Jan C. Still Lugerforums banner

FN 1905 Serial Number List

118K views 229 replies 71 participants last post by  Vonvladimir 
#1 · (Edited)
Friends,

For those who may be interested, I am posting here a list of the serial numbers of all FN 1905 pistols that I have observed or seen reliable reports of. These numbers are taken from online auctions, dealer stock, reports from private collectors and various published sources.

Special acknowledgement goes to Anthony Vanderlinden, author of FN Browning Pistols: Sidearms That Shaped World History, whose serial number list of Russian contract marked pistols, police-marked pistols (and others) is incorporated into this master list, and to member Jason (jtshafiz), whose list of observed 1905 serial numbers is also incorporated here.

Any additional reports are most welcome.

Note: In the descriptions, "no safety" means no manual safety lever - trying to be brief so as to keep most of the entries on one line if possible. Also, remember that some of the descriptions/notes next to the serial numbers are not my own, so in some cases I may not be prepared to support or interpret them since they are occasionally copied as they were furnished to me in deference to the contributors.

Finish is blued unless otherwise noted.

126x – (unconfirmed, photo is blurry) No safety, plain trigger, “DEPOSE” stamped through the blue
1459 – No safety, plain trigger, “DEPOSE” stamped through the blue
7142 - No safety, plain trigger, refinished, white reproduction grips
16165 - No safety, plain trigger, refinished
17881 – Nickel finish, Russian contract marked
18767 - No safety, plain trigger
19042 - No safety, plain trigger
19797 - No safety, plain trigger
23578 – Factory extended barrel (Vanderlinden)
28217 - No safety, plain trigger, replacement wood grips
28490 - No safety, plain trigger
31956 - No safety, plain trigger
35371 - No safety, plain trigger, blue finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 1886
36883 – Blue finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 2022
37170 - No safety, plain trigger
39693 - No safety, plain trigger

40512 - No safety, plain trigger
41082 - No safety, plain trigger
43379 – Nickel finish, Russian contract marked
45141 - No safety, plain trigger
51560 - No safety, plain trigger, nickel finish (does not appear original)
54960 - No safety, plain trigger, factory nickel finish
61580 - No safety, plain trigger
63584 - No safety, plain trigger
64858 - No safety, plain trigger
68410 - No safety, plain trigger, with holster
72099 - No safety, plain trigger
72227 – Nickel finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 5746
75138 - With holster

76046 – Nickel finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 5977
76699 – Nickel finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 6030
79004 - No safety, plain trigger
80435 – Blue finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 6635
81184 - No safety, plain trigger, wearing type 2 Colt 1908 grips, slide legend on left side has normal top line "FABRIQUE NATIONALE......" but no bottom line ("BROWNING'S PATENT - DEPOSE")

81975 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger (unconfirmed - from photo only)
82771 - Nickel finish, no safety, plain trigger, Russian contract marked, issue no. 6776
83117 - No safety, plain trigger
85257 - No safety, plain trigger
86896 – Nickel finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 7191
90232 - No safety, plain trigger
91635 - No safety, plain trigger, homemade grips

96276 – Blue finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 7938
96436 - No safety, plain trigger

103389 – Russian contract marked
104473 – Nickel finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 9506
108891 - No safety, plain trigger, with holster
109055 - No safety, plain trigger, with holster
115242 - No safety, plain trigger, refinished

122720 - No safety, plain trigger
133193 – Safety (style unknown)
135150 - No safety, plain trigger
141586 - No safety, plain trigger, retailer marked on barrel hood "Piglon a Paris/Passage Verdeau". Other unidentified markings on right side of frame
142756 - No safety, plain trigger
143408 – No safety, plain trigger, retailer marked on right side of slide “R. B. Rodda & Co., Calcutta”
145675 - No safety, plain trigger, white replacement grips, engraved (not factory pattern)
148314 - No safety, plain trigger
150302 - No safety, plain trigger, white replacement grips and replacement magazine, looks like it was painted blue at one time and then cleaned, removing all finish
153908 - No safety, plain trigger
157243 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
158944 - No safety, plain trigger
162123 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
165397 – 1[SUP]st[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
167755 - 1st style safety, plain trigger

169541 – 1[SUP]st[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
173722 – 1[SUP]st[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
175014 - has safety but style unknown, plain trigger

178881 –
180840 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
182223 - has safety (style unknown), plain trigger

183626 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger, in original box
183846 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
184138 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
186088 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger, refinished in nickel
188708 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
191562 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger, in original box
195060 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
196875 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger, engraved, not FN pattern but period (see Vanderlinden pg. 187)
197516 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
202603 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
212294 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
216033 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
216367 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger, appears refinished, with holster
217032 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
224514 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
226288 - 2nd style safety, plain trigger
227988 - 2nd style safety, plain trigger

232182 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
232538 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
235439 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger, factory nickel finish, replaced left grip
235666 - slide and small parts only, nickel or chrome finish (originality uncertain)

237842 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
242206 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, plain trigger
245975 - 2nd style safety, plain trigger

253160 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, retailer marked on left side of slide “FAURE LEPAGE ET FILS A PARIS”
263326 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
264603 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, in original box
273989 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
289744 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
290657 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
291898 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger

295061 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
295517 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, Russian contract marked, issue no. 12373, all finish gone, but looks like it was originally blued from tiny amounts of finish in protected/internal areas
303981 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
304054 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger

316309 – marked K.P.D.M. No. 85
316348 – marked K.P.D.M. No. 66
316755 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
341752 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, engraved with gold inlay on blue finish. The embellishment is not a known factory pattern but appears period. Pearl grips appear factory original. Magazine is a modern replacement. Right side of slide is marked through the blue "Manufacture Francaise d'Armes & Cycles de Saint-Etienne", and the engraving and inlay work is laid out to frame this inscription.
368275 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with holster
370314 - Blue finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 12893
370382 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory nickel finish
371331 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, Austrian proofed 25999.5171.12
372849 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
374131 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
374735 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
381676 - has safety (style unknown), flanged trigger

395142 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory nickel finish, with holster
398028 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
404839 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
408419 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with holster
410382 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, Austrian proofed 415.13

410944 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with bringback paper
411156 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, Austrian proofed 743.13
413410 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, Austrian proofed 5010.13, barrel is numbered 494214; also number "2213 under the trigger guard
414246 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger

416071 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
418659 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, "Fahnz See Kreewin M53201" scratched on right side of slide
419538 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, marked "Manufacture Francaise d'Armes & Cycles to St. Etienne" on right side, has British proofs on right side of slide, also unidentified markings (or deep pits/damage) on left side of frame above trigger guard
421440 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
424463 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
426954 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
434919 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, Austrian proofed 10352.13
435854 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, with holster, said to be carried by seller's grandfather working as a courier prior to WW2

440256 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
445146 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
453361 - has safety, style unknown, flanged trigger

456188 – “Un Million” presentation pistol, configuration unknown
456256 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, presentation pistol with gold inlay “Un Million”
456294 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, presentation pistol with gold inlay “Un Million”, pearl grips, presentation case and purse holster
456354 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, presentation pistol with gold inlay “Un Million”
456602 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, presentation pistol with gold inlay “Un Million”, originally in red velvet case
458555 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, with holster and extra mag

469498 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
474946 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
477193 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, refinished in nickel with white replacement grips
478874 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
482844 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
485330 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
485991 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory nickel finish, Russian contract marked, issue no. 13374
487443 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger

490392 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
494508 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, right grip is for a “Baby” model
494747 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
500710 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
502305 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
506085 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, marked K.P.D.M. No. 156 on right side of slide
520096 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
521755 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
529542 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
530913 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory nickel finish
540124 – Sold to Japan
543962 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, appears refinished, wearing type 2 Colt 1908 grips

548904 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
555251 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory engraved in pattern 3, factory ivory grips, captured from Japanese officer on Wake Island in 1945
558891 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
559503 -
568275 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with holster
570430 – safety (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style assumed), flanged trigger
573983 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
578490 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
580161 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with holster (earliest pistol noted with oval FN logo on left side of trigger guard)
587490 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
589162 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
589994 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
590832 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with holster
592906 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
593065 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
600512 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
601569 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger

602441 – GECO logo marked left side of frame
608404 –
608619 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, marked “SMP No 14” on backstrap, replacement grips
612802 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory nickel finish and factory engraved in pattern 1
616732 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
623246 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
635718 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
642710 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
649253 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with holster and bring back paper
649677 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, no proofs/caliber marking visible through ejection port
657813 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
659099 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with holster
682636 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
685902 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, Czech proofed 2588.24
687614 - flanged trigger, no proofs/caliber marking visible through ejection port, horn grips

692906 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
698529 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
713473 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
726411 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, Czech proofed 2452.25
730835 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
735441 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory engraved in pattern 2 (blue finish, gold inlay)
751897 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
753695 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
756733 - has safety (style unknown), flanged trigger

760651 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with holster
773139 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
778150 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
781544 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, left side of slide is marked only “Browning’s Patent Depose”
788369, 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, Czech proofed 8805.26

791638 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
792219 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
802101 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
804546 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
815118 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
816061 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, Czech bow and arrow proof dated 27 on left side of slide with (ledger?) number 8563 on frontstrap, marked "Heinrich Walter" on right side of slide
833095 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, with holster and spare (non-original) magazine

849903 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
857280 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
862050 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
878684 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
895707 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with holster
899349 – safety (2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style assumed), flanged trigger
901489 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
904166 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
907215 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory nickel finish
914546 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, Austrian proofed 281.29

914658 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, MAB magazine
937391 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, with holster

942266 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
944954 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory extended barrel
945703 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
950573 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory extended barrel
958270 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory extended barrel
964230 – GECO written “752 above GECO” on grip strap
971262 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
971952 – factory extended barrel (Vanderlinden)
975811 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger

978003 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
987554 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, Czech proofed 7168 (frontstrap) in 1930
992723 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, Alcock & Pierce marked on right side of slide
993051 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, marked "Alcock & Pierce Pty. Ltd. Melbourne" on right side of slide
1001386 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, with holster marked "England"

1001624 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
1007571 – GECO written on grip strap (sold to Japan)
1009524 – GECO written on grip strap
1014844 – GECO written on grip strap (found in Germany)
1014901 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger (latest pistol noted with oval FN logo on left side of trigger guard)
1015391 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
1018283 – Czech proofed (bow and arrow “32”) on left side of slide
1019617 – GECO written on grip strap
1021031 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, factory extended barrel
1025765 – GECO written on grip strap
1027774 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
1034306 - has safety (style unknown), flanged trigger, caliber/proofs visible, grips appear synthetic

1038324 – factory extended barrel (Vanderlinden)
1042391 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
1045166 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, in original box
1046721 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
1047905 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
1049557 - has safety (style unknown), flanged trigger, caliber/proofs visible, grips appear synthetic

1059716 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
1067797 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, with original box
1069639 – factory extended barrel (Vanderlinden)
1073165 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, missing barrel, grips and small parts, marked “ORUZARNA PASTUOVIC ZAGREB” on right side of slide
1074545 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger with spare mag and holster
1077038 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, refinished in gold, white replacement grips
1077582 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, factory gold inlay on blue finish in pattern #2, factory pear grips
1081536 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger, AKAH “Shooting Man” logo on left side of trigger guard
1082350 – GECO logo marked on frame
1082324 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
1082669 - flanged trigger, proofs and caliber visible through ejection port, synthetic grips

1083333 – GECO logo marked on frame (unconfirmed, may not be GECO???)
1083849 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger (German captured stock)
1084075 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
1084252 – 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] style safety, flanged trigger
1086296 - 2nd style safety, flanged trigger, repro grips
 
See less See more
#87 ·
Hello, There was no Japanese contract for the Model 1905, those that were imported were commercial pistols. Random numbers out of factory inventory.
See the book FN BROWNING PISTOLS, SIDEARMS THAT SHAPED WORLD HISTORY for more info on the Model 1905.
Anthony
 
#88 ·
Anthony: Thanks, yes I assumed they were commercial pistols but being the two I had were close in the ser # I thought they just might have purchased a batch rather than sporadically purchasing them. I appreciate the information. Bill will be posting the pics of the rig that I sent him.
Ronald
 
#90 ·
That is one fantastic rig. I do not often see impressive unique pieces, I just love that leather!
Indeed a batch could have been shipped as part of a commercial order... that does not mean that all were consecutive.
Thanks
Anthony
 
#92 ·
Thanks Anthony,I appreciate your kind words, guess it is good I kept this rig when I got out of collecting about 20 yrs ago. I considered the rig unique then also, so I kept it & all the Baby's, Papa's, T-14's etc were sold & everyone had all the leather, straps, tools, capture papers very common then. NICE T-14 leather holsters were about $50-75 & they were very plentiful. As you know back then a lot of this stuff was MUCH more available than now. I am talking the 70's, imagine what this stuff was worth in the 50's & 60's, not much! Every gun show I attended, (not military), still had about 15 tables full of WW2 German & Japanese items & at a very reasonable price compared to today. Baby Nambu's could be had all day long for under $1000, Papa Naval complete rigs with leather & all ran about $700, SA Daggers, mint for about $250, lesser ones $150. SS daggers about $450 & on & on Well gas was only a little over $1 a gallon then also!
Ah, the "Good Old Days"!!!!!!!!!!!
Ronald
 
#94 ·
Hello,

another FN here fit for the list. It's Austrian accepted in 1913, and in great shape. Frame and slide number 413410, barrel number 494214. I already shot some six magazines. It came with a holster, which may not be original (I've seen DUO pistol in a very similar holster), and with one original magazine (the grey one), and a non original magazine (the black one). I have no idea to which pistol the black one belonged originally. Also there's number "2213" under the trigger guard.



Here is a compilation of the currently offered FNs in some of the second hand shops and personal ads in my country, that should bring some more numbers, but the photos are worse:

http://www.nevoranek.cz/fn-1906-6-35br-9064.html
http://www.nevoranek.cz/fn-mod-1906-r-6-35-browning-6146.html
http://www.nevoranek.cz/fn-1906-6-35br-9059.html
http://www.nevoranek.cz/fn-mod-1906-r-6-35-browning-7056.html

http://www.bvs.cz/komise_pistole_browning_19061654_635.html (801654, reportedly from 1926)
http://www.bvs.cz/komise_pistole_browning_19069480_635.html (299480, they say it's from 1916, but it doesn't correspond with the number)
This shop also has 224358, but no viable description and no photo

http://bazar.hunting-shop.cz/inzerat/66374-prodam-fn-m-1906-raze-6-35mm/
http://bazar.hunting-shop.cz/inzerat/30485-browning-1906/ (the owner says it was reblued)

Cheers,
Martin
 
#98 ·
Hello,

I picked this one up here in Canada. She's seen better days, but still pretty nice. It has the second type safety and flanged trigger. S/N is 556219. Any info re: markings would be appreciated, as would a year of manufacture!

Morgan
Hi Morgan, I know this little guy of yours, don't I?
According to A. Vanderlinden (in "FN Browning Pistols", 2013 edition), approximately 550,000 FN 1905/6 had been produced by the end of 1914. So SN 556219 would be dated either Dec 1914 or Jan 1915. A century ago...
Best regards,
 
#99 · (Edited)
#20514 matching S/Ns
I don't know if this was over buffed (rounded edges) before Factory Bluing or if it's been refinished.
What makes me think it's original is, the satin finish on the top of the slide and on the sides on the trigger guard.
What's your thoughts?

I have the panels but, the right side's cracked up.
Anyone have one for sale?

This was taken from a German Officer, you know the story...
No papers and it can't talk, so...

 
#107 ·
Here's a 1905, I'm posting some pistols from a collection. Any comments, thoughts, opinions, etc are appreciated. If anyone has a database or wants more info feel free to PM me. This is for sale if anyone is interested but that is not a priority.

 
#115 ·
Hello Gentlemen and Ladies,

I'm a newbee here looking for help in getting parts and accessories for a working FN 1905 that was 'liberated' from the factory in Belgium during WWII. It's a nickle plated 1905 with a serial number of 1082364. It still fires quite well with occasional hangs and is in fairly good shape with some of the nickel peeling from the safety backstrap. Could use a new firing pin spring. Primers are showing a weak spring. Proof marks are clear and in excellent shape. Serial numbers on slide and frame match. Barrel has a different number however (normal???) with only the last five numbers showing (82364).

I have a single magazine for the pistol and am looking for at least one more. I've gotten bit with a seller sending me baby Browning magazines. I did replace the recoil spring with (hopefully) the correct one, but that recoil spring feels like it belongs in a Bic pen...

Any help and advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

Jim P.
 
#123 ·
I did replace the recoil spring with (hopefully) the correct one, but that recoil spring feels like it belongs in a Bic pen...
I can share only a bit of experience regarding recoil spring, my FN came to me with the recoil spring reversed. One end is tighter and one is not. The tighter end should face the trigger when installed. When it was reversed, my slide would not return occasionally.
 
Top