FN Model 1922 .32 ACP, German-Occupation WaA140, Pistole 626(b), 4.4 in Barrel, Matching Numbers
Belgian-made at FN Herstal during German occupation, this Model 1922 in .32 ACP (7.65mm Browning) carries WaA140 acceptance and the Wehrmacht designation Pistole 626(b). It retains matching serial numbers on the slide, frame, and barrel, and features the long-slide 1910/22 pattern with a 4.4-inch barrel and 8+1 capacity. Clear period markings, including the FN slide legend and German eagle proofs, underscore its WWII service provenance.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The original bluing has thinned heavily to a mottled grey-brown patina with scattered surface peppering and handling marks across the slide and frame. The slide lock is not functioning properly and does not consistently hold the slide open, which is commonly associated with a worn slide-stop notch, a weakened spring, or debris in the FN 1922 slide-catch mechanism. The bore shows strong, visible rifling. The original checkered horn or plastic grips are structurally sound with smoothing and minor dings. Overall, it presents as a historically interesting example with clear evidence of service use.
What’s Included
- FN Model 1922 pistol
- One 8-round FN factory steel single-column magazine with witness holes, FN logo stamp, and a German Waffenamt acceptance mark
Produced in 1940–1941 at FN Herstal in Belgium under German occupation, this Model 1922 is a period-correct, service-accepted sidearm. It bears multiple eagle-over-WaA140 acceptance stamps, a German eagle test proof (often referred to as the "Dirty Bird"), an "H" inspection stamp, and an "MR" cartouche on the trigger guard. These markings align with wartime acceptance protocols and lend strong, verifiable provenance.
Chambered in .32 ACP with an 8+1 capacity, this example follows the 1910/22 long-slide configuration: an extended slide, 4.4-inch barrel, and a removable muzzle cap with a takedown notch. It has fixed sights, with a small fixed front blade and a fixed rear sight integral to the slide, consistent with FN’s wartime production for this model.
The left side of the slide is marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D’ARMES DE GUERRE HERSTAL BELGIQUE" over "BROWNING’S PATENT DEPOSE," matching known WWII-era rollmarks. The pistol retains matching serial numbers on the slide, frame, and barrel, an important detail for collectors seeking uniformity across major components.
Construction is all steel with checkered black FN monogram grip panels, a simple blowback action, and a manual safety. The included FN factory magazine is a correct single-column type with witness holes, FN logo, and a Waffenamt mark, complementing the pistol’s German-occupation acceptance and service context under the Wehrmacht designation Pistole 626(b).