mawkie
C&R Whisperer
-Same old story with me, like Moses in the desert I spend years upon years searching for just the right addition to the collection. This time around it was a Swedish Husqvarna M/07 service pistol. Most of the time in the US you'll find M/07s that were reworked by the Swedes and eventually imported into the US where they got a .380 barrel and markings. The reason being that .380 is much easier to find vs the original Browning 9x20mm Long chambering. I lean hard towards the pure collector end of the spectrum and so I was determined to find an original finish with original chambering.
-After years of searching three examples of what I'm looking for pop up together in a midwest auction. All have some small flaws in the finish but are in overall VG condition. And of course I'm solely focused on the upcoming Redding auction and the Weimar Navy Luger which I ultimately snagged. So I let all three go without bidding, noting that they sold in the mid $600 range OTD.
-Fast forward to September and the same auction house has "leftover" lots from the same collection and there's an even nicer M/07 in the catalog. The only flaw I can see is that the front sight was filed from a half moon profile to a roughly quarter moon shape. Otherwise, it's in excellent condition with the original high polish finish only found on the early examples, this having a SN in the mid 1600 range which dates production to 1917. So I put in a $475 proxy bid and sit back to watch it hammer for exactly that amount. OTD I'm at $600 with the vig and shipping.
-She shows up today and looks even better than what the catalog photos showed. The only wear found from the lanyard ring and tiny edge wear. Haven't found an import mark which is perplexing, would have expected to find something. The inspector marks "TT and HK" are for armorer Tor Thorsson and inspector Helge Kolthoff. The "Browning's Patent" slide legend is only found on the first 5500 pistols, discontinued after FN complained as this was part of their trademark.
-Some time ago I ran across a very rare Swedish Navy M/07 holster which features a single magazine pouch, vs the more commonly found dual pouch holster. So I already have a neat rig.
-After years of searching three examples of what I'm looking for pop up together in a midwest auction. All have some small flaws in the finish but are in overall VG condition. And of course I'm solely focused on the upcoming Redding auction and the Weimar Navy Luger which I ultimately snagged. So I let all three go without bidding, noting that they sold in the mid $600 range OTD.
-Fast forward to September and the same auction house has "leftover" lots from the same collection and there's an even nicer M/07 in the catalog. The only flaw I can see is that the front sight was filed from a half moon profile to a roughly quarter moon shape. Otherwise, it's in excellent condition with the original high polish finish only found on the early examples, this having a SN in the mid 1600 range which dates production to 1917. So I put in a $475 proxy bid and sit back to watch it hammer for exactly that amount. OTD I'm at $600 with the vig and shipping.
-She shows up today and looks even better than what the catalog photos showed. The only wear found from the lanyard ring and tiny edge wear. Haven't found an import mark which is perplexing, would have expected to find something. The inspector marks "TT and HK" are for armorer Tor Thorsson and inspector Helge Kolthoff. The "Browning's Patent" slide legend is only found on the first 5500 pistols, discontinued after FN complained as this was part of their trademark.
-Some time ago I ran across a very rare Swedish Navy M/07 holster which features a single magazine pouch, vs the more commonly found dual pouch holster. So I already have a neat rig.
