^Lot 1532 UNUSUAL EARLY POST-OCCUPATION FABRIQUE NATIONALE

HIGH POWER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# 44082. Bbl. 4 5/8". High Power semi-automatic pistol mfg. by Fabrique Nationale after liberation from Germany. This example is one of the early post-occupation production High Powers, assembled using Pre-War parts and components. That being said, the frame does not feature a mag. safety, with the slide featuring a second pattern rear sight leaf. The left side of the slide is marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE/ HERSTAL BELGIQUE/ BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE. Left side of the frame, slide, and right side of the bbl. exhibit Belgian commercial proofs. Metal components exhibit what is possibly a professionally reapplied blue finish overall, save for on the bbl., which is polished in-the-white. Slotted frame is fitted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Thumbprint slide features a dovetailed blade front sight, with a tangent V-notch rear sight, graduated 50-500. All serialized parts are matching in the "stacked" fashion and include the frame, slide, and bbl. MAGS: 1 blued 13-rd., with blued split tail floorplate. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: notes from Charles Wagner detailing this variation, as well as an invoice from William O. Drollinger (William O. Drollinger is described as a noted American High Power Collector in Blake Stevens' book, "The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol") dated March 22nd of 2005, listing this pistol by S#. CONDITION: metal components retain bountiful amounts of their blue finish, exhibiting some light edge wear, with a few light superficial handling marks present overall. Near mirror bore, exhibiting areas of light pitting, while retaining well defined rifling throughout. Grips show smoothing, as well as some scattered marks and impressions from handling and storage, but otherwise remain sturdy and serviceable. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Charles Wagner. (25-440/MLW). CURIO. $1,000-2,000.