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SLOTTED PRE-WAR FABRIQUE NATIONALE BELGIAN ARMY

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
SLOTTED PRE-WAR FABRIQUE NATIONALE BELGIAN ARMY
CONTRACT HIGH POWER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL WITH TANGENT REAR SIGHT. Cal. 9x19mm. S# 41424. Bbl. 4 5/8". High Power semi-automatic pistol, mfg. in Belgium by Fabrique Nationale under contract for the Belgian military prior to German occupation in 1940. The left side of the slide is marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE/ HERSTAL BELGIQUE" above "BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE". Left side of the frame and slide exhibit commercial Belgian proofs. Frame, slide, and bbl. exhibit boxed "C" military inspection proofs, with the frame also exhibiting Crown/AC and Crown/GC military acceptance proofs. Metal components exhibit a rust-blue finish overall, save for on the bbl. which is polished in-the-white. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips, which feature red moisture barrier paint on their interiors. Blade front sight, with 2nd pattern tangent rear sight, graduated 50-500. Frame is slotted for a stock attachment. All serialized parts are matching and include the frame, slide, and bbl. MAGS: one 13-rd. pre-war phosphate finish mag., with "C" inspectors proof on spine. CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their original factory rust blue finish, exhibiting some areas of mild to moderate wear and thinning that shows through to gray patina, with some scattered superficial handling marks and light flecks of surface oxidation present overall. Grip straps exhibit mild surface oxidation overall. Near mirror bore, retaining well-defined rifling throughout. Grips show some light smoothing, as well as a few light marks and minor impressions from handling and storage, but otherwise remain very good overall. PROVENANCE: the estate collection of Charles Wagner. (24-4655/MLW). CURIO. $1,500-2,000.