Pocket Pistols

Ganderite

Ganderite

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Location
Farm south of North Bay
I just took delivery of a dozen handguns I bought in the Switzer Auction in July and August.

The first thing I do with a batch of new purchases is run a solvent patch through the barrel and look at the bore with a borescope.

Then I lube the gun and fire 3 shots at 5 yards to check that the mag works and the gun feeds, fires, extracts and ejects ok.
In this case, all the guns worked ok, except the mag lips on the FN1910 needed tweaking.

All the guns shot close to POA. The MAB-D shot a nice group, but a bit low, so I subsequently filed down the front sight a bit.

A log page was created for each gun and the appropriate notes made. For most of them this is the first and last time I will shoot them.

Every time I shoot a Beretta 1934 or 1935 I note how solid and comfortable it feels, and every one I have shoots very well.

The FN1910s and 1955s, on the other hand, will shoot very nice groups when I have lots of time and good light to aim. The sights are almost non-existent. In a social setting, they would be point-shot.
Same for the Baby Browning.

The 1910s and the 1955s have a grip safety that does not work well in my largish hand. My palm does not readily depress the safety, unless I work at it.

Like the Beretta, the Webley MkIV always feels good in the hand, and mine all shoot nice groups to POA.

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1915 P-08
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Beretta 1934 Romanian contract, made 1941 (380ACP)
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Beretta 1934 RE made 1940
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Walther PPK-L (light aluminum frame)
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S&W Mod 2 38S&W
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MAB-D (32ACP) after this test, I filed the front sight down a bit.
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Baby Browning (25 ACP) (Please note Jeff Cooper's advice)
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FN 1910 (32ACP - no sights)
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FN Browning 1955 (A 1910 in 380ACP - no sights)
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How is the felt recoil with the Beretta and 1910? I have a Beretta 948 ( the .22 version of the 1934) and a 1922. Since these weigh next to nothing, I find that the felt recoil is noticeable in my hands.
 
Dave in Calgary said:
How is the felt recoil with the Beretta and 1910? I have a Beretta 948 ( the .22 version of the 1934) and a 1922. Since these weigh next to nothing, I find that the felt recoil is noticeable in my hands.
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1934 is light recoil in 380. The 1935 (32acp) is almost life a 22 because the pistol is solid steel.

The 1910 is medium recoil in 32ACP and some recoil in 380.

The 1910 and 1955 are poor plinkers because they lack useful sights. The Berettas are a joy to shoot.
 
I dislike all our gun laws but not being able to legally own pocket/mouse guns without an absurd barrel replacement is an especially strong pain... Jealous as always.
 
I have a couple of those headed to me as 12.7s, so this is making me look forward to getting out with them. Regretfully the Beretta 1934 (and Mauser HSC) are not among them. I should have done more to facilitate that.

I'm impressed what you can do the Baby Browning. I'll be getting a Colt 1908 vest pocket which is a little bigger. I certainly can't shoot it as well as that, but I like shooting it.

I've done a bit of shooting with a 1910 32. It is really just a point and shoot with basically no sights. Didn't shoot well with it either lol. Interesting history though.
 
I sometimes wonder what sort of collection I'd have now if I'd been interested enough in small pistols to become part of the 12-6 fraternity back then. But with the size of my paws the big ones were more appealing.

Looks like some impressive collections have ended up with the last folk standing.
 
Nice delivery, Ganderite.

I looked through all the pics to see if there was anything in there that I was bidding against LOL. Didn't see any.

I had reached the point where I said I was done buying guns, as I felt I had a decent-sized collection and I didn't want to have to reconfigure the safe to fit more - yet again. Then the freeze was announced and I was back in on the auctions. I was pretty selective, though - didn't want to get too many to fit in the safe - and ended up with 4 over the summer.

As one of the younger 12(6) guys, I always thought I'd live to see the day where there were only a handful of us left (and we all had hundreds of the little guns). The Liberals had other plans.
 
My dad brought a Model 'D' back from WW2. He said there were huge piles, where the German soldiers would throw them. The Baby Browning will fit in a cigarette case and was used by the resistance.
 
The MAB-D pistols I have all feel good in the hand, most have good to excellent triggers and all shoot well. The most I paid was about $150. They make excellent 32Auto plinkers.

My favourite shooter 32 is a Walther PP. Very nice to shoot. I have it in 380 as well, but that has some recoil.

Yes, the Baby is small. When i hot back from the range I was looking for it and could not find it. I was thinking I would have to go back to the range when I found it... in my shirt pocket.

Once we elect Pierre and the gun laws get re-written, buy one if you want a shooter..
 
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I have been drooling at the chance for Beretta pockets but due to age discrimination I couldn't get my pal class for it. If I was older when the laws came in I'd have all my 12.x
 
I had read that the 1910 mags in 32ACP and 380 were identical mags. That did not seem possible to me, but there it was.

When i shot this 1910 in 32 the first time, the mag lips were bent and the mag did not work. So, remembering that the 380 mag was supposed to be identical, I tried the 380 mage in the 1955 (the North AMERICAN VERSION OF A 1910 IN 380) and sure enough, it worked perfectly with 32 ammo.

The 32 mag got a bit of lop tweaking and now works just fine.
 
Odinson said:
Yes, they were, but I was young and didn't know what I had. Now I'm old and because of a stroke of a pen, I am no longer fit to own one.
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We can all say that, and it brings back memories and thoughts that are best forgotten. I recall being offered a pistol for $125 that I could not afford at the time. It is worth about $20,000 USD today.
 
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