Browning 1922 Help!!!!

[booney110]

OK. I have a friend that sold me a Browning 1922. Due to the occupation numbering system I am at a loss to determine approx what year it was made. So if there are any Browning guys out there, please help!! Here is what and how......... Browning 1922, Wa 140 several places, no (H) on it. Black plastic FN grips. Serial number is 6XX b and it has a Wa 140 marked mag. I am looking to set it up with a Luftwaffe drop holster and extra mag. I already have another one that is late war with wooden grips in a black pebble grain holster. I paid $250 so I am not too deep in to it. The average going price seems a little higher than that so I am not hurtin too bad on the cost (except it took my MAX Show money with it...lol)
Time for me to work some more OT. Thanks in advance!!!!!

[Douglas Jr.]

It seems a late gun.
Do you have any pictures? I will check my books when I arrive at home and let you know the approximate date of production.

Douglas.

[booney110]

I'll get some pics on as soon as I can. Still trying to figure out how to get the best close up shots. Thanks for the reply.

[Douglas Jr.]

Hi,

According to the great Anthony Vanderlinden's book "FN BROWNING PISTOLS", the WaA140 mark was used between December 1941 and July 1944 - thus, the most common Waffenamt on these guns.

The author claims that (p.247):

"By mid-1943, the Germans began to use the letter suffix serial numbering system and abandoned the earlier ascending system. (...) In this system a letter is assigned to a block of 100,000 pistols."

Yours should be what is called "first subvariant" and has the full serial numbers stamped on both slide and frame. This variant goes from serial numbers 1a up to 79,000b, and comprises the timeframe May, 1943 up to December 1943.

Hope it helps you. I'd love to see some pictures!

Greetings,
Douglas.