I recently aquired a Nazi WWII pistol for $150. I had it taken to a gunsmith to make sure the gun was functional, and when I got the gun back what I was told was something like this:

"This is an FN manufacture of the Browning 1922 in .32auto. Everything's in great working order; it's rare to see one in such good condition and with so much of the original blue. It's also rare to find one with all-matching serial numbers like this one. I would keep it in a glass case and never fire it."

Apparently it's one of however many the Belgians made for the Nazis after the capture of FN, and it's got the little eagle-holding-swastika-with-numbers-underneath stamp in several places in addition to the serial numbers.

So yeah, do y'all think this gun is worth collecting or can I shoot it? It's the first used gun I've bought, and the first one that looked collectible. It would also be the first one I got that I couldn't immediately go out and have fun with.

Any thoughts?


**EDIT** Here's links to some photos, I can't figure out how to post pictures here directly. http://static.flickr.com/56/14446529...acee09.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/48/14446525...c7315f.jpg?v=0
http://static.flickr.com/46/14446522...fd0efb.jpg?v=0

I'm particularly interested in what's in the third picture. The eagle-holding-swastika is a bunch of places on the gun, but that similar symbol with the numbers underneath is only found there (although stamped several times). It doesn't bear any relation to the serial number that I can see.

Will have to look up the value once I get the Blue Book out of hiding. $150 is a very good deal.

Aren't terribly uncommon..are hard to find in excelent original shape. Were a pretty popular gun before...during...and after the war. The nazi marking add to the value for WWI collectors.

Onwed two of them over the years. A pre-WWII commercial vesion and a post WWII that was marked as being issued by the British Occupation Zone. For a short time just after the war, had divided Germany into areas overseen by the major Allied powers (guess what happend for the next 50 years to the EASTERN section that the USSR got). They issued what they could to the civilian police.

Persoanlly, I'd shoot it....I'd not CARRY the gun for protection as i just cannot trust a striker-fired pistol unless the chamber is empty....don't abuse it, keep it protected and the finish in the same shape it is now, and you won't lose any $ (unless something serial numbered breaks). Even if you do damage it in some way, will find it petty easy to get more $ out than you put in.

By googling "WBA140" I found a semi-useful link, but nothing that told me what the number meant. Any ideas where I should look?

I know that it may be better to put some away behind glass and keep their value up, but to me that is like having a beautiful woman, nice bottle of wine, or a clasic car and never enjoying them. What ever God has blessed me with, I want to enjoy to its fullest.
I pack a Remington Rand, M 1911 A1 U.S. Army, built in early 1943 that has all matching numbers and is in very nice condition, on a daily bases. I could sell it and buy a couple of other new hand guns, but I just love it. I would never dream of changing the weapen in any way as that would decrease its value, with the exception that I did put on a Hogue grip, as when I am up in the interior around Circle and it is 60 below I prefer the rubber grips in my hand. The original grips are in a box for safe keeping with the original mag so my daughter can have the complet package when I kick the bucket.
Life is to short to not enjoy it to its fullest, and since I have not figured out how yet to take this Remington Rand with me to that happy hunting ground in the sky I will enjoy it on this side of heaven. Take your piece out and enjoy it with care, just take good care of it. It would be in my mind a sad thing to just put it away behind glass if you really love it. On the other hand if it is an investment for you and you are not rather fond of it, by all means put it away untill sold so it is in the best shape posible for the upcoming buyer. I know that my piece has a little more wear on it, as I pack it daily. Not a good thing if I was wanting to make a biggest profet I could from its sell. But this is a love afair and it is not for sail at any price. Just my thoughts for what ever they are worth.

God Bless, Leon