* FN Browning 1922 – THAILAND

[bruno38]

* FN Browning 1922 – THAILAND

Hello fellow collectors,

Always a great pleasure to discover seldom seen or mysterious property marked pistols.
Here’s an interesting one bearing a Thai inscription on front strap.

I first consulted Anthony Vanderlinden, author of « FN Browning Pistols », for identification. AV mentioned he had heard of Thai marked FN 1922’s but had never seen any. None is illustrated in his book for that reason.

Because of its location on front strap, I thought the property marking was of a security unit (Bangkok police, for instance), but a colleague revealed what it was by simply googling it.
The first two symbols on left refer to « Ministry of Defence », while the last six are numbers : 116510 (i.e. weapon number in arsenal).
The marking was not factory applied. Based on its SN, this pistol would have been acquired by the Government of Thailand in the 1950’s, likely from a local dealer, and later inscribed by MoD.
As other countries did to re-equip their military forces, Thailand would have released this handgun (and how many others ?) in the 1980’s.

For the time being, a scarce if not rare marked pistol.
For your appreciation, amigos

 

[WRH]

Sweet. I love those old pistols.

 

[Phat Eagle]

Nice find Bruno. Thanks for sharing!

 

[canuck]

Sure admire your collection of these pistols Bruno, thanks for taking the time to show them

Would you happen to know anything about the markings on mine?

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[sailor723]

That's really nice Bruno! 7.65 or .380?

 

[bruno38]

sailor723: Subject pistol was procured in 7,65/.32 caliber

canuck: PM sent

 

[.325WSM]

Another interesting example Bruno. I had no idea they were used in the Far East. Thanks for sharing!

 

[bruno38]

Another interesting example Bruno. I had no idea they were used in the Far East. Thanks for sharing!

Including in China, for instance by Shanghai Police in the French Concession

 

[.325WSM]

I guess I'm going to have to buy a copy of A.V.'s bible on the pistols

I'm actually a little surprised someone isn't still producing these pistols somewhere. They were so popular for so long, and still seem to have a strong following.

 

[m39a2]

I have a pretty beat up, but still very shootable Colt in .380 marked on the frame "Shanghai Municipal Police". The magazine is a little different than any other of these little Colt's as well, the holes you usually see on the side to tell you how many rounds you have are on the back and front side of the mag body, you can see the primers and the bullets. Legend has it that they were cut this way so that at the end of the shift the constable could show the Sgt that he still had all of his rounds left as it would seem that the police would contract themselves out to do hits for the organized crime bosses.

The little Browning's are great pistols and the 1922 is one of my favorite. Finding these old guns with different ownership markings on them has always been on the top of my list for gun show searches. The ops is a great example of a fantastic find.

Bruno, where did you find it?

Scott

 

[bruno38]

bruno, where did you find it?

Scott

An estate.

 

[bruno38]

Reply to "canuck":

Your pistol bears a Danish marking. This is one of only 350 ordered for "Graensegendarmeriet" i.e. the "Border Gendarmerie".
Those pistols were ordered in four batches. Yours belong to the third one. Dated circa 1939.
A rare specimen, congratulations.

NOTE: info comes from "FN Browning Pistols", page 264

 

[canuck]

Thanks Bruno, I have Mr Vanderlinden's first issue but obviously there is new material in the 2nd edition - I must try to get a copy

 

[gravel]

Informative. Thanks Bruno. Have some 1910's and 1922's that I enjoy shooting...... or just gawking at!!

 

[telesquirt]

Very nice little pistols. I have one that almost appears unfired but has no other markings except for serial number.
Did they make and sell these commercially as well as to Military?

 

[Master-G]

Me when I see a bruno38 thread.