FN/Browning Model 1900 - any experiences?

[alvin]

Originally Posted by postino

Katyusha's 1900 is looking better all the time...

We received a querying message suggesting its BB value being $600. I have not looked up BB yet, but probably that's right. We paid a couple of hundred more. But that's back a few years ago when 1 oz American Eagle silver coin was ~$10.... say it cost 80 coins. Now, each coin asks $30 after Fed's QE2.... if we bought it for 80 coins but sell it for only 20 coins, that would not be good So it stays.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

We received a querying message suggesting its BB value being $600...

Did I use wrong emoticon??? Sorry...

Yours is the best looking I have seen...but I have no interest in holsters/rigs, and a shooter would be acceptable to me...besides, I am broke...literally...

I was hoping Ron Wood would buy yours and sell me one of his shooters...

[alvin]

No, I was not unhappy. It's not a life essential item. Under current economical condition, buyers have many choices.

Have you noticed the "French Gardame C96" on Greg Martin? Looks great, except the crack on one grip panel. Otherwise, it's very attractive.

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alvin

Have you noticed the "French Gardame C96" on Greg Martin? Looks great, except the crack on one grip panel. Otherwise, it's very attractive.

I did not study that past auction...but it is very nice; a snub-nosed C96...

Did you win that auction???

[alvin]

No. Not that one. I don't have one yet. Waiting my instance. Probably won't be the the following one either.... but this one is a good one. In case you're interested, take a look. No stock.

http://www.gregmartinauctions.com/Au...x?LotID=142079

[sheepherder]

This is the one I found - Lot #2099. *French Gendarme Broomhandle Mauser Semi-Automatic Pistol

http://www.gregmartinauctions.com/au...px?LotID=34204

They are both nice...

[Olle]

Here's my 1900, all original except for the grip panels:

Got it in a trade for about $200 as it didn't work properly, but come to find out it was just a $6 spring missing so I guess I did pretty good. I was actually thinking about refinishing it, but after a complete disassembly and a good clean-up I found that it was way to nice to screw around with so I just lubed and assembled it again.

This is a nice little shooter, the barrel sits very low in the frame so the recoil doesn't feel as snappy as in other straight blowback .32s. It's a bit cumbersome to disassemble due to the design, but the craftsmanship is outstanding. You just gotta love the fit and finish on these, makes you wonder how much it would cost to produce it today...

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Olle

Here's my 1900, all original except for the grip panels...it didn't work properly, but come to find out it was just a $6 spring missing...

Looks pretty nice!!! I'm hoping to find one in as good condition as yours!!!

Why do you say the grip panels aren't original??? I know there were two different types (I call them wide vs narrow); I like the narrow ones like on yours...

Which spring was it that was missing (or broke)???

[alanint]

They may be reproductions, which are available since the originals cracked so easely..

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by alanint

They may be reproductions, which are available since the originals cracked so easely..

Do you know where??? I found this site...but the quality makes me want to puke...

http://vintagegungrips.net/ao-b9.html

[alanint]

Rich,

I know Sarco has the repros. I have no idea of quality but you can call them and they may send a photo or two.

http://www.sarcoinc.com/1900browning.html

Gun parts corp may offer these as well.

Good luck!

[Olle]

Originally Posted by postino

Why do you say the grip panels aren't original??? I know there were two different types (I call them wide vs narrow); I like the narrow ones like on yours...

They are reproductions. The old ones were deteriorated and had those funky "worm holes" you can find in some early hard rubber grip panels, but the previous owner had already bought repros and included them in the deal. He had also tried to put them on, and managed to put a big dent in the magazine in the process by not checking the depth of the screw hole. I have fixed the dent, but if anybody has a spare mag, I'd like to buy it. BTW, while tinkering with some other guns, I found that this mag also fits 1907 Dreyse. I suspect that smaller manufacturers saved some money by building their guns around larger brand mags, so the FN 1900 mag could possibly fit other pistols as well.

I have tried repros from http://www.vintagegungrips.com and http://www.gungrip.com, and they are both like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates. Some grips have been so-so, some have been excellent but in their defense, their products can only be as good as the master they use. If they only have worn and scuffed grips to make molds from, their repros will also look worn and scuffed. They do have good pictures on their web site though, so you'll know what they'll look like before you order. The grips are cheap and their S&H is very reasonable, so I think it's a very good alternative to overpriced originals (or while you're looking for originals). The ones I have used required some fitting, but it was fairly easy to do. In short, they are a very good resource when you want to get a gun up and running without breaking the bank.

I know that the repros Numrich sells are from Vintage Gun Grips, but I'm not sure about Sarco. The only manufacturers I have found are the ones mentioned above, but it would be really interesting to know if there are other sources.

Originally Posted by postino

Which spring was it that was missing (or broke)???

The flat trigger bar/mag catch spring. Not sure how it could go missing like that, but I suspect that it just broke right at the pin and fell out through the magazine well. I just looked it up on Numrich's web site, and it was obviously $8.25, not $6. Still ain't a bad price, especially when it's right there at the time you need it.

[Stevie]

Originally Posted by postino

I've owned two Browning model 1910's, one dating back to the 40's (IIRC), and the other a 1970 import...I liked them...They were "improved" versions of the 1900...

Recent references to the 1900 has piqued my interest...

Has anyone owned one??? What were your experiences with it???

I bid on a rather worn example on GB but the Reserve is too high, IMO...(no, not the one below!)...

I own a FN Browning 1900 pistol. They are pretty cool little guns...

I got interested in these whan a coworker asked if I could take one apart..his fathers gun. He brought it to work..and I found a disassembly diagram for it..and we scattered it and cleaned it up.

His father's pistol was pretty rough..as in about zero original finish.

Not long after that...I bought one on Auction Arms for $62 or $65! A new seller had it..nobody bid against me..I paid and he duly sent the pea-shooter.

The mainspring was a replacement..and it had no mag..but otherwise is in credible shape..with maybe 70% original blue.

Wolff Gunsprings had a mainspring...Gun Parts Corp had a reproduction mag..I stuck it all together..and it works great.

These only hold 7 shots in the mag..triggerpull is quite heavy..reliability is excellent...mine has two different style of 'FN' grips (not the 'pistol' style grips).

They are good little pistols..and about all the info I could find was that Belgum issued these for awhile...that they were quite popular in Europe..popular enough in China and other Aisian countries that 'Kyber pass' style handmade copies show up about as frequently as original FN made guns...somewhat scarce in the US as the pistol was never marketed here.

An interesting website used to exist with some info on these..and their use in Belgium...shows different style grips..types of markings and such.

Some difference of opinions on just how long they made the 1900..some sources stating made until 1910..other's claim made until 1914.

Supposidly the style of peashooter used to start WWI..But I've found that's probably not so..Most sources state it was an FN Browning 1910 used to assassinate the Arch Duke Ferdinand and Sophie..May have been the style gun used by old west assassin Tom Horn in his failed escape, recaptured because he did not understand how it worked..but again..sources differ..unlucky Tom may have had a Luger..

That's all I know about the FN Browning 1900. Hard to see the 'Browning' in it...but mine works like a champ.