^Lot 1536 ELUSIVE THAI CONTRACT FABRIQUE NATIONALE HIGH

POWER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# 0848. Bbl. 4 5/8". High Power semi-automatic pistol mfg. in Belgium by Fabrique Nationale for the Royal Thai Air Force. The left side of the slide is marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE/ HERSTAL BELGIQUE/ BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE". Left side of the slide, frame, and right side of the bbl. (on chamber) are marked with Belgian commercial proofs. Top of the slide is marked with the winged insignia of the Thai Royal Air Force. Front grip strap is marked with a line of Thai characters that appear to indicate issue to a Royal Thai Air Force base in Bangkok, followed by apparent inventory/rack # "253985". Metal components exhibit a blue finish overall, save for on the bbl., which is polished in-the-white. Slotted frame is fitted with 2-piece checkered wood grips, each featuring red anti-moisture barrier paint on the interior of the panels. Thumbprint slide features a fixed half-moon blade front sight and dovetailed V-notch rear sight. All serialized parts are matching and include the frame, slide, and bbl. (left side of chamber). MAGS: 1 blued 13-rd. mag. with blued button type floorplate. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a page of notes from Charles Wagner detailing this variation. CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their original factory blue finish, showing some light to mild edge wear, some spots of light wear, some superficial handling marks, as well as some spots of light surface oxidation and pitting. Grip straps exhibit areas of wear and thinning that are fading to a gray patina. Very bright bore, exhibiting some areas of light pitting, while retaining strong rifling throughout. Proper manual mechanics. Grips have acquired a darkened appearance, showing mild smoothing, as well as some scattered light superficial marks and small impressions from handling and storage. A seldom presented opportunity for the advanced High Power collector to acquire an exceedingly scarce FN Royal Thai Air Force contract High Power pistol. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Charles Wagner. (25-444/MLW). CURIO. $4,000-5,000.