The excellent design of the gun has attracted many manufacturers to imitate it. According to statistics, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic and other countries have more than 670 imitations, of which Spain has the most. These imitations can be distinguished by their appearance and the marks on the gun body and handle. There are many different models of M 1906 itself, including the model with extended barrel and the model without manual safety. In order to meet the needs of customers, there are also specially processed gift types. The surface of the gun body is engraved with exquisite patterns and plated with precious metals. Hand guards are made of ivory, tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl and other materials, instead of the usual bakelite. Its splendor is not so much a weapon as a handicraft. Interestingly, in recognition of Browning's achievements, King Albert I of Belgium awarded him the Cross Knight Medal and a gold-inlaid M 1906 gift pistol on June 3, 2004.
In 1908 and 1940, the design of M 1906 was improved twice. By 1954, Belgian FN Company had put into production a brand-new improved M 1906, which was called Browning "Baby" miniature pistol. Compared with the prototype gun, it further simplifies the parts, shortens the length of the whole gun and reduces the weight. The fixed sight is changed to the exposed type, the grip safety is cancelled, and the manual safety is moved to the vicinity of the trigger retainer, which is more convenient to operate. In the late 1950s, the "Baby" miniature pistol made by FN and Canadian K.B.I company began to enter the American market, and was well received as its predecessor. Its production continued until 1969, and the follow-up products are still continuously supplied to the global civilian gun market. These products developed from M 1906 are not only reliable self-defense weapons for ordinary people in Europe and America, including women, but also widely used by police and special agents to perform special tasks, and even one of the special equipment of some national special police. After FN successfully launched FN 1906 pistol in Europe, Colt finally couldn't sit still. At first, they rejected Browning's design and asked for the production of this small pistol. Finally, Browning sold the patent to Colt. So Colt immediately started production, and in 1908, it launched the "American version of Browning small pistol", that is, Colt M 1908 pocket pistol.
The appearance of Colt M 1908 pistol is completely a "miniature version" of M 1903 pistol. The original version of the grip was also the same arc top as the FN 1906 pistol, and later it was changed into a square grip, and its shape became very beautiful. Colt M 1908 pistol was introduced with the manual safety setting of the second edition FN 1906 pistol, and then the magazine safety was increased. Unlike the FN 1906 pistol, the gun number of this gun is on the left side of the sleeve seat. With the change of the grip of M 1903 pistol, the grip of Colt M 1908 pistol has also changed. Therefore, Colt M 1908 also has various grips, including wood, rubber, ivory and other different materials.
When the FN 1906 pistol sold well in Europe and Asia, it was not available in the United States. On the contrary, the Colt M 1908 pistol sells well. From 1908 to 1948, colt company produced a total of 465433. Following the "continental brand", Colt's M 1908 pistol also landed in old China, and the M 1908 pistol used by the concession police was exhibited in the Shanghai Public Security Museum.
Because Browning transferred his pistol production right to Colt Company in the United States, the company also produced a large number of Browning pistols, which were called "Colt-Browning", and the pistols produced in Belgium were also called "FN- Browning" accordingly. Colt's products are marked with the company name on the left side of the sleeve, with the word "Colt" above the grip guard, and the pattern "Immediately" printed on the left side of the guard and sleeve; On the other hand, the upper end of the Belgian gun handle is a combination of two capital letters "FN", and two lines are engraved on the left side of the sleeve. The upper line is the French full name of the Gestalt national arsenal, and the lower line is "Browing's Patent Depose" in English, indicating that Browning patent owns it. The self-defense pistol used by Dr. Sun Yat-sen is a product of Belgian FN company. Despite the vicissitudes of life, this gun is only slightly worn at the front end of the sleeve, and its appearance is quite intact, which shows that both the original user and the preserver cherish it. As for when and where to buy, there is no research. Because at the beginning of the 20th century, when China was at home and abroad, the domestic political situation was chaotic and wars were frequent. A large number of foreign firearms, including Browning pistols, were dumped on the China market through Japanese entrepot trade. Even during the one-year arms embargo of 1919 ~1929-10 against China's army, only19 was found. In old China, military and political officials were proud of owning this small and reliable self-defense pistol, so that the demand for this pistol was in short supply. At that time, the price of this kind of gun was about $20, which was higher than that of Mao Se pistol. In this case, it is not surprising that Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who is in a complicated struggle environment, carries this gun with him in case of emergency. During the Republic of China, M 1906 pistol was widely used. 1October 1997, 1997 came out with Zhongshan Ship, including German pistols and 6.35mm pistols used by the Navy in 1930s. Our army also seized this pistol from senior Kuomintang officers in the Battle of Menglianggu. After liberation, a large number of seized M 1906 pistols and imitations were still equipped with our public security department or used by senior leaders of the party, government and army, and some of them were used until the early 1980s, and then they were recovered one after another because 6.35mm bullets were not produced in China. Today, many old comrades can still recall the M 1906 pistol they like to call "Five Bees" (named after the appearance and self-defense function are similar to bees, and only five bullets are pressed to maintain the spring force).
In the famous anti-Japanese military novel "Bright Sword", after Chu, the head of the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army and the head of the 358th Regiment of Jinsui Army, joined hands to make a scene in Heyuan County, Chu gave the exquisite Browning pistol, which was "1 15mm long, 6.3mm in caliber, 375g in weight and 6 rounds in magazine capacity". This is browning M 1906. This kind of pocket gun also appeared as an important weapon in the whole book until the Cultural Revolution, when Li Yunlong tragically ended his life with this gun.
The pistol used by Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
The pistol used by celebrities must have a solidified history behind it. The verification of this pistol has a tortuous process.
1September, 1999, Shanghai Public Security Museum published a solicitation notice in the newspaper, and many veteran comrades provided clues one after another, among which "the pistol used by Dr. Sun Yat-sen" caused great concern. With the great assistance of the Municipal Archives Bureau, we finally found out that Xiao Shaofen, a resident of No.2 Lane, Shaoxing Road 18, asked to hand over the pistol kept by his father to the archives of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall or the Public Security Bureau, and confirmed that the gun had been handed over to the public security organ by Mr. Xiao's children on 1956 in accordance with the Regulations of the People's Government on Gun Management. According to the relevant information of Luwan Public Security Bureau, on February 8, 1956, Mr. Xiao's children handed over two M 1906 pistols and 108 bullets left by his father after his death to Shaoxing Road Police Station, and confessed that this gun was used by Dr. Sun Yat-sen and China Revolutionary Party. Mr. Xiao deliberately broke the needle and the return spring before his death, and only kept it as a souvenir.
Two identical pistols, which one did Dr. Sun Yat-sen use before his death? According to Lu, Qian Baichun and other veteran comrades who have dealt with this matter, the two shooting needles that Xiao Shaofen handed in were indeed broken. They also made cards after receiving the guns and kept them in the warehouse together with the guns. On June 5438+1October 65438+August, 2000, a gun receipt was found in the gun file of Luwan Branch, which clearly recorded the gun numbers of two guns, one was 327702, the other was 464550, and the other was a handwritten letter to the headquarters of China Revolutionary Party, which completely solved the mystery.
On this note, Mr. Xiao described the ins and outs of this gun. It turned out that this pistol was also involved in a famous political murder case in the history of the Republic of China. 19 16 On May 8th, Chen was assassinated by Yuan Pai people in Shanghai Sabosei (now Danshui Road) apartment 14 for opposing the restoration of Yuan Shikai. Xiao Xuan, who was in the next room at that time, heard the sound and came out to have a look. The murderer ran away from the door and shot at him. Luckily, he missed. Xiao Xuan immediately rushed to the apartment No.4 on Huanlong Road (now Nanchang Road) where he and Dr. Sun Yat-sen lived at that time, and reported to Mr. Sun. When Mr. Sun heard that Chen "had a bullet in his forehead and cheek, which was hopeless", he "had a moment's silence and looked at the British scholar with his skirt." Everyone at the scene was worried that there were other assassins outside, and advised him not to take it lightly. At this time, Mr. Sun reflected the fearless spirit of a bourgeois revolutionary leader, saying, "A thief who wants to be willing to do it is a hero, but a hero is unfortunate, and the murderer will be scattered, so I will be destroyed." Later, Mr. Sun gave the gun as a long-term souvenir. "* * * Don't forget the martyrdom of the British." . After nearly 40 years, Xiao Xuan has been carrying this gun, in order to pin his deep memory on the Prime Minister and his comrades.
This extremely precious material made the final judgment for textual research. A precious gun, a cultural relic that witnessed important events, a bloody history of the Republic of China and difficult and tortuous textual research have pushed this pistol to a special historical position, thus making this "treasure of the town hall" have great historical value.