the Belgian-made pistols, designed by the American firearms genius John

Moses Browning. The first semi-automatic, blowback operated pistol was designed by

J. M. Browning circa 1896 and latter improved by the 1897. He offered his design to

Belgian company FN Herstal circa 1898, and production began in 1899, as the Modele

1899. in 1900, this pistol, in slightly modified form (with barrel shortened from 122 to

102 mm), was adopted by Belgium as Mle.1900. Relatively simple and well designed,

this pistol is also known as the Browning Number 1 pistol (Browning No.1). Widely

used across Europe as a civilian and police sidearm, this was chambered for a new

smokeless round, 7.62x17mm SR, which is also known in Americas as the .32ACP (.32

Colt Automatic). FN - Browning M1900 was widely copied in many countries, especially

in S-E Asia. It was manufactured until the 1911 or so, with more than 700 000 pistols

made.

Technical description.

The M1900 is a blowback operated, semi-automatic (self-loading) pistol. The barrel is

fixed to the frame. The recoil spring is located within the slide and above the barrel.

This spring, via special lever, also acts as a firing pin spring. M1900 is a striker fired,

single action weapon. Unlike all latter designs, the ejection port is cut in the frame, and

not in the slide. Safety switch is located at the left side, above the grip panel. Magazine

is removable, is inserted into the pistol handle and holds 7 rounds. Magazine catch

lever is located at the heel of the grip. Sights are fixed.

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FN / Browning M.1903 (Browning No.2) pistol (Belgium)

FN - Browning M 1903 pistol.

FN - Browning M 1903 pistol cross-section drawing.

Characteristics

Type: Single Action, Semi-automatic pistol

Chamber: 9x20mm SR Browning Long, 7.65x17mm SR Browning (.32ACP)

Weight unloaded: 930 g

Length: 205 mm

Barrel length: 127 mm

Capacity: 7 rounds (9mm) or 8 rounds (7.65mm)

The M1903 was the second production blowback-operated pistol, designed by famous

American arms designer John Browning by 1902 and patented in 1903. Also known as

the Browning No.2 pistol, this design was a serious improvement over the older No.1

(FN - Browning M1900) pistol. At the same time Browning developed the recoil-

operated M1900 for Colt. This design also was manufactured by the Colt Firearms Co

of USA as the Colt M1903 pocket pistol, chambered in .32ACP (7.65mm). Both FN and

Colt produced this design until 1930s. In Europe, The FN M1903 became a favorite

police pistol, and also was adopted by several armies, included Belgian, Dutch, Turkish

and Swedish ones, as well as by Imperial Russian police. It was manufactured in

Sweden under license at Husqvarna Vapenfabriks from 1917 and until 1942, as the

9mm M/1907. In the USA, the Colt m1903 became popular as a civilian self-defense

pistol, and also was issued to the senior army officers and generals as a standard self -

defense weapon. FN built slightly less than 60 000 M1903 pistols, plus Husqvarna built

another 94 000 pistols.

This pistol can be called as a forerunner of most semi-automatic pistols in the world, in

one or another respect. Significantly underpowered by modern standards, it was,

however, reliable, accurate and comfortable to carry and fire. It also offered much

faster reloading procedure than any of contemporary military revolvers.

Technical description.

The Browning M1903 (does not matter, if it was made by FN in Belgium or by Colt in

USA), is a blowback operated, semi-automatic pistol. The recoil spring was located

under the barrel, as in most modern pistols. The single action trigger unit has a

concealed hammer (Colt also produced similar models with open hammers). The non-

pivoting trigger is somewhat similar to the latter Colt/Browning M1911 trigger. Manual

safety switch is located at the left side of the frame, above the grip panel. When

engaged, it locks the sear and the slide. It also locks the slide in the open position for

disassembly. Additional automatic grip safety locked the sear unless the gun is

properly held in the palm. Barrel is locked to the frame by several radial ribs. To

disassemble the pistol, one must retract the slide, lock it open with the safety, then

rotate barrel out of engagement with the frame, and then remove barrel and slide.

Automatic slide stop (hold open) device was also incorporated, with the visible lever

located at the right side of the frame, above the triggerguard. Single stack magazine is

inserted in to the butt and locked by the lever at the heel of the grip. Military issue

pistols also had lanyard ring on the left side of the grip.

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Browning 1910, 1922 and 380 (Belgium)

Browning model 1910.

Browning model 1922.

Browning model 380 "Renaissance"-grade factory engraved (post-1971 manufactured

model 1922 derivative, made for USA).

Browning model 1922, cut-out view.

Characteristics

Type: Single Action

Chamber: 7.65x17mm Browning (.32ACP) and 9x17mm Browning (.380ACP)

Weight unloaded: model 1910 - ca. 590 g; model 1922 - ca. 700 g

Length: model 1910 - 153 mm; model 1922 - 178 mm

Barrel length: model 1910 - 88 mm; model 1922 - 113 mm

Capacity: model 1910 - 7 (7.65mm) or 6 (9mm) rounds; model 1922 - 9 (7.65mm) or 8

(9mm) rounds

Model 1910 pistol had been developed by John M. Browning for Belgian company

Fabrique Nationale (FN), Herstal. Model 1910 had been developed around two

cartridges, also designed by Browning - the 7.65mm Browning, also known as .32ACP,

which had been developed around 1900 for FN / Browning model 1900 pistol, and the

9mm Browning Short (9x17mm), also known as .380ACP, which, in turn, had been

developed about 1908 for Colt / Browning model 1908 pistol.

In 1922, Browning modified the original pistol to suit requirements of the Yugoslavian

military - he lenghtened barrel, enlarged the grip and magazine capacity by two rounds.

The slide was lenghtened by adding removable frontal portion to the model 1910 slide.

Both models 1910 and 1922 were manufactured in large quantities until 1983 or so,

when these guns were replaced by FN model 140DA / Browning BDA380 pistols. In the

USA both model 1910 and model 1922 were imported under the name of "Browning

380 pistol", chambered in .380ACP. After the 1971, these guns have had adjustable

target-type sights and slightly enlarged grips to suit new US gun laws. Between two

World Wars these pistols became very popular across Europe as a police, military and

self-defence guns. It is well-known also that the First World War was started by the

Browning m1910 pistols, which had been used in 1914 to assasinate the Archduke

Ferdinand.

Technically, both m 1910 and m 1922 (also known as model 1910/22), are blowback

operated semi-automatic pistols. The recoil spring is located around the barrel, the

trigger is of single action type and the gun is striker-fired. Both models featured three

safeties - magazine safety (which blocks the firing when magazine is removed),

automatic grip safety and manual, frame mounted safety.

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Fabrique Nationale (FN) Browning

Browning High Power made by FN (model 1935).

Browning High Power made by Inglis of Canada in 1944 (variation with fixed sights).

Browning High Power, also made by Inglis, but with tangent ajustable rear sights and

attached holster/shoulder stock.

Browning High Power Mk. III - modern military/law enforcement variation.

Browning High Power - modern commercial version with ajustable sights and

ambidextrous safety.

Browning High Power barrel to slide interlocking schematic.

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Characteristics

Type: Single Action

Chambering: 9mm Parabellum (also 7.65mm Parabellum and .40S&W in

commercial/civilian models)

Length overall: 200 mm

Barrel length: 118 mm

Weight: 885 g

Magazine: 13 rounds (10 rounds in .40SW)

Initially, the "High Power" pistol was designed by John M. Browning in 1925 and was

patented in the USA in 1927, soon after the death of the Browning. The design was

aquired by Belgian state-owned company FN Herstal, and improved by FN designer

Dieudonne Saive. The resulting pistol was shelved until 1935, when Belgian army was

ready to adopt new sidearm. The HP was offered for trials and won, and was adopted

as a Model 1935 pistol. Soon after that it was also adopted by Belgian police and by

many foreign countries, including Britich Commonwealth ones (UK, Canada, Australia

etc.). The High Power is the only sidearm that served for both sides in WW2 - Germany

used many HPs manufactured in occupied Belgium, while Allies used HPs

manufactured mostly in Canada by company Inglis. The HP continues its service well

into XXI century with belgian Army and Police, British army and many other military and

Law Enforcement agencies, being second longest living service pistols after the

another famous Brownings' design, the Colt 1911.

Thechnically, the High Power pistol, also known as Browning HP 35, GP 35 or Model

1935, is a recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses linkless barrel to slide locking

(see picture above), invented by Browning. The trigger is single action, with external

hammer. Original HPs featured frame mounted safety at the left side of the frame, that

locks both sear and slide. Modern versions, since Mark II, also featured ambidextrous

safety levers, that are also more comfortable to operate. Original HPs were available

with two sight wersions - with standart fixed sights, and with rear tangent sights

ajustable for distance from 50 to 500 meters. Some pre- and WW2-time guns also

featured backstraps with cuts to accomodate removable shoulder stocks/holsters. Grip

panels were made from wood, and pistols were availabli with or without lanyard rings.

The HP was the first military pistol to have high capacity, staggered column magazine

for 13 rounds plus one loaded in the chamber.

Newer Military/LE versions, such as Mk.II and recent Mk.III (also marketed under the

name of HP-SA with added firing pin safety), featured more modern fixed combat

sights and polymer grip panels. Commercial models may feature different sight options

and finiches. Lates addition to the High Power family is a variation chambered in

.40S&W cartridge. It has redesigned and strenghtened slide to accomodate more

powerful cartridge, and magazine capacity of 10 rounds.

In 1980's or so FN also developed version of the HP with double action trigger, that

was named HP-DA. It is still marketed by FN, but didn't catch the market as well as its

predescessor did.

Copies and clones of the HP are still manufactured around the worls, such as

Hungarian FEG 9, Bulgarian Arcus etc.

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Browning BDA 380 (Belgium)

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Characteristics

Type: Double Action

Chamber: 9x17mm (.380ACP) or 7.65x17mm (.32ACP)

Weight unloaded: 640 g

Length: 173 mm

Barrel length:

Capacity: 12 (9mm) or 13 (7.65mm) rounds

The Browning BDA 380 pistol was introduced in 1980 or so as a compact and

lightweight pistol for police and civilian use. The gun was manufactured in Italy under

contract from FN Herstal (Belgium) and marketed as FN model 140DA (in Europe) or

Browning BDA 380 (in USA). Some sources said that BDA 380 is a copy of Beretta 84,

but close inspection shows some differences (i.e. Beretta 84 has frame mounted safety

while BDA 380 has slide mounted safety). The manufacture of the BDA 380 was

ceased circa 1997. It was adopted by Belgian police.

The BDA 380 is a blowback operated, double action semi automatic pistol. It has

aluminium alloy frame and steel slide. Ambidextrous slide mounted safety switch

disconnects the trigger from the hammer when engaged. The pistol featured low profile

fixed sightst and was available in either polished steel or blued finish, with wooden grip

panels.

The gun deserved good reputation as reliable and comfortable to fire.

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