^Lot 1541 ARGENTINE BUENOS AIRES POLICE CONTRACT FABRIQUE

NATIONALE HIGH POWER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# 07676. Bbl. 4 5/8". High Power semi-automatic pistol mfg. by Fabrique Nationale under contract for the Buenos Aires police in 1961. The left side of the slide is marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE/ HERSTAL - BELGIQUE/ BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE", with the Argentine crest marked on the top towards the rear sight. Underside of right slide rail exhibits a small "GM MIA FL" import mark. Right side of the frame is marked with the S#, followed by "POLICIA PROV.BS.AIRES-61". Right side of the forward trigger guard web and bbl. exhibit Belgian commercial proofs. Metal components exhibit a reapplied blue finish overall, save for on the chamber on the bbl., which is polished in-the-white. Frame is mounted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Slide (without thumbprint) features an internal extractor, fixed half-moon blade front sight, and a dovetailed V-notch rear sight. All serialized parts are matching, and include the frame, slide, and bbl. Trigger pin is absent. MAGS: 1 blued 13-rd. mag., with blued button type floorplate, marked "BELGIUM-9mm NATO/LUGER" on the front of the body. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: notes from Charles Wagner detailing this variation. CONDITION: metal components retain large amounts to the majority of their reapplied blue finish, exhibiting areas of wear and thinning that show through to gray patina, with areas of light to mild pitting beneath the bluing overall. Grip straps exhibit mild thinning that shows through to brown patina. Very bright bore, as refinished, exhibiting consistent light to mild pitting and scattered spots of dark pitting, while retaining strong rifling throughout. Grips show smoothing, as well as scattered superficial marks and minor impressions from handling and storage, but otherwise remain sturdy and serviceable. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Charles Wagner. (25-417/MLW). CURIO. $750-1,000.