^Lot 1530 NICE BELGIAN ARMY CONTRACT FABRIQUE NATIONALE

HIGH POWER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# 41735. Bbl. 4 5/8". High Power semi-automatic pistol mfg. by Fabrique Nationale under contract for the Belgian army, circa. 1939 to 1940. The left side of the slide is marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE/ HERSTAL BELGIQUE/ BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE", above Belgian military and commercial proof marks. Left side of the frame also exhibits Belgian military and commercial proofs, with a Crown/GC on the frame and a Crown/AC proof marked on the forward trigger guard web. Metal components exhibit a blue finish overall, save for on the bbl., which is polished in-the-white. Slotted frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips, which feature red anti-moisture barrier paint on the interior of the panels. Thumbprint slide features a dovetailed blade front sight, with a tangent V-notch rear sight, graduated 50-500. All serialized parts are matching and include the frame, slide, and bbl. MAGS: 1 phosphate 13-rd. mag. with blued split tail floorplate, marked with Belgian proofs on the spine. CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their original factory blue finish, exhibiting some areas of wear and thinning that show through to gray patina (primarily on edges), with scattered superficial handling marks present overall. Grip straps exhibit some scattered spots of light surface oxidation. Very bright bore, exhibiting light pitting, while retaining strong rifling throughout. Grips show mild smoothing, as well as a few marks and minor impressions from handling and storage, but otherwise remain sturdy and serviceable. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Charles Wagner. (25-422/MLW). CURIO. $1,750-2,250.