The better source for Baby Browning?

[Auf Grosser Fahrt]

Considering one of these and prefer new. What is the better option? Get one from PSA, or Iver Johnson, and why one over the other?

Looks like I need to hurry if I want the Iver Johnson version.

 

[bannockburn]

Well according to the Iver Johnson website they don't have many left and they won't be building any more. Retail price is $495. PSA is currently producing the Baby Browning and their retail price starts at $549. There are also quite a few original Baby Brownings on Gunbroker, etc. that can be found in excellent condition for about the same price as the Iver Johnson or PSA guns.

If it were me, I would buy the PSA model. Still in current production with factory (PSA), support and from the ones I have seen at gunshows and my LGS they all appear to be very well made.

 

[tbone1964]

I Have a PSA in stainless and it rocks great for pocket carry or for poppin it in a vest pocket. Hornady make a great SD round for it as does Magtech I would highky recommend getting a PSA in any finish .. you wont be disappointed

 

[MICHAEL T]

The Bauer same pistol and all parts are interchanngeable with the others '

I bought my Bauer in 1978 and carried off and on. Last year I removed from safe hadn't been shot in several years. Mag was loaded chamber empty. Went to my back yard range. Chambered a round and empty mag as fast as I could pull trigger. Pistol performed as always has. Didn't miss a beat.

$ 549 a lot for one I would buy a orginal if was spending that kind of money

 

[rob i]

Hands down, without question, PSA. They are the only one making true FN licensed baby Brownings. I have 2 of theirs and plan on getting a third this summer. Wonderful little guns. I also have an original FN and honestly, the PSA is just as nice, if not nicer.

Rob

 

[dogtown tom]

MICHAEL T ......$ 549 a lot for one I would buy a orginal if was spending that kind of money

+1
When you can buy a genuine FN/Browning for less why on earth would you pay MORE for a copy?

Try selling a genuine FN Baby Browning vs a PSA, Bauer, etc clone.......you'll discover real fast which is more valuable.

 

[gym]

try here, sorry if you already knew about it.

http://www.precisionsmallarms.com/
I have been eyeballing them for a while now

 

[Gordon]

Of course dog town tom is correct in his thinking. Those companies making the new ones should have perfected a .22LR one that works.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=292629146

 

[Auf Grosser Fahrt]

Yeah, I wasn't sure if maybe the Ivers would be worth more as original FN parts or not. Wasn't sure how to figure that out.

Thanks for the opinions. As always, very helpful!

 

[rob i]

PSA CNC machines all of their guns from billet steel. Each and every gun is assembled and hand fitted / finished by the company president, Lenn Kristal. These guns are true gems and the price is reflective of the tremendous amount of hand fitment and finishing that goes into each pistol. Their stainless models are made from 303 billet and are absolutely incredible.

I have an original fn and love it. Fn did not produce the variety of pistols that PSA does, nor did they produce pistols in the limited runs that PSA does.

To say that the psa's are not worth the price is an opinion that I absolutely do not share. You are paying a premium for a pistol that has a tremendous amount of hands on work put into it by a man that has a tremendous passion for baby Brownings.

I have talked at length with Lenn, and I would urge anyone that is interested in these guns to reach out to him and ask him about the manufacturing processes that goes into each pistol.

And he is licensed by FN. The models that they make that are shipped over seas, are marked and sold as FN.

Rob.

 

[rob i]

I just chatted with Lenn Kristal over email and he said that the units ivers has, we're sold to them by PSA. They (ivers) in turn sold a majority of them to one of PSA's customers in Thailand, which they were not supposed to do. PSA has since cut ties with Ivers.

Fwiw, the baby browning pistols that ivers has are made from investment castings, not billet.

Rob

 

[rcmodel]

If you want a Baby Browning, get the real deal.
There a plenty of real Baby Brownings for sale.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=292054760

Why even consider a repro of one for more money??

rc

 

[Coltdriver]

I'd go for the real deal too. I have a 50's era beater that I brought back to shooter condition. Good examples of originals can be had for $500. Shop for less.

Mine will pop off a mag full as fast as I can pull the trigger. It has never failed to fire or eject.

But, do not carry it with a chambered round. If you saw how the striker works you would also understand and never carry one chambered. I totally detail stripped mine and I know how they work. I know nothing about the knock offs but if they are blueprint identical then there is no firing pin block with the safety on.

Mine goes for an occasional shirt pocket ride on short trips.

 

[rob i]

I have one of the original FN babys. One made in 1964. It's awesome.

As far as why anyone would buy a "repro"... The pics below explain why I would.

and as far as i'm concerned, FN trusted this company to make these pistols in the US, and sell them under their name in Europe. So, if you are looking for a NEW baby browning, PSA is it.

My original 1964 FN is the one on the left in the second pic. The one in the middle is brushed stainless, machined from 303 billet, and the one on the far right is high polished stainless (also from 303 billet), with nickel silver grips containing abalone inlays.

Rob

 

[HisSoldier]

PSA CNC machines all of their guns from billet steel.

Wow, they do? Why do that when everyone else in the metals industry starts with barstock, rectangular or round.

Sorry, that "Billet" thing came from the car cult, and is a pet peeve of mine. I've been in CNC production for a long time have have never, not even once, machined a billet. A billet is what is processed in the large mills to make barstock, sheet, plate and wire, a much better way to say it is barstock or just bar.

Boeing may machine large heavy parts like landing gear from billet, to start making a gun by buying billet would be truly idiotic.

 

[gym]

Having had 22lr and 25's in various guns, I think I preer the 22 lr. It seems to be a more versitile and much more affordable round to shoot. I haven't heard of anyone using a 25 to stop anyone,even though most cops in the 50' -late 7o's carried a bauer or browning off duty or bug. Most times it was because the dept required them to be armed.
I think they are cool looking but after getting rid of my seacamp I can't bring muself to trust on of those guns. Maybe a 32 with a 4 inch barrell like the 1903 colt, but not a 2.1 inch barrell. Just not enough room to pick up speed.
I saw some baretta jetfires wit extended barrels, just came from an auction, that peeked my interest, same gun with a long barrel on it. like 4 inch. Not to say I don't think they are pretty guns.

 

[rob i]

Sorry, I'm not exactly a metals expert nor do I have even the slightest bit of machining or tooling knowledge. I will defer to your expertise and start referring to it as bar stock.

 

[MICHAEL T]

gym said: I haven't heard of anyone using a 25 to stop anyone,

Sight of my Beretta 950 25acp was enough to send a wantabe robber running one night in a parking garage.
As I remember a Ca patrolman was killed by a 25 in a gunfight and his 357 found target every time but the BG lived.

A 25 tested 13 and 16inches in jell Gee!! FBI says 12 inch is good. Never underestimate a 25 or any small caliber . They will kill same as a 45 just hit the right spot.
Remember browning invented the 25 because the 22 was unrelieable in a small auto. . So he came up with a centerfire 25 auto . Lots of them around and many folks still carry them . I feel much better armed with my Beretta of bauer than that little NAA 22 rev. I have one of those as a play gun in 22LR and 22 mag. It does not get carried.

 

[gym]

I got rid of mine 22 years ago, had one on my nyc carry because there were no small guns in the 70's for carry,Now it just seems like there are so many better choices. Back then a ppk's was the smallest 380 around,I had one of those for 20 yrs also, got rid of it for the same reason, Technology has given us compact carry guns, I just can't see the purpose of not using them.
f youlike it and it works for you I am not one to tell you what is better for you, but for me I just see no purpose, Just like we waited 2 years for a 32 seacamp 15 years ago, and now no one can sell theirs for half of what they paid. As guns evolve so do our needs. Why carry a jetfire when an lcp is lighter and almost twice as powerful, with corbon powerball losds in it. I just don't get the strategy?

 

[rcmodel]

I have a Kel-Tec .380 that is lighter and thinner then my Baby Browning .25 ACP.

But then again, if I'm not on the way to a gun fight I know about, the Baby is just plain old-school fun to pack every so often.

It makes me remember what was the smallest and lightest 100% reliable CC/bug available to me or anyone else just a couple decades ago.

rc

 

[CZguy]

I have an old Browning vest pocket model made in 1915, that is a great deal of fun to plink with. If they could make one in .22 LR I would shoot it weekly.

I agree with the group that would buy a vintage Browning, over a new one no matter how much better it was made. I just prefer old guns.

None of these thoughts have anything to do with what I currently carry. I go with the lightest most powerful thing that I can find. But I like owning and shooting old guns.

 

[Auf Grosser Fahrt]

I enjoy everyone's input...it's why I'm here.

I do like old guns, if they are minty, otherwise I prefer new.

My main interest in these little things is simply a love of finely machined things, whether they be guns, knives, pocket watches, flashlights, tools, etc.

I don't carry; never in 55 years felt a need (or desire). Well, I always carry a knife, not that I'd bring it to a gunfight, hahaha.

Kinda leaning towards the new nickel pistol. My wife may kill me with it, as I just bought a PPK/S and yesterday my "As New" Yugo SKS arrived from SAMCO.

I assume the new PSA 'nickel' is the non-peeling kind. I hate how older guns would peel.