german handguns?

Question

I have a german pistol, (H) FABRIQUE NATIONALE DARMES DE GUERRE HERSTAL BEL GIQUE BROWNING'S PATENT DESPOSE.. there are markings on the slide below the name which appear to be doves in flight or eagles ,with a small star under the name also there is another bird in flight near the trigger on the left side. the serial number is 56089 on the barrel and frame folowed by what appears to be a lower case b. my gun is blued with browd woodgrain grips. i do not know the cal, its not indicated anywhere on the gun,

Answer 1

Without seeing it, I couldn't tell you with any certainty, but it sounds like it might be a Browning Hi-Power.

Does it look like this?

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/category.asp?value=007B

The caliber should be somewhere on the outside of the slide but, have you disassembled the gun and looked at the barrel itself or even the magazine for any caliber markings?

The most common caliber for the Browning Hi-Power is 9mm Luger (9x19 NATO, or simply 9mm) but BEWARE there were and are other versions.

If you remain in doubt, take it to a gunsmith and have them gauge and mic it and tell you the correct caliber.

DO NOT attempt to fire any ammunition in it unless you are 100% sure of the guns caliber.

Answer 2

I think it is in fact German, at least in one sense -- I think you have a German military FN Hi Power .

The Belgian factory made Hi Powers (a Browning design) for the occupying Germans during WWII. I think that the "bird in flight" is actually a Reichsadler, a German military proofmark, which was a small eagle carrying a swastika in its talons. This emblem is usually very small so it won't immediately strike most people as being a Nazi symbol. If I'm right, you will also likely see "waffenamts," a kind of German acceptance mark that consists mainly of little stamped number/letter codes.

In other words, I'm guessing your pistol is like this:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976703334.htm

These are very nice pistols! Particularly if they are in good condition, they have definite collector value. Many of them were brought back by veterans of the European theater in WWII, so they have a lot of history.

Do not let some gun shop owner or pawn broker buy it for a lowball offer! Also, to preserve its value, do not modify it, change the sights, have it refinished, have it repaired by anyone other than a restoration expert, etc.

It will also be worth more if you can find any "capture papers" (identifying paperwork that accompanied souvenirs brought home by U.S. servicemen) or the holster.

But of course you'll probably want to keep it; I certainly would.

Most likely it's in 9 mm (9x19 parabellum, luger, etc.) but you'll want a gunsmith to confirm that (as well as the general condition of the pistol) before firing it. In all likelihood it will work just fine, but it's much much better to be sure.

If my guess about this pistol is wrong, let me know, I love learning about stuff like this.

Answer 3

I don't believe it is a Browning Hipower. It is a Fabrique Nationale (FN or FNH for FN Herstal, the official company name, located in Herstal) made on Browning's patent, I believe. Currently the only handguns they make are the FNP series of autoloaders.

It also isn't German, it's Belgian. John Browning worked with FNH starting in 1898. That's why it says about Browning's patent. If you visit the link below, you'll see a list of all of FNH's handguns.

You'll notice their current handguns do resemble the Browning listed above alot, but if it has the French writing, it's a FNH, not a Browning.

Answer 4

Belgian, not German.

It could be any one of a number of Browning's collaborations with FABRIQUE NATIONALE (usually refered to as "FN" by collectors).

He designed guns and they made them. the U.S. Manufacturers would not work with him at first and then later he kept his loyalties to FN.

The Hi-Power, also known as the P35 and GP 35, was his last design, actually completed by another designer, and is considered by some, me included, to be not only his most refined and finest work but one of the great gun designs of all time, even today.

EDIT: If you do, as the above poster speculates, have a Nazi Hi-Power, it is worth a considerable amount more. The Nazis took over Belguim during WWII and perpetrated their oppression on the Belgian peoples, including forcing the FN plant to make guns for them. It's rare and it's very valuable.

Answer 5

I believe it to be by a French Mfg...