Original Belgian WWII Era FN Browning Model 1922 Leather Holster with Attached German NSDAP Badges & Cleaning Rod Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used example of a standard black leather holster for the Belgian-made FN Browning Model 1922 pistol, which was used by German forces during WWII after the capture of Belgium in 1940. Even before that, it had been a popular pistol worldwide, so many were already in use by Germany before the war officially began. They were very popular among police units as well as with officers due to their compact and robust design.

The holster matches the Belgian type relatively well, with a top flap that extends almost to the bottom of the pistol, and there is no extra magazine pouch, as there would be on a German style pistol. It also has a long pocket on the side for a cleaning rod, which actually contains the original rod, serial numbered 16957. The rod itself looks very similar to ones we have seen described as “Dutch M25 FN Browning 1922” cleaning rods, so it may be a Dutch-made holster, which was another area under total German domination.

The holster is in very good condition, and looks to have been decorated at some point, possibly after it was captured during the war. It has had a variety of German NSDAP badges added, including a small NSRKB Veteran’s Association pin, an NSDAP enamel Membership pin, as well as an RAD Labor Service insignia under the flap. There are also what look to be a small Finnish flag pin, as well as a small enamel pin reading QUELQUE PART, with a large question mark in the middle. This translates to “somewhere”, but we have not seen this type of pin before. Additionally, there are other sets of holes in the top flap, so originally there were even more items attached.

Overall condition is very good, with the leather in very good supple condition and all of the stitching still intact. The included cleaning rod is also in very good condition, though it definitely has had the finish worn away.

A really nice holster that will complete any WWII Era FN Browning 1922 pistol, particularly one with German markings. Ready to display or use!

The FN Model 1910, also knowns as the Browning model 1910, is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium. The production process was a bit of a departure for Browning. Before, his designs were produced by both FN in Europe and Colt Firearms in the United States. Since Colt did not want to produce it, Browning chose to patent and produce this design in Europe only. Introduced in 1910, this pistol used a novel operating spring location surrounding the barrel. This location became the standard in such future weapons as the Walther PPK and Russian Makarov.

It incorporated the standard Browning striker-firing mechanism and a grip safety along with a magazine safety and an external safety lever (known as the “triple safety”) in a compact package. Offered in both .380 ACP (6-round magazine) and .32 ACP (7-round magazine) calibres, it remained in production until 1983. It is possible to switch calibres by changing only the barrel. However, FN never offered packages containing a single pistol with both calibre barrels.

Variants
FN Model 1922 7.65mm
A variant of the Model 1910 was known variously as the Model 1922 or 1910/22. This was a larger model with a longer barrel (113 mm), slide extension, and a longer grip frame to accommodate an extra two rounds. This model was aimed at military and police contracts and many examples were produced for various agencies. The FN Model 1910 was initially designed for the Kingdom of Serbia. In 1913, a purchase order for 235 Model 1910 semi automatic pistols was made by the Serbian National Army. The purchase was made for the 1st and 2nd Timok infantry divisions of the first army.

Model 1910/1922 pistols went on to see extensive service in World War Two, and continued to be manufactured by the Germans after their occupation of Belgium and seizure of the FN factory. These examples carry NSDAP production stamps, and most have simple checkered wood grips instead of the earlier horn or plastic grips bearing the FN logo.

The FN Model 1922 was also used by the following countries: Yugoslavia (60,000 Automatski pistolj (Brauning) 9mm M.22 between 1923 and 1930), The Netherlands, Greece, Turkey, Romania, France, Finland, Denmark, and West Germany in the post war period. While the Model 1910 was widely sold on both civilian and military markets, the Model 1922 was considered specifically a military and police pistol, with FN offering it to individual civilians only by special order.