|
Post by tnorris on Aug 6, 2023 11:40:32 GMT -5
Hello, Tim, - I should've known you'd have a 215 in your amazing collection. I hope all is well, Tim.
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your comments... all is well except for a lack of range time these days.
The 215-RN alloy frame pistol was an unexpected purchase... I put in a low bid on GunBroker which ended during a summer holiday. I guess other bidders were busy with BBQs and holiday stuff. I was quite surprised to be the high bidder at under $500.
My other alloy frames are a complete 245-PZ (81) and a 75C which was missing the original slide and barrel. A matching 245-PX (83) slide barrel had been fitted to it. Except for the 75C, I would have thought the alloy frames might all have been 215s, military or police pistols. I wish we had access to the thought process at FN.
Still haven't gotten around to making that 75C alloy frame into a dedicated .22 pistol.
Cheers,
Tim
|
|
|
Post by ToddSig on Aug 6, 2023 12:40:47 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by tnorris on Aug 6, 2023 17:53:28 GMT -5
Still haven't gotten around to making that 75C alloy frame into a dedicated .22 pistol.
Cheers, Tim
Hey Tim, if you have not yet found a .22 conversion slide for 75C alloy, there is a MACs being offered on EBay.
Thanks Todd,
I have a Ciener unit that I bought new many years ago. It's still in great shape and works pretty well. I might take another look at that MACS kit.
Cheers,
Tim
|
|
|
Post by wwpjr6 on Aug 21, 2023 9:09:18 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by tnorris on Aug 21, 2023 12:03:43 GMT -5
I just picked up this FN and am interested in starting a collection. I would like to learn anything I can about it. Can anyone figure out the date of manufacture or any other details about the history of this one? View AttachmentView AttachmentView Attachment
Good morning,
It was inspected by Controller of Proof Jamart Auguste who uses the mark *E from 1924 to 1959.
You should be able to find date codes on some original parts... barrel lug, rear of the firing pin retention plate. inside of the slide and somewhere on the frame. Often the Date Code for pistols of this time perio was stamped on he front of the trigger guard on the right or left side. There is a mark on the right front trigger guard of your pistol, but it does not look like a proper date code. You will be looking for a single number surrounded by a partial box. Sometimes they were mis-struck and difficult to interpret.
My wildest close guess, without seeing a date code on the frame, is that yours was made in 1953 - 1954 based on the serial number. It may have been part of a contract for German Police, later sold as surplus, or it could have been purchased new at one of the Rod and Gun Clubs by a US Serviceman stationed in Germany.
My 1950 pistol frame date code is on the left side of the trigger guard. A couple of years later it was on the right side. As you can see from my photos, not all date codes match, some of the parts were inspected and dated before the frame. This is normal and just the way production and assembly worked at FN.
1950 - 4th quarter
1948 - 4th quarter
1949 - 3rd quarter
Best of luck in searching for your date codes! Please post them here so we can all learn more.
And... if you plan on shooting this pistol, it would be a good idea to have it checked out by a qualified High Power gunsmith with a nod towards replacing all of the springs including the sear spring.
Cheers,
Tim
|
|
|
Post by ToddSig on Aug 21, 2023 13:22:46 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by wwpjr6 on Aug 21, 2023 16:50:36 GMT -5
Thank you very much for the information. I found some more marks by examining it closer. Two definitely are 2. I'm not sure if the one on the trigger guard is a 1 or 7. Any thoughts on what these would tell me?
|
|
|
Post by tnorris on Aug 21, 2023 22:24:04 GMT -5
Thank you very much for the information. I found some more marks by examining it closer. Two definitely are 2. I'm not sure if the one on the trigger guard is a 1 or 7. Any thoughts on what these would tell me?
It is really hard to say what the mark on the trigger guard is. The line above the 7 seems to have a poorly stuck horizontal line on the bottom of the box and a faint curved mark... this might indicate 2nd quarter 1952 or 1953. The "7" is a red herring whose meaning has been lost to history. Probably not part of a date code. Sometimes the date code marks need to be interpreted. I am including my interpretation below for you to compare to the original mark.
The FP Retaining plate is 2nd quarter 1952.
The Barrel is 1st quarter 1952. My best guess at a born on date is 1952 or 1953. Possibly 2nd quarter
You might check on the inside of the slide and under the grips for additional marks...
I also noticed what looks like part of an import mark (CAI, Knoxville, TN) which makes me think it was a German Police pistol sold as surplus. CAI may have imported a whole bunch of them.
Cheers, Tim
Well... it's morning and that little curved mark looks straighter to me so I imaging I see a 4 in a box for 2nd quarter 1954. I'll be out for a couple days... but give this a try: sometimes if you mess with the contrast in a really sharp photo it can bring out more of the details of marks you can't see with the naked eye.
|
|
|
Post by wwpjr6 on Aug 23, 2023 11:08:27 GMT -5
Thanks for all the information. I have another one that I would like to know more about. I think it is chrome and older than the blued one. It appears to have waffen stamps and an eagle. Could it possible be from the war years?
|
|
|
Post by ToddSig on Aug 23, 2023 12:51:49 GMT -5
Thanks for all the information. I have another one that I would like to know more about. I think it is chrome and older than the blued one. It appears to have waffen stamps and an eagle. Could it possible be from the war years? Would like to see more images, should not be chrome unless it was done later. Could the bluing have worn off and left in the white or near white? Per the markings, it is an occupation High Power, it is what is referred to the second sub variant, "A" suffix serial number, made between May 1943 and Dec 1943. the serial number in this occupation variant ran from 1a to 99999a. I dont have a full image, but based on the serial number it should be a fixed sight High Power and not a tangent sight from earlier in the occupation. Yours being 15999a was probably made around June of 1943. It should also have the Waffen mark on the muzzle bushing of the slide. I see the trigger does not have the pin hole for the mag disconnect, and that too is correct.
|
|
|
Post by wwpjr6 on Aug 23, 2023 14:09:42 GMT -5
I'll look for the stamp on the bushing.
|
|
|
Post by jasv92 on Sept 19, 2023 3:50:54 GMT -5
Hello, first of all i want to apologize for my english. I have a FN HP in found condition and heirloom I was looking for information on this forum. if I'm not mistaken, my FN is pre-war production. I was surprised by the low production number, which is 670. Could someone please tell me more information based on the photos. where it was made, for whom and when Thank you
|
|
|
Post by ToddSig on Sept 19, 2023 8:11:44 GMT -5
jasv92 welcome to HPC and thanks for sharing info and images on your early High Power. Very interesting. In order to be sure what we are looking at, can you post additional images of all of the various proof marks, roll marks and inspector marks. Please check under the grips (important), bottom of the grip, underside of the slide, slide sides, trigger guard, frame. Also check the barrel for markings and please, an image of the barrel lug as the early lug was changed in +/- 1938, and the old rounded cam slot altered to squared off version. With all of the marks we should be able to come to a conclusion of what you have. The KL is interesting on the back grip strap as well.
|
|
|
Post by jasv92 on Sept 19, 2023 14:01:30 GMT -5
ToddSig thank you I hope I didn't forget anything. I am sending more photos here Part 1.
|
|
|
Post by jasv92 on Sept 19, 2023 14:05:34 GMT -5
|
|