Price check

[shivalikhp]

Hi there saw a fully engraved F.N.Browing .32 pistol at a dealers shop just want to ask IFG members its approx market price.

[vmanicks]

Oh thats a beauty.

Is this plated and engraved straight from factory?

Also you need to check how old is this pistol before determining the price.

[The Doc]

shivalikhp ,

This is a F.N.Browning model 1900 semi-auto pistol. The lack of proper research wrongly gave credit to the 1900 model as being the first Browning pistol. We know now that the 1900 was a modified 1899 model and it was one of the four pistols adopted by the Belgian military in the pre-1940 era . The Model 1900 is characterised by larger grips (secured with screws), French language safety markings (Feu & Sur), a lanyard ring and larger frame side-plates. F.N.Browning M1900 was copied widely in many countries, particularly in Southeast Asia and they were produced till 1911 or so, with more than 700,000 pistols made.

The finish of the M1900 was in rust blue or nickel plate. Early pistols had fire blued triggers. Six different levels of engraving and gold inlay were available, as were mother-of-pearl and ivory grip plates. Nickled pistols were given a black undercoat before plating leaving the trigger, safety, and screws with black finish. If the plating is worn off, the black undercoat should show through beneath it.

A piece of history Sir !

Now a word of caution, this firearm is nearly 100 years old therefore a prospective buyer should make doubly sure that it is safe to fire this piece. Price range ? Can be any thing from 2L onwards depending upon the buyer's urgency/interest/gullibility and the dealer's proficiency in telling tall stories.

HTH,

Rp.

References --
http://unblinkingeye.com/Guns/1900FNB/1900fnb.html
http://www.fn-browning.com/fn.htm

[eljefe]

did you notice anything 'different' besides the engraving and plating ?

[The Doc]

did you notice anything 'different' besides the engraving and plating ?

[dr.jayakumar]

welcome friend, my advise would be a definite NO for this weapon,its ancient.not worth all that engravings.get a better one,don't get carried away by these engravings.good luck

[prashantsingh]

My .32 Browning M 1900 looks somewhat different.

[saahil]

hi prashant ji is your gun broken,that you have tied it with thread.

[prashantsingh]

That's a good one saahil.
I will have to take out the threads and put up another snap.
All my weapons are tied that way . After the Dussehra pooja.
This pistol is more than 100 yrs old but still fires beautifully. At times I am surprised at the technology which existed so many years ago.....and which our IOF has still not been able to replicate to perfection.
That's for you "saahil".

[eljefe]

lets please have a view of the muzzle?

[prashantsingh]

Noooooooooooo.
Got me there eljefe. I was reading a post by MoA recently on "How long does a barrel last?". He says it's 6 seconds.With so many decades in the family . This one has probably done 12 seconds. LOL.
To answer Shivalikhp's question. The best I have been offered (casually by a gun dealer) who happened to be at the shooting range is Rs 90,000/=. The maximum price of this pistol (I assume) should not be more than Rs 1,25000/=. I have no intention of selling this one. For me it's a part of family history. Gifted to my grandfather by his father priced at Rs 150/= (when 1 pound was equivalent to Rs 7).
I have an equally old .22 which the youngsters in the family used. That one is in better condition. Here's the comparison.

[Sakobav]

Good one Prashant hang on to the heirloom

Best

[prashantsingh]

Thanks ngrewal. What's unique about this one is that the barrel is below and the recoil spring above.(as seen in the snap.)

[mundaire]

Prashant don't mind my saying this, but tying "moli" on your guns may lead to rusting. As the thread attracts moisture and then keeps it there right next to the metal - thus promoting corrosion. Something to watch out for.

shivalikhp, unless you would like this as a collectible/ show piece/ conversation piece - save your money and get an IOF revolver/ pistol in stead.

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[winnie_the_pooh]

BTW in most of these pistols,KF ammo gets stuck in the magazine.