The serial number found on your gun has the answer. Serial numbers and dates of manufacture are accurate, records on early production models such as the.

M1900/Browning No.1 Type Place of origin Production history Designer Designed 1896 Number built ca. 700,000 Variants Modele 1899, Mle.

1900 Specifications Weight 625 g (1.378 lb) Length 17.2 cm (6.8 in) length 10.2 cm (4.0 in) Feed system 7+1 Sights Fixed The FN Browning M1900 is a, designed ca. 1896 by for (FN) and produced in at the turn of the century. It was the first production handgun to use a. History The design was presented to arms manufacturer in 1898, with production commencing the following year (then under the designation Modele 1899). In 1900, an improved design featuring primarily a shorter barrel and wider grips was introduced as the M1900. These designations were applied retroactively after FN began manufacture of other Browning pistol designs; initially the M1900 was marketed as simply the 'Pistolet Browning' (Browning Pistol).

Production ceased only 11 years later, with a total of about 700,000 units having been produced. Owned a mother of pearl-gripped M1900, which he regularly kept on his person and in his bedside drawer. Used an M1900 (serial number unknown) in his 1904 of the Russian at the time,. Contrary to many reports from various sources, an M1900 was not used to assassinate in on June 28, 1914; the handgun used by in that notorious incident was instead a. As initial reports said only that Princip had used a 'Browning pistol', many newspaper illustrations erroneously depicted him firing the Model 1900. Used an M1900 in his 1909 assassination of the Japanese,.

A Chinese copy of the gun saw usage during the and the. The Type 64 pistol is a copy of the M1900. Specimens examined by western authorities were marked with the date of 1964. A variant was produced that featured a shortened slide to allow the threaded barrel to protrude far enough to attach the silencer.

Ammunition The weapon is chambered for the, also known as 7.65×17mm Browning SR, 'SR' denotes semi-rimmed. Synonyms This model is known by several names, including: • FN M1900 • FN Mle.1900 • Browning M1900 • Browning No.1 See also • • • References.

'To restore or not restore, that is the question.' The finish on that 100 year old pistol looks to be pretty good. I would leave it be. I once refinished a 1908 Colt (.380) that was rusty and pitted and had doubts about doing that. That said, I am pleased with the results and I think many would have a hard time discerning if it was refinished without a close inspection. I did not chase out all the pitting. Collectors want original finish.

Somewhre I have a copy from a gun magazine about refinishing or restoring. A salty old Colt SAA with plenty of wear tells a certain story. A refinished or restored SAA does not have any story other than it was refinished.