The FN BrowningModel 1922 Pistol |
Type: Self LoadingPistol System of Operation: Blowback Caliber: 7.65mmBrowning or 9mm Browning Short Capacity: 8 roundbox magazine Sights front: Blade Sights, rear: Adjustableaperture Length: 7.01' Weight (loaded): 25.7ozs Barrel: 4.5', 6 grooves,right hand twist |
Thedesign problem was turned over to the FN Bureau d'Etudes (Research andDevelopment Office). The Bureau d'Etudes took stock of the situation. The Yugoslavs certainly couldn't afford the expense of developing and toolingfor a new pistol. Consequently, a series of modifications to theModel 1910 were proposed that would save considerably on tooling and startup production costs. A forged steel cap was added to the 1910 slidein order to accommodate the longer (113mm as opposed to the 1910's 88mm)barrel. The frame was lengthened to accommodate the longer magazine. A lanyard ring was added. The engineering was complete by 1922, andthe Yugoslavs placed an order for 60,000 pistols on February 28, 1923. | Image Credit: Vanderlinden, Anthony, The BelgianBrowning Pistols, Wet Dog Publications, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2001: Page129 |
Northbrook, Illinois,1992: Page 66 | Whenthe trigger is pressed, the trigger bar presses against the sear, rotatingit back and down. This frees the striker to move forward and firethe chambered round. Upon firing, the case moves sharply rearward,imparting rearward motion to the slide. The case is pulled from thechamber by the extractor. As the slide moves to the rear, the striker'stip is pushed out through the firing pin hole and serves as an ejector. The M1922 is equipped with a triple safety system. There is a gripsafety which, unless depressed, prevents the sear from rotating and releasingthe striker. There is a thumb safety which, when engaged, preventsthe grip safety from being depressed. The thumb safety cannot beengaged unless the grip safety is released. There is also a magazinesafety that prevents the sear from rotating unless a magazine is fullyseated in the |
Yugoslavia: Yugoslavia was the first nation to adopt the Model 1922, placing an orderfor some 60,000 pistols in February, 1923. Orders for the pistolscontinued into the late 1930's, with service being provided for the Yugoslavpistols at the Kragujevac Arsenal (which had been set up under the guidanceof FN personnel). Many of the Yugoslav Army M1922 pistols were capturedby the Germans during World War Two. These captured pistols werereissued to German and satellite forces under the designation P641(j). Large quantities also remained in partisan hands, becoming known as theprimary pistol of Tito's Army. Yugoslav Army pistols are marked inCyrillic on the right side of the slide with the legends 'Army State' or'Officer.' | Publications, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2001: Page135 |
Publications, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2001: Page140 | Holland:The Dutch government placed its first order for Model 1922 pistols in October1924. The 2,000 7.65mm pistols in this shipment received the Dutchdesignation Pistool M25 No.1, and was intended for issue to twodifferent law enforcement agencies. The Koninklijke Marechaussee,or Royal Military Constabulary, received approximately 1,200 pistolsfrom this order, while the Politie Troepen, or Police Troops, receivedthe remaining 800. In the following year the Dutch expanded issueof the M1922 to machine gun crews. The M1922's issued to the DutchArmy were known as Pistool M25 No.2, the designation differing asthe army guns were chambered for the 9mm Browning Short instead of 7.65mm. Serialization of the M25 No.2 started at 3000, with the first order of2,000 pistols being shipped in April 1926. Military orders continued |
Greece: The Greeks purchased 9,980 M1922 pistols chambered for 9mm Browning Shortin 1926. This was the official sidearm of the Greek Army and AirForce from 1926 to 1941. The order was delivered between 1926 and1929. | Publications, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2001: Page143 |
Publications, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2001: Page144 | Turkey: Continuing an Ottoman tradition of FN patronage (Ottoman police were armedwith FN Model 1903 pistols), the newly formed Turkish Republic purchasedM1922 pistols for the Turkish Army. Three contract variations havebeen noted, although it is possible that more may surface.
Variant 3: Marked 'Subaylara Mahsustur' (Property of Officer of the Armed Forces) |
Romania: The Romanian contract pistols were shipped from FN in September 1935, andwere marked with the crest of the Ministry of the Interior, indicatingissuance to a law enforcement agency. These pistols were orderedthrough the FN dealer and distributor in Bucharest, B.D. Zissu. | Publications, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2001: Page145 |
Publications, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2001: Page146 | FrenchNavy: Ordered in approximately 1932,these 7.65mm pistols are often mistaken for postwar guns. Carefulexamination notes several pre-war features (17 as opposed to 16 cockingserrations, horn grips, differing slide legends). Ordered with typicalFrench cost saving features such as black enamel finish and unfluted slidecap, the guns were refinished by the French after the war with a green/grayparkerizing over the original remaining finish. |
DanishPolice: Denmark ordered 3,000 7.65mmM1922 pistols for the Danish Federal Police in the 1930's. | Publications, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2001: Page149 |
Publications, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2001: Page156 | NaziOccupation Pistols: The M1922 hasthe dubious distinction of being produced in larger numbers than any otherfirearm at the FN plant during the Nazi occupation. The German designationsfor the M1922 were Pistole 626(b) for the 7.65mm version and Pistole 641(b)for the 9mm Short version. M1922's found their way to all cornersof the German government and military as officer's and official's sidearms. The primary user of the M1922, however was the Luftwaffe. Interestingly,the M1922 was also offered as a commercial pistol up to 1942, being soldmostly as sidearms for war factory security personnel and police. M1922's accepted by the German military show one of three Army WeaponsOffice inspectors markings (Waffenamt stampings). |
Post-LiberationM1922's: With the liberation ofLiege in late 1944, what was left of the original factory staff returnedand restarted production. The M1922 was one of the first productsto come off the lines of the liberated factory. Most of these pistolswere for military or government contracts. These pistols were builtwith at least some parts made during the occupation, and were so notedby having their serial numbers prefixed with the letter 'A.' Finish on the A-prefix pistols was either a matte bluing or black enamel. These pistols were purchased by the French military and police, the Belgianmilitary, the Dutch military and Department of Finance, and the securitypersonnel of the Netherlands Steamship Corporation. | Publications, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2001: Page157 |