Browning 10/71 .380ACP
- Thread starter Brutus
- Start date
carguychris
New member
It's basically an FN Browning 1910 with a lengthened barrel and slide and some foofaraw added to make it lawful to sell after the 1968 GCA, specifically "target" (taller front, adjustable rear) sights, "target" thumbrest grips, and a pinky rest on the magazine to increase the overall height of the pistol.
The 1910/1922 family are very robust, simple, reliable, and FUN pistols. Triggers are reasonably short and crisp but may be a smidge stiff from the factory. Spare mags are relatively easy to find compared to other old European automatics.
Drawbacks? No last-shot slide-lock feature. A reputation for fair-to-middling accuracy due to necessarily loose barrel-to-frame fit; they use Colt Pocket Hammerless type frame-to-barrel lugs rather than a rigidly fixed barrel. They have a grip safety, a thumb safety, and a magazine disconnect, although the latter is fairly easy to remove. Not the easiest pistol to field-strip due to the odd and typically tightly-fitted barrel bushing. Trigger span is very short and grip safety must be depressed firmly in order for pistol to function; this yields an awkward firing grip for those with large hands, because the grip safety naturally falls in the hollow of the palm.
Although my list of drawbacks seems long, don't get me wrong, I really like them.
p.s. Have an original black leather Browning-logo gun rug I'll sell you if you buy the pistol.
The 1910/1922 family are very robust, simple, reliable, and FUN pistols. Triggers are reasonably short and crisp but may be a smidge stiff from the factory. Spare mags are relatively easy to find compared to other old European automatics.
Drawbacks? No last-shot slide-lock feature. A reputation for fair-to-middling accuracy due to necessarily loose barrel-to-frame fit; they use Colt Pocket Hammerless type frame-to-barrel lugs rather than a rigidly fixed barrel. They have a grip safety, a thumb safety, and a magazine disconnect, although the latter is fairly easy to remove. Not the easiest pistol to field-strip due to the odd and typically tightly-fitted barrel bushing. Trigger span is very short and grip safety must be depressed firmly in order for pistol to function; this yields an awkward firing grip for those with large hands, because the grip safety naturally falls in the hollow of the palm.
Although my list of drawbacks seems long, don't get me wrong, I really like them.
p.s. Have an original black leather Browning-logo gun rug I'll sell you if you buy the pistol.
dogtown tom
New member
I agree.
It is the ugly cousin that was importable.
carguychris
New member
Auto5 said:
Absolutely true, although collector interest in the entire 1910/1922 series seems to be picking up, based on watching GB auctions.dogtown tom said:
FWIW this seems to be one of those pistols which is almost always found in 95% condition or better, likely because few people bought them to carry. I've seen a few with rust from poor storage, but almost none with significant holster wear. IOW, to the OP: don't buy under the assumption that "I'll never find another one this nice."
A fixed sight version of this pistol was available for sale in Europe, basically a modernized version of the old Model 1922. A modernized 1922 with adjustable sights was also sold in Europe as the Model 125 and featured the original longer frame of the 1922, but was otherwise identical to the 10/71
The good news about the 10/71 is that 95% of the parts interchange with 1910s or 1922s and are generally still available. The actual frame of the 10/71 is the same as the last version of the 1910 and, if you can locate a recent production 1910 slide which incorporates the cocking indicator and barrel, you can make your own modern 1910. (An older 1910 slide will work, but the rear frame contour won't match the rear contour of the slide, and you will have to remove the cocking indicator pin.)
All in all, a very well made quality piece, but, due to the GCA 68 mandated modifications, somewhat impractical. Hence, for reasons already spelled out in this thread, not popular. Since the pistol was only made for 5 years, you may want to reconsider before purchasing the Colt.
Although this pistol is designated as "10/71," actual production was started in 1970. Although somewhat scarce, some 1970 dated pistols exist.
The good news about the 10/71 is that 95% of the parts interchange with 1910s or 1922s and are generally still available. The actual frame of the 10/71 is the same as the last version of the 1910 and, if you can locate a recent production 1910 slide which incorporates the cocking indicator and barrel, you can make your own modern 1910. (An older 1910 slide will work, but the rear frame contour won't match the rear contour of the slide, and you will have to remove the cocking indicator pin.)
All in all, a very well made quality piece, but, due to the GCA 68 mandated modifications, somewhat impractical. Hence, for reasons already spelled out in this thread, not popular. Since the pistol was only made for 5 years, you may want to reconsider before purchasing the Colt.
Although this pistol is designated as "10/71," actual production was started in 1970. Although somewhat scarce, some 1970 dated pistols exist.
Last edited:
carguychris
New member
A little added explanation...gyvel said:
The original 1910 and 1922 have an alignment pin that fits in the rear of the striker (aka firing pin) spring and is retained by a riser mounted on the frame.
The later versions incorporate a cocking indicator consisting of a protrusion on the rear of the alignment pin, a matching hole in the riser, and a second spring that fits between the alignment pin and riser. When the pistol is cocked, the spring pressure is overcome and the indicator protrusion sticks out through the hole. When the pistol is not cocked, the spring holds the indicator forward, and it does not project.
To use an earlier slide without the cocking indicator hole, simply discard the second spring, and either use an earlier alignment pin or file the protrusion off the indicator pin. (I would go with the first option because the earlier pins are not hard to find, and the pistol could be returned to its original configuration.)