You might recall our friend Bin Shih from the series of interviews we did with him a while back. Well, he met up with us at the show last weekend, and found a neat pistol there.
It’s a Chinese manufactured copy of the Browning Model 1900, chambered for .32ACP. These were popular pistols in pre-WWII China, and were manufactured by a wide variety of shops and arsenals. Some, like the guns made by the major arsenals at Jinling and Shanghai, were high quality firearms and others were one-off copies made by tiny shops. As a result, markings vary from Chinese characters like this one has, to exact copies of FN markings, to random jumbles of letters.
This particular gun was made in 1919, in Shanghai (according to the writing on the grips and serial number). This was one of the foremost arms producers in China at the time. In total, Shanghai (Jiangnan Arsenal) produced 66,441 of these pistols, including 60,000 of them in 1920 (compare this to a total of about 72,000 Model 1900 pistols made by FN in Belgium). Jiangnan Arsenal also made a smaller number of Browning 1900 copies with 8″ barrels, adjustable sights, and shoulder stock cuts (but still in .32 caliber).
Hi,
I am interested in the Chinese copy of Browning 1900, but with 8″ barrel and adjustable rear sight. Can you inform where I can purchase one if it is available.
Thank you.
If I knew where to buy one, I’d buy it myself!
I have a pistol that looks almost identical to the one pictured above except that it has a 3 digit serial number, a longer barrel and is slotted for a stock. There are no markings on the pistol except the serial numbers. It also has graduated tangent type rear sights.
I can forward a picture if you send me an email address.
WE actually have a browning 1900 for sale that was used by Marlon Brando in the movie the freshman. I also have other prohibited guns (in Canada) that are movie used, and up for sale. If you have a forum, please let me know.
I have a pistol that looks almost identical to the one pictured above except that it has a 3 digit serial number, a longer barrel and is slotted for a stock. There are no markings on the pistol except the serial numbers. It also has graduated tangent type rear sights.
I can forward a picture if you send me an email address.
I have a FN 1900 and it is reliable and accurate. It dates 1903, 80% + condition. Very cool auto!!