elb

I was just looking at this thread again, and Ozgunman's post caused me to go look at my 40 S&W FN SFS-HP -- it too starts with 513xxxxxxx. I bought it new almost exactly a year ago.



My 9mm FN SFS-HP is at the gunsmiths right now, but I am 99% sure it is 511xxxxxxx. So is it possible that 513 designates the .40 series? I don't know how long FN has been making the .40 HPs.



elb

gil

My 40cal BHP starts with 2W5NW





Gil..

ozgunman

First reply recieved to the enquiry, no data prior to 1999 in it, prefixes:

511 for 9mm,

513 for .40S&W,

516 for BDA; and

518 for BDAO-C.

Thank you Marie, Merci and Sergio.

ozgunman

Serial Number list 1999 - 2006 thanks to the Good People at FN

I have two BHPs - one an FN, the other a Browning. Both carry the 245 serial number series. The Browning has a 1989 code, and appears to be a Mk III - firing pin block, ambi safety smooth slide top. It also has what appears to be a parkerized finish. It's quite rough, and almost green.



The FN is allegedly an Israeli military import. The safety is (was; I replaced it) the left-side only, and is a little-bitty Mk. I style. It has the ugly black finish and everything carries the serial number - frame, slide & barrel.



Did the Izzy military pistols have civillian serial numbers from FN?



jb

abninftr

Jay Bee, yes they did.

ozgunman:



WOW!! How'd you get that table from FN?



That table answers a lot of questions. (And raises a bunch, too.)





Good on Ya

ozgunman

G'Day,

I found an email address in the 'Contact Us' on the FN Belgium site and sent a very polite request last November. It bounced around (everbody at FN wanted to help it seemed) and there you go!

paulinus

Can one assume that Hi Powers branded as Browning as well as FN branded follow the same sequence. I just purchased a .40 BHP Practical with a serial number beginning with 513mw..

Yes. It appears that when or after HP's are serial numbered, some are then roll-marked "Browning" for U.S. distribution and others "Fabrique Nationale" for marketing elsewhere. There has never been a correlation between whether HP's are Browning or FN marked and how they are serial numbered reported.