Hi, let me preface my remarks with the warning that; I am not an expert and I don't play one on the internet. I believe that the "B" signifies Charles Roland who worked as an inspector pre-war until 1959. The "X" could be Alfred Regnier who worked at FN until 1964. The "1' in the box means that the frame was made in the first quarter of 1951. The "E" prefix was started after the war as an inventory control method and was used in commercial and military and government contracts. What little I know I learned from Anthony Vanderlinden's great book," FN Browning Pistols, Side Arms That Shaped World History. " On the various marks don't get mad if I'm completely wrong. It is my educated (?) guess, regards, Mike

 

Thanks for the info.

I looked at getting the Vanderlinden book, but that is a bit expensive (could buy extra magazines, springs, and such).

 

Buy another extractor. One never knows. And they don't make them anymore.

 

Many will report the E series pistols were for the British SAS or Austrian Police departments, don’t believe that until some kind of factual information is brought forth. I have an E example, it shoots great and is in nice condition....too nice for use by SAS or a PD.

 

E was an inventory designation for FN. A good number of them ended up being used for the SAS contract which is why the Myth that all E series BHPs are SAS guns is still with us. Like everything FN when it comes to serial numbers, dates and contracts there is some true to the rumor but there is no hard and fast rule. Like most things BHP related all dogs are poodles not all poodles are dogs. :bawling:

 

Hi, Austrian pistols were marked LGK plus an area mark such as "W" for Vienna, "T" for Tyrol, etc. The CMP had many Austrian marked M1 Carbines with the same marks. "E" marked pistols were shipped to Britain but also other places, other contracts, and commercial sales. As for the price of books if you have no interest in collecting; the history of a piece or recognizing a rare or desirable weapon; then they are indeed expensive. Sometimes you can find an undervalued object that you recognize as valuable and books help in that situation. I have Clawson's 1911 books and I see them for sale about 5 to 10 times what I paid for them, so sometimes they are a good investment. Just my 2 cents, regards, Mike

 

Vanderlinden's book and R. Blake Stevens book are great reference tools but both are full of errors and definitive statements which have been proven to be false. Still they are foundational reference books about the BHP and should be in the library of any serious BHP collector. IMHO

Shooters can just post here and people will tell them what they need to know.

 

Great stuff here. Thanks everyone for sharing.