Baby Browning

R.O · August 14, 2010, 08:26 PM

Hi ,I am a new member on the forum, with my first post
this is my first Belgian gun and I want to know when it was made?
what is the value? thanks on any info

csmsss · August 14, 2010, 08:51 PM

I've no idea whatsoever on valuation, but that eggplant-colored case is a hoot! Is it original to the pistol?

R.O · August 15, 2010, 12:14 AM

I think so,maybe it was a special made presentation case,
here is another pic,looks original to me even the cleaning rod has a perfect fitt

**4V50 Gary** · August 15, 2010, 02:17 AM

I think I have one of those somewhere. Anybody got a BlueBook?

Flyingbrickracing · August 15, 2010, 09:38 AM

My LGS has one at 425.00,about the same condition (without a case

)

TheNev · August 15, 2010, 10:43 AM

I have an absolutely beautiful Baby Browning (like 99%, seriously) I picked up from the Cabela's used cabinet for $375. Gunbroker has auctions going for $400-600.

Bill DeShivs · August 15, 2010, 09:10 PM

Your gun is not a Baby Browning, it's an FN "Baby." The case is original to the gun. It was originally sold in Europe.

rtpzwms · August 15, 2010, 09:27 PM

OK its FN Baby but we need you to write down what is on the slide. I know I can not read it from the pictures and is this blue, nickel, or aluminum? It does not look like the satin gray from what I can see. I'm going to guess that its blue and says Fabrique Nationale on the slide.

If this is true:

100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
550 475 400 350 250 200 150

So not a national treasure so we'll see you at work tomorrow!

Still very cool!

dreamweaver · August 15, 2010, 09:30 PM

sorry, the case is aftermarket.
you're gun will bring the upper end of $400-600 range. $550 would be a good asking price if you're selling.

R.O · August 15, 2010, 10:23 PM

thanks guy ,damn ,i tought it was at least two grand

LOL

and yes it reads fabrique national de guere ,liege belgique

**James K** · August 16, 2010, 01:49 PM

FN Baby or Baby Browning? Aren't they the same gun?

There is always confusion between the Baby Browning and the earlier FN Browning Model 1906, but they are different guns, with the latter being almost the same as the Colt Vest Pocket Model 1908.

Jim

Bill DeShivs · August 16, 2010, 02:14 PM

Jim,
Same gun, marked differently.

**James K** · August 16, 2010, 08:23 PM

I thought so, the only differences being the markings and the grips. That gun came out in the 1930's but was not imported here until 1954 when the old Colt-FN agreement went away. IIRC, in the US, that makes the FN "Baby" worth more.

Jim

j-framer · August 16, 2010, 08:41 PM

R.O.,

A very nice FN Baby. I love the case, original or not.

Am I reading the serial number correctly as 61944? If so, it is quite an early example. According to Anthony Vanderlinden's excellent book on FN pistols, production of the Baby started back up in 1946 (about 50,000 were produced between 1932-1940). Vanderlinden's data permits a rough estimate of 1947 as the year when your gun was manufactured.

R.O · August 17, 2010, 02:06 AM

thanks Jim ,j-framer thanks for mentioning the year it was made ,i thought it was made late fifthies, to me the case looks original to the gun , the name "baby browning" is used too often for these guns, but I think Browning was not alive anymore when this gun came in to production or am I mistaking here?

j-framer · August 17, 2010, 07:12 PM

Just to be clear, the year 1947 was an educated guess based on available data, not a rock solid fact.

And yes, Mr. Browning was indeed dead by the time the Baby first became available on the market.

**James K** · August 17, 2010, 11:28 PM

Browning died before even the High Power came out, and he had little to do with the final design. But FN had found that the Browning name had magic, so they continued to use it. The interesting thing is that Browning never really "worked for" FN. He was an independent designer who could sell his ideas to any company, depending on where he got the best deal. After his death, his family set up a company in the U.S. that licensed his designs.

But back before WWI, Colt and FN made a "no competition" agreement that Colt would not sell its products in Europe and Asia and FN would not sell in North and South America. This held until the 1950's, when those agreements were outlawed. Not until then was the FN "Baby" and other FN-Browning pistols imported into the U.S. by the Browning company.

Jim

Lenka · February 25, 2011, 09:31 AM

Hello
Tell me please address of guns shops in the New York, where I can buy spare details for FN Baby Browning 1932.

gyvel · February 25, 2011, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Hello
Tell me please address of guns shops in the New York, where I can buy spare details for FN Baby Browning 1932.

You've posted in two different threads, but in case you didn't see the other one, try www.e-gunparts.com (West Hurley, NY), and in particular, this link:

http://www.gunpartscorp.com/catalog/...spx?catid=1312

FWIW, parts from the Bauer .25 acp pistol will generally interchange as well as those from Precision Small Arms .25 pistols. (PSA was allegedly licensed by FN to manufacture the "Baby" in the U.S.)

ROGER4314 · February 25, 2011, 07:16 PM

I had the Bauer which is a SS copy of the Baby. It was very well made!

If my memory is correct the Baby pistol and the Bauer use the firing pin as the ejector. The extractor pulls the fired round until the firing pin pokes back out the pin hole and flips the cartridge out the port. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Flash

Bill DeShivs · February 25, 2011, 10:49 PM

Roger. You're correct, Roger.

August 14, 2010, 08:26 PM	#1
R.O Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2010 Posts: 134	Baby Browning Hi ,I am a new member on the forum, with my first post this is my first Belgian gun and I want to know when it was made? what is the value? thanks on any info

August 15, 2010, 02:17 AM	#4
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 15,421	I think I have one of those somewhere. Anybody got a BlueBook? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

August 15, 2010, 09:38 AM	#5
Flyingbrickracing Junior Member Join Date: April 11, 2009 Location: Schenectady New York Posts: 7	My LGS has one at 425.00,about the same condition (without a case) __________________ Slap the bolt,SLAP IT!!!!!

August 15, 2010, 09:10 PM	#7
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 6,457	Your gun is not a Baby Browning, it's an FN "Baby." The case is original to the gun. It was originally sold in Europe. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

August 15, 2010, 09:30 PM	#9
dreamweaver Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2008 Posts: 713	sorry, the case is aftermarket. you're gun will bring the upper end of $400-600 range. $550 would be a good asking price if you're selling. __________________ http://takdriver.com/

August 14, 2010, 08:51 PM	#2
csmsss Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Orange, TX Posts: 2,340	I've no idea whatsoever on valuation, but that eggplant-colored case is a hoot! Is it original to the pistol?

August 15, 2010, 12:14 AM	#3
R.O Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2010 Posts: 134	I think so,maybe it was a special made presentation case, here is another pic,looks original to me even the cleaning rod has a perfect fitt

August 15, 2010, 10:43 AM	#6
TheNev Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2009 Posts: 159	I have an absolutely beautiful Baby Browning (like 99%, seriously) I picked up from the Cabela's used cabinet for $375. Gunbroker has auctions going for $400-600.

August 15, 2010, 09:27 PM	#8
rtpzwms Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2010 Location: OTS Posts: 787	OK its FN Baby but we need you to write down what is on the slide. I know I can not read it from the pictures and is this blue, nickel, or aluminum? It does not look like the satin gray from what I can see. I'm going to guess that its blue and says Fabrique Nationale on the slide. If this is true: 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60% 550 475 400 350 250 200 150 So not a national treasure so we'll see you at work tomorrow! Still very cool!

August 15, 2010, 10:23 PM	#10
R.O Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2010 Posts: 134	thanks guy ,damn ,i tought it was at least two grand LOL and yes it reads fabrique national de guere ,liege belgique

August 16, 2010, 01:49 PM	#11
James K Staff Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 16,418	FN Baby or Baby Browning? Aren't they the same gun? There is always confusion between the Baby Browning and the earlier FN Browning Model 1906, but they are different guns, with the latter being almost the same as the Colt Vest Pocket Model 1908. Jim __________________ Jim K

August 16, 2010, 02:14 PM	#12
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 6,457	Jim, Same gun, marked differently. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com

August 16, 2010, 08:23 PM	#13
James K Staff Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 16,418	I thought so, the only differences being the markings and the grips. That gun came out in the 1930's but was not imported here until 1954 when the old Colt-FN agreement went away. IIRC, in the US, that makes the FN "Baby" worth more. Jim __________________ Jim K

August 16, 2010, 08:41 PM	#14
j-framer Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Posts: 372	R.O., A very nice FN Baby. I love the case, original or not. Am I reading the serial number correctly as 61944? If so, it is quite an early example. According to Anthony Vanderlinden's excellent book on FN pistols, production of the Baby started back up in 1946 (about 50,000 were produced between 1932-1940). Vanderlinden's data permits a rough estimate of 1947 as the year when your gun was manufactured.

August 17, 2010, 02:06 AM	#15
R.O Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2010 Posts: 134	thanks Jim ,j-framer thanks for mentioning the year it was made ,i thought it was made late fifthies, to me the case looks original to the gun , the name "baby browning" is used too often for these guns, but I think Browning was not alive anymore when this gun came in to production or am I mistaking here?

August 17, 2010, 07:12 PM	#16
j-framer Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Posts: 372	Just to be clear, the year 1947 was an educated guess based on available data, not a rock solid fact. And yes, Mr. Browning was indeed dead by the time the Baby first became available on the market.

August 17, 2010, 11:28 PM	#17
James K Staff Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 16,418	Browning died before even the High Power came out, and he had little to do with the final design. But FN had found that the Browning name had magic, so they continued to use it. The interesting thing is that Browning never really "worked for" FN. He was an independent designer who could sell his ideas to any company, depending on where he got the best deal. After his death, his family set up a company in the U.S. that licensed his designs. But back before WWI, Colt and FN made a "no competition" agreement that Colt would not sell its products in Europe and Asia and FN would not sell in North and South America. This held until the 1950's, when those agreements were outlawed. Not until then was the FN "Baby" and other FN-Browning pistols imported into the U.S. by the Browning company. Jim __________________ Jim K

February 25, 2011, 09:31 AM	#18
Lenka Junior Member Join Date: February 25, 2011 Posts: 4	FN Baby Browning 1932 Hello Tell me please address of guns shops in the New York, where I can buy spare details for FN Baby Browning 1932.

February 25, 2011, 07:16 PM	#20
ROGER4314 Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2009 Location: East Houston Posts: 257	I had the Bauer which is a SS copy of the Baby. It was very well made! If my memory is correct the Baby pistol and the Bauer use the firing pin as the ejector. The extractor pulls the fired round until the firing pin pokes back out the pin hole and flips the cartridge out the port. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Flash

February 25, 2011, 10:49 PM	#21
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 6,457	Roger. You're correct, Roger. __________________ Bill DeShivs www.billdeshivs.com