History:
In order to fulfill the request for smaller pistols than the preceeding models 1900 and 1903, Fabrique Nationale together with J.M.Browning in 1905 developed a handy vestpocket-pistol in a new 6.35mm caliber and put in on the market in 1906. The cartridge for this caliber was simultanousely designed together with this pistol.
Even if it was named sometimes as "Baby-Browning" in the early years, this was the official designation for model following later, and this type was officially named as Model 1906.
As counterpart Colt produced the similar Model 1908 .25 for the American market at that time.
This pistol had been frequently copied by a lot of European manufacturers more or less in detail, and the cartridge 6.35mm Browning (.25ACP) got the standard-caliber for vestpocket-pistols in Europe.
Not only civil people liked the Model 1906, but also officers did like to carry it as backup gun. Still it was not officially adopted in any army.
Up to the start of World War I in 1914 503.434 pcs. were produced, where numbering started with No.1. After the war the production continued until shortly before the start of World War II. Up to then more than a million pcs. have been made, until it was replaced by the real "Browning Baby" Model.
Within the production period there came up several modifications, where the 3 main modifications were done in the number of safeties.
The first and earliest type got a grip safety as one and only safety and therefore is easily to recognize by it's missing safety-lever. This type was made about up to serial-number 150.000.
Technical Datas:
SYSTEM: self-cocking pistol with mass system and firing pin
CARTRIDGES : 6
CALIBRE : .25 ACP
BARREL LENGTH : 54 mm , 6 grooves right hand twisting
WEIGHT EMPTY : 380 g
TOTAL LENGTH : 115 mm
TOTAL HEIGHT : 78 mm
TOTAL WIDTH : 24 mm
TRIGGER : single action
SIGHT : fix groove
SAFETY : grip-safety
FINISH : blued
GRIPS : hard rubber