Page 1 of 1
At last!
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 7:09 pm
by Hibby83
Big smiles today! I was finally able to score an FN.
I may have missed it, I’m very thankful John “54BULLESYE” gave me a heads up on it!
This one came to me from a gun shop in Colorado. Unfortunately the last owner, who also had a gun shop in the same city passed and his firearms are being sold through the shop I purchased this rifle. I messaged Cam “81Police” about the rifle post auction. I came to find out that this one wasn’t in his database.
I don’t think I’m going to get a lot of crud on this one. The barrel looks new, and the blue is very nice. I certainly am going to take this down and give it a solid once over and cleanining before firing. From my cursory inspection and what I’ve seen so far with it, tells me it’s a good one.
You’ll notice the serial pictured, along with all the rest of the exposed stamps have white wax or paint “I’m not sure what typically was used”. I may leave it, I’m undecided at this time.
More to follow in time.
Re: At last!
Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2023 7:26 pm
by Hibby83
Another photo.
Re: At last!
Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2023 4:47 am
by 54bullseye
I have owned quite a few guns that people use some sort of color to high light the stamped writing I usually just use some zip strip on a toothbrush to remove it as I ain't crazy about it !! Nice looking gun Luke glad it worked out for you !! John
Re: At last!
Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2023 5:20 am
by Hibby83
Thanks John, good tip on removal should i decide to clean out the stamping.
A couple more pics.
Re: At last!
Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2023 8:35 am
by 81police
Re: At last!
Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2023 8:40 am
by 81police
and....this brings our worldwide database of existing FN1900's to 148.
Rifles closest to yours are #448 in Finland and #391 in Norway
Re: At last!
Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2023 8:50 am
by Hibby83
Very cool. I sure wish I could know some of it's history too.
Thank you Cameron!
Re: At last!
Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2023 3:18 pm
by 54bullseye
54bullseye wrote: ↑Wed Oct 11, 2023 4:47 am
I have owned quite a few guns that people use some sort of color to high light the stamped writing I usually just use some zip strip on a toothbrush to remove it as I ain't crazy about it !! Nice looking gun Luke glad it worked out for you !! John
Re: At last!
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:18 am
by Roger
Hey Luke, You have acquired a really nice Fn1900. I remember how excited I was when I got the only one that I still own. The low serial number makes it extra special. And a truly great collectible. Congratulations
Roger
Re: At last!
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2023 4:55 am
by Hibby83
Thank you Roger.
The FN surely feels like a highlight in collecting these auto-loaders.
I completely disassembled and thoroughly cleaned up the barreled assembly last night. Fortunately it came apart with ease and was not filthy at all. Now to give the receiver a solid clean, inspection and get ready to fire it.
Picture is prior to clean up.
Re: At last!
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2023 6:21 am
by 81police
This assembly picture show what seemed to be true of the exterior...this rifle was well taken care of over the years. Any FN in any condition is a rare collectible, but finding them in as nice condition as yours is especially sweet!
Re: At last!
Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2023 8:23 am
by MinnesotaDan
Hibby,
What a great find and nice addition to your collection. Congratulations on receiving such a fine FN. Thanks for sharing the photos.
Dan
Re: At last!
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 8:42 am
by Hibby83
All gussied up. Burnt the midnight oil finishing my thorough cleaning.
81Police- It certainly didn't give any trouble and upon full tear down, cleanup was relatively easy.
Dan- Thank you, I definitely feel lucky to have come across this one!
Re: At last!
Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2023 4:57 pm
by canuck
She really shines with a fresh rub down!
As I said on FB, great score!
Re: At last!
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2023 6:19 am
by Hibby83
canuck wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 4:57 pm
She really shines with a fresh rub down!
As I said on FB, great score!
It sure did! The worst of it "which wasn't bad' was the magazine where it sits inside the receiver, around the screw heads and below the safety "old varnished oil."
Thanks Canuck.
Re: At last!
Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2023 6:43 pm
by 9.3shooter
Wow! Beautiful rifle, congrats on the purchase!

Re: At last!
Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2023 4:25 am
by 54bullseye
Luke she sure is a nice looking 1900 all cleaned up !! Nice job and glad you got it ! John Taylor
Re: At last!
Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2023 1:21 pm
by Phyrbird
Congrats Luke
Glad for ya, great find....
Carl
Re: At last!
Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2023 4:45 pm
by jack1653
Hey Hibby,
I apologize for the posting I made on the Facebook Remington thread. I had not seen the posting on our Forum. I had not checked our Forum for several days and just now saw your posting.
My congratulations on finding this FN. it is in very good condition and will be a great addition to your collection. John has a knack for finding some good looking rifles. I hope it shoots as well as it looks.
Kindest Regards,
jack1653
Re: At last!
Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2023 7:07 am
by Hibby83
jack1653 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 16, 2023 4:45 pm
Hey Hibby,
I apologize for the posting I made on the Facebook Remington thread. I had not seen the posting on our Forum. I had not checked our Forum for several days and just now saw your posting.
My congratulations on finding this FN. it is in very good condition and will be a great addition to your collection. John has a knack for finding some good looking rifles. I hope it shoots as well as it looks.
Kindest Regards,
jack1653
No worries Jack. It was a ittle picture and i didnt disclose the make & model in that post.
John does have keen search abilities. Thank you, it fires, ejects and loads new rounds itself without issue. It's definitely a great addition to collection!
Thank you gentleman " 9.3 - Pyrbryd - John ".
Re: At last!
Posted: Thu Dec 26, 2024 2:02 pm
by 1913Model8
Hibby83 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 13, 2023 8:42 am
All gussied up. Burnt the midnight oil finishing my thorough cleaning.
81Police- It certainly didn't give any trouble and upon full tear down, cleanup was relatively easy.
Dan- Thank you, I definitely feel lucky to have come across this one!
What an absolute score there!! Wonderful piece of history there!
Re: At last!
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 7:08 am
by ranman
That is one very nice FN, congratulations on a super find .
Re: At last!
Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2025 7:37 am
by Hibby83
Thanks, RanMan and 1913Model8!
One thing I didn't bring up in the post- There was what I assume to be fitter stamps " V " on all/nearly every part in the receiver.
With that I ask any of the 1900 owners here, what character/stamp did you see on yours?
Re: At last!
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2025 5:06 pm
by Rifleman
Nice find Hibby83, really a beautiful looking rifle.
Re: At last!
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2025 11:48 am
by ranman
Number 255 has the same stamp and also looks to have the same forstock pattern checkering
Re: At last!
Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2025 6:21 pm
by canuck
Working on FN 944 today, it has the V in a box stamp as well - on many parts
Interesting with the FNs, most everything is stamped with the serial number as well

Re: At last!
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 5:50 am
by Hibby83
canuck wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 6:21 pm
Working on FN 944 today, it has the V in a box stamp as well - on many parts
Interesting with the FNs, most everything is stamped with the serial number as well
Thanks Canuck. I wouldn't feel uncomfortable to wager a beverage that the same pair of hands worked on our rifles. What year do you figure your 944 serial is, and would you think my 441 ser# would be the same. There isn't much data for year to year breakdown, just a range of years on the homepage FN 1900 index.
Here's a couple more pictures.
Re: At last!
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 6:08 am
by Hibby83
Last picture handy on my phone. Thought it was different they stamped the stock.
Re: At last!
Posted: Sat Feb 22, 2025 6:17 am
by Hibby83
ranman wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2025 11:48 am
Number 255 has the same stamp and also looks to have the same forstock pattern checkering
Yes, same spot on magazine.
Here's the forearm zoomed in a little bit. Your checkering is to the escutcheon also?
Re: At last!
Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2025 9:14 am
by 81police
If the Model 8 is a Chevy, the FN built 1900 is a Cadillac
Re: At last!
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2025 6:51 am
by Roger
Having collected Browning Auto 5 shotguns for 42 years, I can attest to the fact that FN put Numerals’s stamps behind the round knob on some guns. There hasn’t been any pattern that I’ve noticed in all these years. But I’ve never seen any symbol stamps. Always numbers. As to the checkering going all the way to the screw escutcheon, I have no answer. Auto 5s have no screws in the forearms.
Roger
Re: At last!
Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2025 5:35 am
by Hibby83
Roger wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2025 6:51 am
Having collected Browning Auto 5 shotguns for 42 years, I can attest to the fact that FN put Numerals’s stamps behind the round knob on some guns. There hasn’t been any pattern that I’ve noticed in all these years. But I’ve never seen any symbol stamps. Always numbers. As to the checkering going all the way to the screw escutcheon, I have no answer. Auto 5s have no screws in the forearms.
Roger
Lazy Sunday morning info-seeking, I came across an old post from 81police with this photo attached. I can't see what the stamp is, it's located at the same spot as my V stamp.
Also included is a photo of the forearm from serial 418 " one from the Ahlberg collection."

- v-stamp.jpg (78.14 KiB) Viewed 194 times