The Browning Model 71 was a pistol model whose creation was inspired by the US Gun Control Act of 1968. This legislation required that pistols be for “sporting purposes” and specified minimum dimensions for pistols. Browning’s answer was to turn the FN Model 1922 into a sporting/target pistol creating the Model 71.
Fast Facts
- The Browning Model 71 started out as the FN Model 1910 followed by the enlarged version of that pistol, the Model 1922.
- The inspiration to create the Browning Model 71 came when the United States enacted the Gun Control Act of 1968.
- Fabrique Nationale (FN) in Belgium created the Model 71 and put it into production in 1971 and the model was kept in production until 1974.
- One of these Browning Model 71 pistols is for sale by Rock Island Auction at time of publication.
The Browning Model 71 was a rather sweet little sporting pistol that was based on the FN Model 1910.
The FN Model 1910 was a John Moses Browning creation and it incorporated the recoil spring wrapped around the barrel: a feature that would inspire the same layout in the German Walther PPK and the Soviet Russian Makarov.
The Model 1910 was only chambered for the 380 ACP with a six round magazine, or the 32 ACP with a seven round magazine: quite low powered cartridges which permitted the use of a simple blow-back semi-automatic action.
The Model 1910 was striker fired and incorporated what was called a “Triple Safety” system which comprised a grip safety, an external manual safety lever, and a magazine safety.
I still vividly remember my first experience in shooting the Model 1910 back when I was very new to pistol shooting. I was used to a Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver and the FN Model 1910 was of course a completely new experience: it seemed so complicated by comparison with the revolver.
The FN Model 1910 was followed by the Model 1922 which was an enlarged variant of the Model 1910. The length was increased from 153mm to 178mm while the barrel length was increased from 80mm to 113mm. Weight increased from 590g to 700g while the magazine capacity of the Model 1922 increased to eight rounds for the 380 ACP and nine rounds for the 32 ACP.
The increased size of the Model 1922 made it almost suitable for sporting pistol shooting, such as for the ISSF Centerfire match which required a pistol of caliber of .30″ up to below .40″. All that was needed was a set of adjustable target sights and some re-designing of the grips for target use.
The incentive to create a sporting version of this pistol came to the United States in 1968 when the Gun Control Act came into force and imposed minimum size requirements on handguns, which had to be for “sporting purposes”.
This was of course a rather anti-Second Amendment piece of legislation but when governments decide to do what they want it can be difficult and expensive to get such restrictions removed.
FN fitted this new model pistol with a target rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation, and equipped it with a target type front sight mounted on a ramp.
The grip was re-styled with a concave contour to coordinate with the extended magazine floor-plate with finger support. And the left grip panel was equipped with a thumb rest.
The end result was a pistol that fitted the “sporting purposes” requirements and one that would be attractive to target pistol shooters.
Production began in 1971 and this new FN model was known as the Browning 10/71, or simply as the Browning Model 71.
This was a well thought through sporting pistol: its simple blow-back action leaving the barrel in alignment throughout the cycling of the action. Sight radius was a generous six inches.
The Browning Model 71 was marketed as a pistol suitable for men and ladies as a “Three in One” gun that could be used for target shooting, an outdoors carry pistol, and as a pistol suitable for women because of its light weight and slim dimensions.
The Model 71 was kept in production from 1971 until 1974 and serial numbers begin with the year of production followed by a letter “N” which designated a pistol with target sights chambered for the 380 ACP. So a 1971 pistol’s serial number begins 71N… and a 1972 72N… and so on.
One of these Browning Model 71 sporting pistols is for sale by Rock Island Auction at time of publication. The sale pistol is 1972 production and its condition is listed as follows:-
“Good overall with original finish, minor handling marks, light oxidation, and crisp grip checkering. Mechanically functions.“
You will find the sale page for this rather pretty Belgian made pistol if you click here.
Picture credits: All pictures courtesy Rock Island Auction.
Jon Branch is the founder and senior editor of Revivaler and has written a significant number of articles for various publications including official Buying Guides for eBay, classic car articles for Hagerty, magazine articles for both the Australian Shooters Journal and the Australian Shooter, and he’s a long time contributor to Silodrome.
Jon has done radio, television, magazine and newspaper interviews on various issues, and has traveled extensively, having lived in Britain, Australia, China and Hong Kong. His travels have taken him to Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan and a number of other countries. He has studied the Japanese sword arts and has a long history of involvement in the shooting sports, which has included authoring submissions to government on various firearms related issues and assisting in the design and establishment of shooting ranges.
