re: serial number sequenc

Question
I am tying to locate the sequence of the serial numbers used on the FN Browning HP M1935 during the WWII years.  Hope you can hlep - Thanks in advance

Answer
Janice,

The FN Browning High Power that you are referring to was designated the P-35.  It was probably one of the most popular military handguns around.  It took its designation from the initial manufacturing year, 1935.  

FN manufactured these under a variety of military contracts.  In 1940, Germany occupied Belgium and took over the FN plant there.  The design continued to be manufactured and was designated the 640 (B).  It was carried by a large number of German soldiers.  There are usually proof marks that were stamped into wartime production guns.  

If the gun was made during the German occupation of Belgium, the serial number range would be from 50,001 to 53,000.  If the gun was assembled from pre-occupation production, the range would have been 40,000 to 47,000. Both ranges should carry a proof mark of WaA 613.  This particular gun is also characterized by a tangent sight and a slot milled into the backstrap allowing the gun to accept a shoulder stock.  Original versions of this gun are quite rare and you need to be a little careful since it is pretty easy for a professional gunsmith to make these 'additions' during a restoration.

If the gun is proof marked with a WaA140 proof or an 'eagle over N' proof, it is the most common version with the standard fixed sight.  I don't have any serial number information on this particular version.

If there is a proof mark of WaA613 or WaA103 and the gun has a tangent sight, it is a little more valuable than the WaA140 proof mark.  Again, I don't have information on the serial number ranges for this production.

Any guns with any of the wartime proof marks would make the gun fall into the rough range of 1940-1944.  Beginning in early 1944 after the occupation ended, the serial numbers issued had a 'letter' prefix starting with "A".

I know this is not the 'exact' answer to your question, but it is all I have been able to locate.

Best regards,

Doug