Argentinian Browning marked FN not FM

A

Ariel 1

New member
I have an Argentinian Browning ( Mark II ) and it is marked F.N. Browning. It was imported from Argentina by Armscorp. It is marke Ad inside the frame.
Do any of you has any info about them. I have seen a few FM but not an Argentinian FM.

Many thanks for any info on this gun.
Ariel



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"If enlightening beings practice mundane tolerance and thus do not stop evil people, allowing them to increase in evil and destroy true teaching, then these enlightening beings are actually devils, not enlightening beings"

Huisi
Tantai master
 
This sounds like a rarity. FM is specifically prhibited from marking the pistols FN Browning. While they are built under license from FN they aren't allowed to use the trade mark.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
Tecolote,
Correct me if I am wrong but will that be the equivalent of Bushmaster or any of thye others calling their rifles AR 15/M16 and labeling them as Colt.
The pistol seems to be better quality and finish than the FM ones. But other than that I have no other info. It came with a Mec Gar magazine and Pachmayr Grips. I think I read somewhere that some of the first pistol were made from Browning parts that were finish in Argentina. I doubt that they will go thru all that work, but I can tell you that this particular gun looks better than any FM, Arcus, FEG, or Mauser I have seen I will go as far as to say that it looks better than the current High Powers.


Any idea were I can find BHP magazines that will work and are not priced too expensive?

Many thanks,

Ariel



[This message has been edited by Ariel 1 (edited March 14, 2000).]
 
Ariel 1:

It is not clear from your original post whether the pistol was MADE in Argentina as opposed to simply being IMPORTED from the country.

It is possible that FN exported BHPs to Argentina for (perhaps special) police or military use and these were then re-exported to the US as surplus.

Skorzeny

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For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence. Sun Tzu
 
There are a bunch of FN-Browning (made in Belgium) HP's that were shipped to the Buenos Aires PD, and from there shipped to some importers here. These are clearly marked on the frame. I nearly bought one at a show locally, but couldn't bring myself to part w/ the dough.
 
Skorzeny and Hutch,

I think you guys are right.

Ariel 1,

Could you check to see if in fact you have a FM (Fabricaciones Militares) HiPower and not a FN contract pistol?

I've had no trouble with virtually all after market mags in a HiPower. Stay away from USA mags, however.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
Skorzeny and Hutch? Next thing you know they will want a TV series. ShallCarry (Rich) shot my FM which has descent grips, a trigger job, and Novak sights. He prefered my BHP MKIII. I don't see much difference when shooting them. I only see a difference when you try to sell them. Regards, Richard.
 
Richard,

Good call. I've got images of a Gran Torino burning rubber and one Sugar Bear evading the fuzz right now.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
Guys these gun is marked on the left hand side of the slide as follows

F.N. BROWNING ARMSCORP
SILVER SPRINGS M.D
MADE IN ARGENTINA


By the way when I dissasemble it I notice a very strange bent in the sear spring. When i shot it today I had a machine pistol in my hands. Three and Five rounds burts. :)I only did two mags and then took the thing apart. It was the sear spring. It only required to be bent back to normal. I guess the previous owner decided that it was too difficult to put it back together and he shape the sear spring to his liking. I test fire it with about 120 nrounds after that and ther was no problems whatsoever. I was good as a machine pistol but I apreciate my freedom and safety first. :( It was so controlable and it fed all the rounds with no problems at all. ( Winchester 115 grains )

These pistol does is not marked FM anywhere. The only strange mark is an AD inside the magwell behind the magazine catch.

I bouth a Galco reverse horsehide and a Pachmayer magazine today. I only paid $20 bucks for it because it was a demo mag. I could not tell that though. :)
 
Well, I'm stumped. It ain't what I originally guessed. On the TV show, I think Starsky carried a BHP and Hutch carried a Python IIRC. My, how the memories come flooding back....
 
The clue is in the F.N. BROWNING ARMSCORP

ARMSCORP, unless my memory is off, is a South African munitions company. Maybe these puppies got to the US via South Africa. Argentina and South Africa had close trade links during the time of the sanctions against SA. In fact SA relied on countries like Argentina to conduct trade. Perhaps SA didn't care what got stamped on the pistols.

An alternative theory is that F.N. BROWNING ARMSCORP is a shady import company. Notice that the letters are all in caps. Why doesn't it say FN Browning? And why add the ARMSCORP if the pistol was made in Argentina? F.N. BROWNING ARMSCORP is the importer of the pistl while FM is the manufacturer.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
Doesn't matter is it's on the same line. I'm trying hard to remember what the FN looks like on older HPs. If I'm not mistake it's always been FN and not F.N. If I'm right then the F.N. is definetely an attempt to take on a trade name, sort of like the Japanese Made in USA brands of the post WWII era.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
FN = Fabrique Nationale (Belgium)
FM = Fabricaciones Militares (Argentina)
The FM Brownings are made in Argentina under FN Contract, for the their PDs nationwide (although they also use Ballester Molina .45s & Argentine made Colt M1911A1s, mostly in suburban & rural areas)
As to the other markings, it could just be the inporter's markings, like some of Y'all have already said.
Cowboy
 
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