my newest...Swedish Model 1907

Please correct me if any of my comments are wrong.

Originally chambered in 9MM Browning Long (9x20) most of these guns were rechambered (with a barrel insert) to .380 when they were imported into the US in the 1950s and 1960s; it also means there isn't any import marks on the gun either!

The Model 1907 was originally manufactured by FN in Belgium who then licensed Sweden (by Husqvarna) to make their own. It was used as the primary side arm of the Swedish Military until 1940 when the Lahti M-35 in 9mm was adopted. They were placed in storage and in the 1980s they were pressed back into service as the Lahtis were suffering cracks due to using higher pressure 9mm ammo! They were replaced by the Glock 17 and 19. The gun came with a holster and three unmarked magazines. There are 9mm Browning Long barrels available. Other then caliber the two differences between the 1907 and the Colt 1908M is barrel length - the Husqvarna made gun has a 5" barrel and a slide stop on the right side of the gun.

My gun has a Swedish Unit Mark on the left side of the frame: IFK No. 32; I've learned that the I stands for Infantry; but haven't got any info on the FK part. It could be an Engineer Outfit, Army Aviation Unit (between 1916 and 1926 the Swedish Air Force was part of the Army - in 1926 it became a separate service).

Here are a few of the photos; almost all of the larger parts are marked with the last 3 digits of the serial number, including the stocks!

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...907_left-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...07_right-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...led_left-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...olstered-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...907_unit-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...agazines-1.jpg

So a couple points. The M1907 is based off the M1903, which was a fairly successful straight blow back military pistol (the other somewhat common examples of these style of pistols are the Ottoman M1903s in 9mm Browning Long). The reason these were pressed back into service was in the 1960s Sweden standardized the 9mm round, I believe they had two different ones, one for the SMG and one for the pistol (or it was they standardized with NATO, I can't remember which was the case). It wasn't until the mid-late 70s when the diet of high pressure rounds was starting to have effect resulting in the re-issuing of the M1907. Definitely a cool part of its history, I can't think of a other single service pistol that was brought back into service in peacetime to replace the pistol that replaced it.

When I owned one it was a very reliable pistol, even when the trigger disconnect wore out and it became a full auto (a very controllable full auto, lets just say it was a big surprise and I am happy that it had no flip as it could have been bad). Having had to completely disassemble the gun, it is definitely a pain, however field stripping it isn't bad.

Have fun with it and enjoy it, they are good little guns, only bad thing I can remember is getting bit by the grip safety.