Warning Regarding Disassembly
The metal side plates on the Brownie have a single screw towards the rear holding them to the frame. When you remove that screw, do not pry up on the plate. This usually results in the sharp edges of both the plate and the frame being marred beyond repair. These metal side plates are beveled into the frame at the front edge. After removing the screw gently loosen the plate by lifting it and/or moving it up and down to loosen it from the frame. Once loose, slide it to the rear for removal. CAUTION: There are some variations with an alignment pin through the metal plate on the right side. On these Brownies, once the screw is removed you must gently lift the rear of the plate until it just clears the top of the pin before sliding it to the rear.
VARIATION #2
Variation #2 differs from Variation #1 only in that the stamped patent information on the right side of the barrel cluster reads: PAT’D.JAN.27,1920. That is the date which was discovered to be in error. The patent papers are plainly marked as July, not January. I’ve had only six Variation #2 specimens reported to the database. These represent just under 4% of the total number reported. This would indicate 1,260 units probably were produced from mid-1923 to early in 1924, a guesstimated total of 1,260 units. Personally, I have a hunch it may have been even less.
Erroneous patent date identifying Variation #2.
VARIATION #2.5
Variation #2.5 differs from Variation #2 in ways which strongly indicate it to be a short-run transitional piece to the later Variation #3, which the company seems to have eventually settled on and produced in greatest volume. The serial numbers can be found in the same locations as on Variations #1 and #2. The only visible external clue that this is not one of those two earlier variations is that no alignment pin is found in the metal plate on the right side, even though it has the correct patent date stamped on it, which would immediately identify it as a Variation #3. The patent info reads: PAT. JULY 27, 1920. It’s interesting to note that the stamped patent information on Variation #2.5 has a space separating each word or group of numerals.
Identifying characteristics of Variation 2.5.
This particular example of Variation 2.5 is a very recent discovery and only three specimens have been observed thus far. They represent only 1.3% of the total production, or less than 400 units produced, probably for only 30 days or so early in 1924. The serial numbers on the reported specimens are just 725 apart, which if Oscar followed the usually consecutive numbering of each piece, would mean there may be at least another 723 units out there. Whichever figures one uses, this means that Variation #2.5 is currently the rarest of the Brownie family and should, especially in the future, demand a premium in its selling price.
VARIATION #3
Variation #3 had the longest production period and therefore the most units of production, making it the most often encountered Brownie variation found. The stamping found on the right side of the barrel cluster of this variation is the same as the previous Variation #2.5: PAT. JULY 27, 1920. An estimated 20,977 units were produced from 1924 until the end of its production in 1932. Both of the boxed specimens I’ve managed to obtain are the Variation #3. It stands to reason that since these were the most recently made guns, the better their chance to have survived in Very Good, or Excellent, and even New condition. (Unfired, pristine guns with their original box and factory papers have come to be commonly known as NIB, or New In Box.) Only four boxes have been reported thus far.
Variation #3 is easily identified by the small alignment pin through top center of the right side metal plate. Its serial numbers are stamped into the bottom of the butt; on right side of the barrel cluster down near the hinge; and under the small “ears” on front of the barrel latch lever along the top of the gun.
NOTE: The full serial number is on butt while the other two stampings may only be the last few digits due to space available, and, these latter two locations can only be seen when the barrel cluster is lowered for loading.
Brownie Variation #3. Note alignment pin, which distinguishes it from Variation #2.
OTHER VARIATIONS?
There is a very good possibility that there are even more variations of this little pistol than the four reported here. Variation #2.5 was discovered only because I had learned to start observing every survivor for the slightest difference from any Brownie heretofore known. I then noticed there was a specimen that had the patent date of one variation but lacked the pinned side plate of that variation. Possibly parts from two different variations joined, I thought? Soon after that a similar survivor became available. The main difference was that the later one was in excellent condition and not likely to be a hodgepodge of parts from different guns.
In the fairly recent past I’ve observed other, more startling types of Brownies but have passed them off as home-made fabrications involving some original factory parts and a lot of imagination, mainly because none of them had their particular unusual feature ever advertised as available from the factory. There is also a possibility they were experimental display pieces to show and learn if there was a demand for their particular feature. However, nothing has ever been noted in print from that era about such experimental items. Now I’m not so sure. I may have erred and passed up a great opportunity to unearth and disclose a fifth variation. The moral of the story is: keep your eyes open and keep looking. Maybe you will be announcing the finding of a new Brownie!
A WORD OF ADVICE
For those who would like to fire one of these old-timers, be advised they were designed in an era before the advent of our modern steels and higher velocity ammunition. Therefore a real danger exists that the gun may be damaged, and/or the shooter injured, when firing one of these guns using modern hi-vel ammo. I have owned one such Brownie which had a large chunk of metal blown out of the area between the chambers! And as always, with all older guns it’s a good idea to have it inspected by a reliable and competent gunsmith before firing it.
Mystery Mossberg?
The 1979 issue of Gun Digest heralded the coming of a Mossberg “Combat Model” .45 pistol which would be ready for delivery “at the end of this year” for just under $350. One stainless steel prototype automatic pistol evidentally was available for display at the NRA show that year. It would be interesting to know at this late date exactly what became of that prototype and why the production of that gun never proceeded.
That same Gun Digest article goes on to state that this was not the only Mossberg entry into the handgun field. It outlines how Security Industries of America had a small-frame 5-shot revolver they’d been developing but to which Mossberg had obtained the rights “and will be producing it soon.” Oh, yeah?
Interesting to note, in that article the author calls our beloved Brownie “anything but a howling success,” and notes that “it soon disappeared from the scene.” The author further says of the Brownie, “Today it’s a lesser collector’s item.”
The author finishes his story with this statement: “This time Mossberg seems to have taken a more likely tack and we expect to see a good shooter response to these two guns.” Hmmmmm.... That was written just 30 years ago. The author obviously did not have access to a crystal ball.
