Handgun Collection (not just modern)

straight out of Gyvel's post : 1910 FN Browning .380 (used by Gavrilo Princips to assassinate Archduke Ferdinand, thus touching off WW I.)
 
Sorry, the Browning Model 1900 is an interesting gun, but the assassin of the unfortunate Archduke used a Browning Model 1910 in 9mm Browning Short (.380 ACP), serial number 19074.
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Read my post again, Jim.:D

Actually, there were four 1910 pistols confiscated. 19074, 19075, 19120 and 19126 from the anarchists, and there is no official record as to which gun fired the fatal shots.

It wasn't too many years ago that records were discovered in the archives at Vienna that listed the assassination weapon as a 1910 Browning. Prior to that, tradition had it that the 1900 Browning pistol was used, which turned out to be not the case.

I included the 1900 in my "list of interest" due to the fact that it was the first commercially successful autoloader, took over Europe like wildfire, and opened the door to all the autoloaders we enjoy today.
 
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Gyvel, I didn't know that about the M39. Interesting, that's why I'm online, to learn things. Thanks for the info, but I still like the M39. I'd love to have one, I have a kind of love affair with single stack handguns (makes me glad that I have no use for a gun for combat duty).
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I had an original 39 (with the long extractor) back in the early 80's and foolishly let it go. It was very finely made, an excellent shooter and accurate. Something came up "that I couldn't live without'" and the 39 got traded. I don't even remember what I traded for, but I sure remember that 39. Wish I had it back.:D

Regarding the S&W Model 1913, it's always interesting to see people's reactions when you show them a ".35 automatic." A .32ACP will function in the .35, but the bullet diameter is smaller and accuracy is non-existent. By the time the light bulb came on in S&W managements' minds, and they realized what a turkey they had, it was too late. Colt, Savage, Harrington & Richardson and many European makers had already gotten the pocket autoloader market sewed up. The .35 was discontinued and the .32 was introduced; It never caught on and was dropped after the 957 pieces were made.
 
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