FN Model 1910
The
FN Model 1910 was a
blowback-operated,
semi-automatic pistol designed by
John Browning and manufactured by
Fabrique Nationale of
Belgium.
The FN Model 1910 was a departure for Browning. Before, his designs were produced by both FN in Europe and
Colt Firearms in the United States. Since Colt did not want to produce it, Browning chose to patent and produce this design in Europe only. Introduced in
1910, this pistol used a novel operating spring location surrounding the barrel. This location became the standard in such future weapons as the
Walther PPK and Russian
Makarov. It incorporated the standard Browning striker-firing mechanism and a grip safety along with a magazine safety and an external safety lever (known as the "triple safety") in a compact package. Offered in both
.380 ACP (six-round
magazine) and
.32 ACP (seven-round magazine) calibers, it remained in production until
1983.
An FN M1910 chambered in .32 ACP was the handgun used by
Gavrilo Princip to assassinate
Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in
Sarajevo on
June 281914, arguably precipitating the
First World War.
A variant of the Model 1910 was known variously as the Model 1922 or 1910/22. This was a larger model with a longer barrel, slide extension, and a longer grip frame to accommodate an extra round. This model was aimed at military and police contracts and many examples were produced for various agencies.
|
Browning Model 1955 with six-round magazine |
In
1955, the
Browning Arms Company introduced this pistol for the American market as the Model 1955. Made in Europe, this model was virtually identical to the European model except for the markings. Importation ceased in
1968 due to the passage of stricter gun-control laws in the U.S. Another version, the Model 1971, featured a longer barrel and slide, adjustable sights, a finger-rest magazine, and enlarged 'target' grips. These features were intended to circumvent the
Gun Control Act of 1968 which had halted import of the Model 1955.
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French and World Guns, Pistols, Revolvers, Rifles Since 1800.
