Browning 1922 Help Please

[Joe N]

I just receieved a German marked Browning 1922 in the mail today, and wondering if anyone can tell me the date of manufacture. Frame/slide/barrel and magazine are all WaA103 marked, holster appears unmarked. Serial number is 55502. Were these primarily Luftwaffe issued pistols, or could you see it used by other branches? Thanks very much,
Joe

[Joe N]

next

[Joe N]

markings

[Joe N]

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[Joe N]

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[Joe N]

And what is teh "MH" indicative of on the triggerguard? Thanks very much,
Joe

[Joe N]

last, thanks!

[tgn]

This looks like an early pre-war Belgium manufacture that was acquired and proofed by the Germans upon their occupation in 1940. Very nice weapon. The MH markings are likely Belgium inspectors proofs...Tom

[Joe N]

Thank you very much Tom, I apprecaite this
Joe

[Douglas Jr.]

1941

Hi John,

Very nice gun you have here. The waffenamt WaA103 was used only during the year of 1941 and can be found in around 36,000 guns (always in .32 ACP). The serial number range for this particular inspection mark is 24,000 - 60,000. It was replaced by the WaA140 mark at the end of 1941.

Congratulations once more.

Douglas.

[Joe N]

Thank you Douglas, I very much appreciate this information. Was this primarily a Luftwaffe-utilized sidearm? Take care and thanks again,
Joe

[Matt Weber]

I agree with Douglas here. This is definately a 1941 production. Your serial number is actually one of the last to have the "eagle/waA103" on it. So it is late 1941.

The Browning 1922 was used by the Luftwaffe, as well as the army, and Waffen SS. I'm not sure if the Kreigsmarine used this at all though?
There is no way to tell weather it was issued to either branch, but generally the Luftwaffe used brown drop type holsters, and the army and SS used the softshells like the one shown here. (but this is not always the case!)

Matt

[Joe N]

Thank you Gentlemen!
Joe