1242 EXTREMELY SCARCE EARLY POST-OCCUPATION FABRIQUE

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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2025 May 08 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,000.00 USD
Estimated at 2,000.00 - 2,500.00 USD
NATIONALE BELGIAN ARMY CONTRACT HIGH POWER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# A2592B. Bbl. 4 5/8". High Power semi-automatic pistol mfg. by Fabrique Nationale for the Belgian army in late 1945 to early 1946. This variation is unique in that while it was mfg. under contract for the Belgian army, no army proofs were applied. This was the result of the typical proofing arsenal being utilized by the U.S. military, and as such only a "B" suffix was added to indicate army issue. The left side of the slide is marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE/ HERSTAL-BELGIQUE/ BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE", with the left side of the frame, slide, and right side of the bbl. exhibiting Belgian commercial proofs. Right side of the frame is marked with the full S# "A2592B". Metal components exhibit a blue finish overall, save for on the bbl., which is polished in-the-white. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Interior of the grip panels are inscribed "FW 6/12/3" over "R.D.S.". Fixed half-moon blade front sight, with dovetailed U-notch rear sight. All serialized parts are matching and include the frame, slide, and bbl. MAGS: 1 13-rd. mag., with blued body and split tail floorplate. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: note from Charles Wagner indicating the history of this variation, as well as noting that "Consequently very few of the 1945 variation are seen today. (Only four are known to be in collections.)". CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their original blue finish, exhibiting some areas of light to mild wear and thinning (primarily on edges), some superficial handling marks, as well as some scattered spots and areas of light surface oxidation overall. Grip straps exhibit consistent light to mild surface oxidation and light pitting. Mirror bore, exhibiting some very light pitting, while retaining well defined rifling throughout. Right rear edge of mag. exhibits a crack in the welding, with a small crack present on the left rear edge. Grips show mild smoothing and some scattered superficial marks and impressions from handling and storage, with the left grip exhibiting a crack at the bottom right of the panel that stems from the butt. A scarce early post-occupation Belgian army High Power. PROVENANCE: the Estate Collection of Charles Wagner. (25-277/MLW). CURIO. $2,000-2,500.