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Need help with an FN 1922 7.65 (.32 ACP)

Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:03 am
by UpTheIrons
I posted something similar on THR, but I thought I might find some help here, too.

This pistol belongs to a friend, whose father brought it back from Europe decades ago. I don't remember when or where. I'll find out Sunday hopefully and add that info if it helps.

All serial numbers match, and they are somewhat lowish, I think: 317XX.

There are marks on each part. Every part that's big enough has a 6 in a square. In several places there is a 3, or it might be a J that's underlined.

The Belgian proof mark is on the slide, frame and barrel (see the photos): the lion above a line with PV underneath. There's also the inspector's stamp on the slide, barrel and frame: a G with a star (5-point, not an asterisk) over it.

I'm curious if the stamp on the barrel will help further identify the pistol. It looks like an oval with a crown on top. The oval has an E on top, LG on the next line, and maybe a star at the bottom.

Fit and finish are remarkable. This pistol could not have been fired much. I took it down, cleaned up a little surface rust (mostly on the recoil spring), and blew the dust out of the barrel. Ran a patch down it with Hoppe's and it came out almost clean. The bore is beautiful - no rust, pitting, or anything. It shone with a mirror finish.

I found this website, which gives me about all I know about it:

http://www.cruffler.com/historic-may01.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I can't find an example with the wood grips this pistol has. I don't know if they are custom, or from a limited factory run. The pistol does have engraving on the right side that says "Anna Sage". If you don't know, she's "The Lady in Red" or "The Woman in Red," a Chicago madam who fingered John Dillinger for the FBI. The engraving was done by the owner's dad sometime after he got back from Europe.

OK you experts, you have your homework, now hop to it! :lol:

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Re: Need help with an FN 1922 7.65 (.32 ACP)

Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:14 am
by dBex
Okay I can't tell you about this specific gun other than my guess would be that the grip is not original. Two sites that may help with this are
http://www.olarmyjoel.com/Virtual%20Arm ... 201922.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and
http://warrelics.eu/forum/firearms-ordnance/index3.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The second one I can almost guarantee that the guys there will be able to give you more information than you need.

Re: Need help with an FN 1922 7.65 (.32 ACP)

Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:18 pm
by UpTheIrons
Thanks for the help. I've got those WW2 guys on the case!

Re: Need help with an FN 1922 7.65 (.32 ACP)

Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:14 pm
by CompVest
Beautiful gun. It is great that it has ended up in caring hands.

Re: Need help with an FN 1922 7.65 (.32 ACP)

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:33 pm
by UpTheIrons
I got a little more of the story on this pistol today. It seems I was a bit confused about its provenance. The owner's father aquired it in Mexico in the 1970s, where it likely got the grips it has now.

I know that doesn't help date it, but I'm still looking for a place I can do a serial number search to find out the approximate date of manufacture.