1239 SCARCE EARLY POST-OCCUPATION FABRIQUE NATIONALE

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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 - 3,000.00 USD
"SPECIAL ORDER VARIATION" HIGH POWER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# 1055. Bbl. 4 5/8". High Power semi-automatic pistol likely mfg. in late 1944 to early 1945 by Fabrique Nationale, and likely sold to a serviceman. An unusual and scarce example, this "Special Order Variation" exhibits no Belgian commercial or German occupation proofing, save for an "M" on the left side of the forward trigger guard web and an "X" on the top of the slide, beneath the rear sight, with all S# being externally visible, as would have been done during the occupation period. The left side of the slide is marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE DUERRE/ HERSTAL BELGIQUE/ BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE". Metal components exhibit a (possibly reapplied) blue finish overall, save for on the bbl., which is polished in-the-white. Frame is mounted with 2-piece finely figured checkered wood grips, with a large half-diamond present around the screw slot. Dovetailed blade front sight, with occupation pattern tangent rear sight, graduated 50-500. Thumbprint slide, with slotted backstrap for a stock attachment. All serialized parts are matching in the "stacked" fashion, and are present on the frame, slide, bbl., as well as on the interior of the grip panels. MAGS: 1 13-rd. mag., with parkerized body and blued split tail floorplate. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a page with notes from Charles Wagner, with highlights indicating "It is a custom order pistol for a serviceman produced by FN late in 1944 and early 1945" and "A person could special order any pistol or rifle with any feature desired. This was true at many of the weapon factories which has been evidenced by many of the one of a type pistol or rifle that had appeared on the collectors market since the war". CONDITION: exceptional, with metal components retaining bountiful amounts of their blue finish overall, exhibiting what appears to be fine pinprick areas of pitting present beneath the bluing in some areas (either indicating a professional refinish, or assembly from pre-war parts original hidden from the German by FN employees). Bbl. is excellent, with notable heat treated coloring present on and around the breech, as well as on the lug and cam surfaces. Bright bore, exhibiting consistent mild to moderate pitting, while retaining well defined rifling throughout. Grips are fine, showing some areas of light to mild smoothing, as well as a few light superficial handling marks overall. An exceptionally attractive, early post-occupation production, Fabrique Nationale High Power pistol. PROVENANCE: the Estate Collection of Charles Wagner. (25-265/MLW). CURIO. $2,000-3,000.