The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Handguns => Topic started by: ExploderKPA on December 13, 2009, 09:28:35 AM

Title: Need to know everything about a Nazi Browning High Power
Post by: ExploderKPA on December 13, 2009, 09:28:35 AM

I have in my possession a nazi browning high caliber. With the marking W8A140. Serial Numbers 193378, 11171. The older posts to this topic were very helpful.

I have the original holster and military documentation that it was brought home by the 84th Infantry division in Europe. What I don't have is the original magazine. I assume the nazi paratrooper had replacement magazines that he was using. Where could I find an original magazine the make my collection complete?

There are some questions that I still have. This is a family are loom from my grandfather and I wish to know more about it.
There are other markings on the gun besides the serial number and the nazi stamp on the slide. On the chamber and on the left side of the frame are the same stamps: An "E" with a star or asterisk above it. The letters PV with an animal form in rampant position according to traditional heraldry. This symbol is only on the chamber of the gun: Its a crown and a circle surrounding the letters LG. What do all THESE markins mean?

How can i figure out what year this gun was made?

Thanks,
ExploderKPA

Title: Re: Need to know everything about a Nazi Browning High Power
Post by: Timothy on December 13, 2009, 09:50:19 AM

The Germans took Belgium in 1940 and installed management into the Fabrique Nationale because the Belgian management refused to make arms for the Nazis.

I would think there is a bunch of information out there and FN may have records of these guns.  There were over 300,000 guns made during the German occupation years of 1940 to 1944.  Not exactly a rare piece but certainly has some stories buried into it's history.

As far as an oriiginal mag, that may take some time.  It could be a single stack or a double column mag as Browning prefered the single and the FN designer upgraded it to a 13 round double.

Good luck and enjoy your piece of history...

Title: Re: Need to know everything about a Nazi Browning High Power
Post by: tombogan03884 on December 13, 2009, 11:13:29 AM

 I don't know if this will help

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/index.asp

According to the NRA Fact book the Rampant lion (?) over the letters PV is a proof mark indicating "hard" temper.
The letters LG in a circle indicate a military arm.
On German arms the letter "E" indicates semi automatic. I do not know if this is the case with arms from occupied countries.
Some other info may be found here;

http://www.proofhouse.com/cm/ger_ord_codes.htm

I could not find a "W8A" but "140" was a code for FN products.