1209 EXTREMELY RARE PROTOTYPE, FN FRENCH TEST TRIALS

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 Oct 30 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 10,000.00 USD
Estimated at 20,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
PISTOL (NO. 2), ONE-OF-A-KIND, "1935" TRIALS GUN, DOCUMENTED. Cal. 7.65mm Long. S# 2. Bbl. 4 1/4". In the early 1930s the French government announced test trials to select a new military pistol. This is the exact pistol pictured and documented in Vanderlinden's "The Belgium Browning Pistols" and described as follows. "This French trial pistol (No 2) was submitted in early 1935 and was named by the French as the "1935" trials gun. This pistol is 1 of 7 built for the trials, all in 7.65mm Long" (p. 166)." Each test trial pistol was slightly different, and "No. 2 has a unique short slide release lever". "This early 1935 French trial pistol (No. 2) is amazingly equipped with a single column 7.65mm Long caliber magazine. After the revolutionary development of the double staggered magazine by Saive early in the French trials, the French reverted back to a single column magazine. From 15 rounds in the early years to a mere 8 rounds in this pistol's 7.65mm Long magazine. Note the MAP slide legend on the slide legend and also note the checkering of the rear gripstrap. The magazine is numbered to the gun" (p. 167). For the French trial pistols, the "firing mechanism was changed to a system "en bloc" (encased). This new mechanism facilitated repairs by replacing the complete firing mechanism in one piece" (p. 161). The French did not select any of the 7 prototypes, and they were either retained in French arsenals or at the factory. This example has a 4.25" bbl., slide finished with a shark's fin front sight and a notch drift adj. rear sight. The left side of the slide is marked with a 2-line address reflecting the mfg. and Browning's patent. The right side of the slide is marked "MANUFACTURE DEARMES DE PARIS", a division (partially) owned by FN. S#"2" appears on the right side of the frame and under the bbl. The cal. marking "7.65 L" is on the left side of the frame. Usual Belgian proofs on the bbl., slide, and frame. Finely checkered walnut grips, each panel secured with a single screw. Bottom release mag. drilled with 8-indicator holes, having a matching "2" S# on the left side and fitted with a flat detachable floorplate. CONDITION: approx. 95-98% rust blue with sharp edge wear as befitting a tested pistol. The front strap has been touched up with just the finest micro pitting under the surface. Excellent grips. Comparable condition original finish mag. Bright bore with sharp rifling. Correct manual mechanics. One of the rarest FN Browning pistols, this one-of-a-kind prototype was made for French military evaluation, this is the first time it is being offered in a public sale. This particular pistol, S# 2, is the exact gun pictured on page 166-167 in Vanderlinden's "The Belgian Browning Pistols" and attributed to Charles Wagner and Bill Drollinger. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Charles Wagner. (25-415/LMA). CURIO. $20,000-30,000.