Passing Along a Family Heirloom

[Richard S]

I have previously mentioned on this section of the Forum the FN Browning Model 1922 that was given to me several years ago by my brother-in-law, Don:

Thousands of Model 1922s had been produced for the civilian and international market prior to the Nazi invasion of Belgium. Thereafter, the M1922 was produced in larger numbers than any other firearm at the FN plant, with much of that production being issued to the Luftwaffe. Most of the M1922 pistols were blued, but a limited number were given a nickel plating. Following the war, FN resumed production of the M1922, and the pistol was used by various West German police agencies and various agencies of the French government.

Here is a link to the web site review when the M1922 was Cruffler's gun of the month:

http://www.cruffler.com/historic-may01.html

The M1922 is easily broken down for cleaning but can be a real "monkey puzzle" to reassemble. My brother-in-law had obtained the nickel-plated M1922 pictured above from the estate of a man who had brought it home from WWII. When he gave it to me, we were sitting at his kitchen table over in Hancock County, Tennessee, drinking coffee and "swapping lies." I had never held a Model 1922 before, but since I knew it had been designed by John Browning and I had learned in the Army to field strip and reassemble a 1911 in a matter of minutes, I figured that I would show off a little by field stripping the 1922 right there on Don's kitchen table.

Well . . . the pistol came apart easily enough, but I hadn't figured on that striker mechanism and the spring-loaded firing pin sitting there in its toggle ready to launch.  Don just sat there with a smile on his face as he watched me "eating humble pie." I finally got the piece back together again, but not before once having to go hunting for the firing pin spring across the room on the kitchen floor -- with my brother-in-law watching me over the rim of his coffee cup. (I recall that the cup couldn't quite conceal the grin on his face as he watched me on hands and knees, flashlight in hand, looking for that damned spring.)

Don died last month. The truth of it is that he had never really recovered from the death of his wife, Pat (the sister of my own wife, Joyce) some twelve years ago. During the visitation at the little funeral home Don had selected to handle his final arrangements, I watched his son, Shane, greeting those who had come to pay their respects. Shane is a successful young man, an avid hunter, a "scratch" golfer, with a successful marriage and two daughters in high school. I suddenly knew who should own the Model 1922.

On Thanksgiving Day here at Critter Creek, I asked Shane to follow me into my den (dubbed by Joyce as "The Cave"), closed the door, opened the gun safe, and removed a pistol case containing the M1922, an authentic leather holster I had managed to track down in Germany, the original magazine with four spares, the complete provenance on the gun, a gun lock, and a box of Winchester 7.65×17mm Browning FMJ ammunition.

Shane is a strong young man not prone to show emotion. However, neither of our eyes were entirely dry as we emerged from "The Cave."

[tracker]

That poignant story epitomizes the concept of giving as in Thanksgiving. There were at least two winners at Critter Creek on Thursday.

[Reinz]

Richard, there just are not many men left these days that not only, Not understand the deed, but Would NOT have done such a deed.

Well Done Sir!

[backupr9]

Excellent!  The gift to the giver is the knowledge, no, the FEELING of having done the right thing for the sole reason that you could do it.  My dad was far from rich and did not believe in "charity", but at his funeral many came forward that he had helped with money or goods simply because they were good people who needed a little help...it wasn't charity, just the right thing to do when he had the ability to do it and over the years I've come to know many more like him (and you, Richard).  America still leads the world in giving, and that is only the part that is recorded.  There is hope for this wonderful nation in spite of the wayward efforts of many of our leaders.

[thor447]

Richard, there just are not many men left these days that not only, Not understand the deed, but Would NOT have done such a deed.

Well Done Sir!

Could not have said it better.  100% agreed.  Well Done!

[Richard S]

Thank you, gentlemen.

I related that story primarily as a tribute to my late brother-in-law and the son of whom he was so justifiably proud. While watching Shane receive friends standing in front of his father's casket it just occurred to me that the M1922 no longer belonged to me and that my role in it all had been simply to verify its provenance and then deliver it to the rightful heir.   

[yankee2500]

Richard, you are truly a class act and it's an honer to know you even though I've never met you.

John

[Brenden]

Richard,
Well done my friend,well done..
We truly are just the caretakers for the future.

[D. Coffelt]

I have previously mentioned on this section of the Forum the FN Browning Model 1922 that was given to me several years ago by my brother-in-law, Don:

Thousands of Model 1922s had been produced for the civilian and international market prior to the Nazi invasion of Belgium. Thereafter, the M1922 was produced in larger numbers than any other firearm at the FN plant, with much of that production being issued to the Luftwaffe. Most of the M1922 pistols were blued, but a limited number were given a nickel plating. Following the war, FN resumed production of the M1922, and the pistol was used by various West German police agencies and various agencies of the French government.

Here is a link to the web site review when the M1922 was Cruffler's gun of the month:

http://www.cruffler.com/historic-may01.html

The M1922 is easily broken down for cleaning but can be a real "monkey puzzle" to reassemble. My brother-in-law had obtained the nickel-plated M1922 pictured above from the estate of a man who had brought it home from WWII. When he gave it to me, we were sitting at his kitchen table over in Hancock County, Tennessee, drinking coffee and "swapping lies." I had never held a Model 1922 before, but since I knew it had been designed by John Browning and I had learned in the Army to field strip and reassemble a 1911 in a matter of minutes, I figured that I would show off a little by field stripping the 1922 right there on Don's kitchen table.

Well . . . the pistol came apart easily enough, but I hadn't figured on that striker mechanism and the spring-loaded firing pin sitting there in its toggle ready to launch.  Don just sat there with a smile on his face as he watched me "eating humble pie." I finally got the piece back together again, but not before once having to go hunting for the firing pin spring across the room on the kitchen floor -- with my brother-in-law watching me over the rim of his coffee cup. (I recall that the cup couldn't quite conceal the grin on his face as he watched me on hands and knees, Led flashlights in hand, looking for that damned spring.)

Don died last month. The truth of it is that he had never really recovered from the death of his wife, Pat (the sister of my own wife, Joyce) some twelve years ago. During the visitation at the little funeral home Don had selected to handle his final arrangements, I watched his son, Shane, greeting those who had come to pay their respects. Shane is a successful young man, an avid hunter, a "scratch" golfer, with a successful marriage and two daughters in high school. I suddenly knew who should own the Model 1922.

On Thanksgiving Day here at Critter Creek, I asked Shane to follow me into my den (dubbed by Joyce as "The Cave"), closed the door, opened the gun safe, and removed a pistol case containing the M1922, an authentic leather holster I had managed to track down in Germany, the original magazine with four spares, the complete provenance on the gun, a gun lock, and a box of Winchester 7.65×17mm Browning FMJ ammunition.

Shane is a strong young man not prone to show emotion. However, neither of our eyes were entirely dry as we emerged from "The Cave."

that is a quite good experience for you and think you miss it..

[Jack_F]

I have previously mentioned on this section of the Forum the FN Browning Model 1922 that was given to me several years ago by my brother-in-law, Don:

Thousands of Model 1922s had been produced for the civilian and international market prior to the Nazi invasion of Belgium. Thereafter, the M1922 was produced in larger numbers than any other firearm at the FN plant, with much of that production being issued to the Luftwaffe. Most of the M1922 pistols were blued, but a limited number were given a nickel plating. Following the war, FN resumed production of the M1922, and the pistol was used by various West German police agencies and various agencies of the French government.

Here is a link to the web site review when the M1922 was Cruffler's gun of the month:

http://www.cruffler.com/historic-may01.html

The M1922 is easily broken down for cleaning but can be a real "monkey puzzle" to reassemble. My brother-in-law had obtained the nickel-plated M1922 pictured above from the estate of a man who had brought it home from WWII. When he gave it to me, we were sitting at his kitchen table over in Hancock County, Tennessee, drinking coffee and "swapping lies." I had never held a Model 1922 before, but since I knew it had been designed by John Browning and I had learned in the Army to field strip and reassemble a 1911 in a matter of minutes, I figured that I would show off a little by field stripping the 1922 right there on Don's kitchen table.

Well . . . the pistol came apart easily enough, but I hadn't figured on that striker mechanism and the spring-loaded firing pin sitting there in its toggle ready to launch.  Don just sat there with a smile on his face as he watched me "eating humble pie." I finally got the piece back together again, but not before once having to go hunting for the firing pin spring across the room on the kitchen floor -- with my brother-in-law watching me over the rim of his coffee cup. (I recall that the cup couldn't quite conceal the grin on his face as he watched me on hands and knees, flashlight in hand, looking for that damned spring.)

Don died last month. The truth of it is that he had never really recovered from the death of his wife, Pat (the sister of my own wife, Joyce) some twelve years ago. During the visitation at the little funeral home Don had selected to handle his final arrangements, I watched his son, Shane, greeting those who had come to pay their respects. Shane is a successful young man, an avid hunter, a "scratch" golfer, with a successful marriage and two daughters in high school. I suddenly knew who should own the Model 1922.

On Thanksgiving Day here at Critter Creek, I asked Shane to follow me into my den (dubbed by Joyce as "The Cave"), closed the door, opened the gun safe, and removed a pistol case containing the M1922, an authentic leather holster I had managed to track down in Germany, the original magazine with four spares, the complete provenance on the gun, a gun lock, and a box of Winchester 7.65×17mm Browning FMJ ammunition.

Shane is a strong young man not prone to show emotion. However, neither of our eyes were entirely dry as we emerged from "The Cave."

that is a quite good experience for you and think you miss it..

The cycle of life....what an honor