Test fire FN 1905

alvin · 05-13-2012, 08:31 AM

Bought this FN last month, got some ammo and tested it yesterday. Browning's design on 1905 had a serious issue -- the grip safety must be hold down tightly all the time when shooting, otherwise, the slide could not recoil to rearest position and the gun had feeding issue. On bigger Brownings, 1910 or 1922, holding the grip safety down all the time is not very hard, but on this tiny one that's not easy so the gun jammed almost every other round. My workaround was wrapping a rubber band around the pistol to disable the grip safety. It's awkward, but it worked well. After installing the band, it worked flawlessly. No wonder this grip safety was cancelled on later "Baby Browning".

padredan · 05-13-2012, 09:22 AM

still a neat little popper, thanks for posting

sheepherder · 05-13-2012, 10:09 AM

I know it's not an option on a 'collector' pistol, but a popular fix in the "old days" was to drill a 1/16" hole through the frame & grip safety (when fully depressed) and install a roll pin...(I read about it in Nonte's book)...

rhuff · 05-13-2012, 04:57 PM

Another way to fix it without changing it's collector value is to install a much lighter spring under the grip safety so that it can be disabled easier when gripping. I did this to a S&W Model 40 "lemon squeezer" revolver with a grip safety. The S&W spring was so strong that it was very difficult to get the revolver to fire correctly.........Just a thought.

05-13-2012, 08:31 AM	#1
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Test fire FN 1905 Bought this FN last month, got some ammo and tested it yesterday. Browning's design on 1905 had a serious issue -- the grip safety must be hold down tightly all the time when shooting, otherwise, the slide could not recoil to rearest position and the gun had feeding issue. On bigger Brownings, 1910 or 1922, holding the grip safety down all the time is not very hard, but on this tiny one that's not easy so the gun jammed almost every other round. My workaround was wrapping a rubber band around the pistol to disable the grip safety. It's awkward, but it worked well. After installing the band, it worked flawlessly. No wonder this grip safety was cancelled on later "Baby Browning". Attached Thumbnails

05-13-2012, 09:22 AM	#2
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	still a neat little popper, thanks for posting __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

05-13-2012, 10:09 AM	#3
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,181 Thanks: 1,398 Thanked 4,438 Times in 2,327 Posts	I know it's not an option on a 'collector' pistol, but a popular fix in the "old days" was to drill a 1/16" hole through the frame & grip safety (when fully depressed) and install a roll pin...(I read about it in Nonte's book)... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

05-13-2012, 04:57 PM	#4
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,270 Thanks: 2,686 Thanked 958 Times in 704 Posts	Another way to fix it without changing it's collector value is to install a much lighter spring under the grip safety so that it can be disabled easier when gripping. I did this to a S&W Model 40 "lemon squeezer" revolver with a grip safety. The S&W spring was so strong that it was very difficult to get the revolver to fire correctly.........Just a thought.