FN 1922 German Occupation

[Aragorn243]

Got my Cabelas points up enough to get another one. This one is all matching, with a great bore and decent exterior. Some wear but I can't really tell how much. I'm assuming a good bit. No rust or pitting. Being transferred from Nebraska on Monday so I won't have it until the middle of next week at the earliest. Another plus, this one was going to cost me $4.00 but they reduced the price another $50.00 and didn't update the site yet. So I'll still have points left.

This is a b block with full serial number on barrel, frame and slide which puts production in late 1943 to early 1944.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I had one back in about 1978 or '79...was among my very first handguns. Marked by Germany and supposedly made under slave labor and didn't work as well as it could have. I didn't know enough about them to sort it out so sold it to my next door neighbor at the time. Once you have it let's have a look...for the rest of the pics?

[Aragorn243]

More pics when I get it. Hoping it's like the other two and actual condition is better than the stock pics. They have two of them and the other one has pitting, this one is clean but worn. Described as holster wear, especially near the muzzle. These were big favorites with the German officers and the standard side arm of the Luftwaffe so yours may have been an anomaly. These are one of the more common German pistols from WWII. I'm not sure about FN using slave labor in Belgium. Possible I guess but I suspect it was the normal plant personnel. Wartime production is said to be "less finished" than pre or post war production so these never had a deep blue finish to begin with.

[browningautorifle]

FN using slave labor in Belgium

I doubt that statement but it was what was said back then. I think since we've determined that the work force was mostly willing and certainly paid for their work. Much of this stuff was probably captured and marked after the fact. I can't say why it didn't work well. I didn't know much about them and although I could troubleshoot a 1919A4 at the time or M2HB, I couldn't tell you why that didn't work...

[Aragorn243]

Holster came today. I seem to be having trouble with scale lately as I was rather surprised at how small the holster is. Considering the 1922 is an elongated pocket pistol, I should have known. Still no word from Cabelas. Both of the other two came in four days. Today was day five. Holster is in unissued condition, looks great.

Can someone explain the "drop holster" concept. From what I can tell, you can hang the holster two different ways. Closed and "up" or open flap and "down". This would seem to allow easier access to the pistol but also allow it to fall out.

Only logical thinking I have on this is the up position would be for when on the ground just walking around and the down position when flying for ease of access if injured.

[Aragorn243]

Picked up pistol today. It is in better condition than the photos show, there is definite wear but it's not as grey as the photos indicate. No pitting anywhere, there was some light something on the rear of the slide and the bottom of the magazine but it came off with almost no effort so not sure if it was rust or old grease. Seems to function correctly. Haven't fired it yet obviously. This is an uncommon commercial pistol with eagle stamps on the slide and receiver. Eagle over N on the barrel and WaA140 on the barrel under the slide. Also appears to be a partial WaA on the inside of the slide but unclear on what it is. All serial numbers match. Magazine is FN over 7.65 which is correct for these. Fits holster perfectly. Second FN over 7.65 magazine on the way. Bore looks great. Apparently these made up only 5% of the total production and no one knows exactly where they went. Private sale to officers, factory guards, Germans living outside of Germany are all speculated. There is also no apparent rhyme or reason for serial numbers. They just pulled one out here and there, same sequence as military production. They also have an upside down triangle on the back of the slide which is not on military production. Photos will follow when I get a chance. With my military discount which I forgot about, I still have $50 worth of points left as seed money for the next one.

[browningautorifle]

Looking forward to the pics when appropriate...

[Aragorn243]

Photos:

[browningautorifle]

Looks just about the same as the one I had I think. That holster is about flat new, marked for the long Browning... Nice catch.

[P51Mustang]

Looks really nice... enjoy her!