I inherited my grandfather's M1922 pistol. The interesting thing about it is that it is the version that was made by the Nazis when they overran Fabrique Nationale in 1940. It has the Nazi proofs on it to prove it. Anyway the problem that I have found is that I think one of the springs in it for the slide is way past its prime. The slide moves back no problem but fails to lock. It fails to hold when pushed back and everytime I do it immediately goes to its default position. When I tried to load it at the range it would not even chamber the round and wound up getting jammed until I forced it out safely. Any advice you could offer me? Is there a site or somewhere where I can find replacement parts because I have been looking at gun shops and gun shows and no one has them.
Help with Browning M1922
- Thread starter Scott7891
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shootist2121
Member
SCott:
The Browning 1922 does not have a slide lock as such. It will not hold open on an empty magazine. If you are using the slide lock to hold the slide open, and are trying to chamber a round from the magazine it will jam... I think that's what you are doing from your description. Also check caliber..Are you trying to chamber a 380 into a 32?..The 1922 magazine will work with bothrounds as will the gun if you have both barrels..It was designed that way..
To load properly you insert a loaded magazine with the slide closed and pull the slide back and let go. The slide lock you see on the left side of the firearm and the associated notch ( Slide pulled back) are for field stripping.
DO NOT DRY FIRE!..This is striker base firearm..And the quality of the firing pins from WW2 wasn't the greatest..You will break the firing pin. Only use a snap cap.
Be safe
The Browning 1922 does not have a slide lock as such. It will not hold open on an empty magazine. If you are using the slide lock to hold the slide open, and are trying to chamber a round from the magazine it will jam... I think that's what you are doing from your description. Also check caliber..Are you trying to chamber a 380 into a 32?..The 1922 magazine will work with bothrounds as will the gun if you have both barrels..It was designed that way..
To load properly you insert a loaded magazine with the slide closed and pull the slide back and let go. The slide lock you see on the left side of the firearm and the associated notch ( Slide pulled back) are for field stripping.
DO NOT DRY FIRE!..This is striker base firearm..And the quality of the firing pins from WW2 wasn't the greatest..You will break the firing pin. Only use a snap cap.
Be safe
shootist2121
Member
Scott:
I forgot to ask if you see the firing pin protruding into the chamber...If the firing pin is broken..The tip could have lodge in the firing pin hole and will prevent a round from chambering too.. The firing pin is also used as the ejector in the 1922. I've seen were the broken pin has done this and where it was completely gone too..
Most Nazi marked 1922 are 32 caliber. and marked 7.65 on the barrel.
Wolf springs make a replacement set of springs for the 1922.
Gun Parts Corp should have other parts parts...Or try AuctionARms or Gunbroker.
Good luck
I forgot to ask if you see the firing pin protruding into the chamber...If the firing pin is broken..The tip could have lodge in the firing pin hole and will prevent a round from chambering too.. The firing pin is also used as the ejector in the 1922. I've seen were the broken pin has done this and where it was completely gone too..
Most Nazi marked 1922 are 32 caliber. and marked 7.65 on the barrel.
Wolf springs make a replacement set of springs for the 1922.
Gun Parts Corp should have other parts parts...Or try AuctionARms or Gunbroker.
Good luck
No I was loading it the way you said it with it closed and it jammed. I only messed with the slide that way to make sure it functioned. That and my buddy from the Army had a look at it way back and said there was something wrong with the springs. Then again he never seen that type of hammerless pistol before and was probably used to the 1911 so I am only taking his advice with a grain of salt. I did the research and it said the version I had was a .380. I will try the .32 acp just to make sure. The firing pin looks fine to me with nothing protruding out. That and the fact my grandfather never fired it when he did have it so I really cannot imagine anything wrong with it unless the Nazis fubared it.
shootist2121
Member
Scott:
The 380 versions are rather rare...Most are 32 ACP...I have to look at mine but I am reasonably sure the bare is marked. The springs would ordinarily prevent chambering unless they are almost none existant. Another though occured to me is the barrel is rotated some but I believe the slide will not close if the barrel i rotated.( You rotate the barrel for field stripping) My first thoughts is you are trying to stuff a 380 into a 32...
Post some pics if you can and maybe a few more folks will jump in to help..otherwise i find myself a good Gunsmith have him check out your symptons..
Good luck ..Keep us posted.
The 380 versions are rather rare...Most are 32 ACP...I have to look at mine but I am reasonably sure the bare is marked. The springs would ordinarily prevent chambering unless they are almost none existant. Another though occured to me is the barrel is rotated some but I believe the slide will not close if the barrel i rotated.( You rotate the barrel for field stripping) My first thoughts is you are trying to stuff a 380 into a 32...
Post some pics if you can and maybe a few more folks will jump in to help..otherwise i find myself a good Gunsmith have him check out your symptons..
Good luck ..Keep us posted.
bannockburn
Member
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- Apr 24, 2007
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- 26,314
Scott
Also check the striker spring base at the back of the frame. Sometimes if it is bent or damaged, it can prevent the slide from functioning properly. The base can become damaged if the striker spring guide is too long or an incorrect spring has been installed. Check again to make sure you're using the right ammo. The .32 ACP or 7.65 mm. cartridge was standard issue to German forces, the .380 ACP was not.
Also check the striker spring base at the back of the frame. Sometimes if it is bent or damaged, it can prevent the slide from functioning properly. The base can become damaged if the striker spring guide is too long or an incorrect spring has been installed. Check again to make sure you're using the right ammo. The .32 ACP or 7.65 mm. cartridge was standard issue to German forces, the .380 ACP was not.
berkbw
Member
How about a picture, eh?
.380 caliber 1922s are far from rare, they just aren't all that common in some parts of the states.
The Yugoslavs and the Danes issued thousands and thousands of .380 1922s.
Mine is an immediate postwar .32
You can obtain many parts for these guns from Jack First:
http://www.jackfirstgun.com
The Yugoslavs and the Danes issued thousands and thousands of .380 1922s.
Mine is an immediate postwar .32
You can obtain many parts for these guns from Jack First:
http://www.jackfirstgun.com
berkbw
Member
Thanks for the pic.
b-
b-
shootist2121
Member
Onmile:
As you are correct that the 1922 was made in 380 in the thousands commercially and under goverment contracts as you noted.. The Nazi mark model1922's in 380 numbers were very small compared to the 32 caliber versions in their service. Hence my comments to Scott about checking his caliber since he said it was nazi proofed.
The limited exposure I have had with the model 1922 I have not run across a single 380 version with Nazi proofs in about a dozen encounters.
So with that said.. You have a nice example and thank you for you parts source too...
Be safe
As you are correct that the 1922 was made in 380 in the thousands commercially and under goverment contracts as you noted.. The Nazi mark model1922's in 380 numbers were very small compared to the 32 caliber versions in their service. Hence my comments to Scott about checking his caliber since he said it was nazi proofed.
The limited exposure I have had with the model 1922 I have not run across a single 380 version with Nazi proofs in about a dozen encounters.
So with that said.. You have a nice example and thank you for you parts source too...
Be safe
Sometimes I don't clarify things very well, sorry about that.
Many Postwar FN firearms were assembled using parts left over from the Nazi occupation.
As you stated, most Nazi issue 1922 pistols were in .32 acp, very few in .380 acp.
In the Postwar era, FN was determined to get the factory back into production at full capacity.
To do so and generate cash the company began to build guns with whatever material they had on hand and they also agreed to repair and refurbish weapons for the Americans.
American servicemen were well aware that FN produced high quality firearms and hundreds, if not thousands, of firearms were sold to American GIs in the immediate postwar period.
A .380 acp 1922 with Nazi markings on the frame would not be uncommon on a postwar weapon sold to a GI.
FN used whatever material they had to meet the demand for private sale firearms.
A real Nazi era 1922 .380 would have to be documented by an advance collector.
Since Scott7891 has a pistol that is causing some problems I would venture to guess it is a postwar gun that was not well maintained or a Nazi .32 that was converted at sometime to .380 caliber.
Many Postwar FN firearms were assembled using parts left over from the Nazi occupation.
As you stated, most Nazi issue 1922 pistols were in .32 acp, very few in .380 acp.
In the Postwar era, FN was determined to get the factory back into production at full capacity.
To do so and generate cash the company began to build guns with whatever material they had on hand and they also agreed to repair and refurbish weapons for the Americans.
American servicemen were well aware that FN produced high quality firearms and hundreds, if not thousands, of firearms were sold to American GIs in the immediate postwar period.
A .380 acp 1922 with Nazi markings on the frame would not be uncommon on a postwar weapon sold to a GI.
FN used whatever material they had to meet the demand for private sale firearms.
A real Nazi era 1922 .380 would have to be documented by an advance collector.
Since Scott7891 has a pistol that is causing some problems I would venture to guess it is a postwar gun that was not well maintained or a Nazi .32 that was converted at sometime to .380 caliber.
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