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Fabrique National D'Armes De Guerre Herstal Belgique Browning patent depose

9.9K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  Alpo  
#1 ·
Acquired this from a US, WW2 service member's daughter. I can't seem to trace these markings or get any detailed information. Any info is appreciated.
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#2 ·
The lion on his hind legs over PV is a smokeless powder proof from 1903 to 1959. So your gun is made at least before 1960. The R with a crown simply means that it's a rifled firearm. If that's not a crown, but is a star, over the R, it's an inspector's mark. In this case that would be Sylvain Wagemans, who was an FN inspector from 1951 until 1965. So now you have an early date for your gun. Between 51 and 59.

The ELG in the oval with a crown has been a LiegeBelgium proofmark since the late 1800s.

 
#5 ·
I'm gonna have to disagree with you. While Browning started selling that pistol in America in 1954, Browning guns are clearly marked BROWNING FIREARMS.

That one, as you can see, is marked FABRIQUE NATIONALE.

While it is, essentially, the same pistol, it is not a Browning. It is an FN. And FN has been making that pistol since 1935. Also, while Browning apparently got their poop in one sock re: serial numbers in 1958, FN did not. They would still put any number you wanted on the gun.
 
#6 ·
I'm gonna have to disagree with you. While Browning started selling that pistol in America in 1954, Browning guns are clearly marked BROWNING FIREARMS.

That one, as you can see, is marked FABRIQUE NATIONALE.

While it is, essentially, the same pistol, it is not a Browning. It is an FN. And FN has been making that pistol since 1935. Also, while Browning apparently got their poop in one sock re: serial numbers in 1958, FN did not. They would still put any number you wanted on the gun.
I don't know squat about them but that one does have "Browning Patent Depose" right there on the slide, below the FABRIQUE NATIONALE.