Another strange Chinese pistol,During the World War II and Pre World War II era China needed weapons

Another strange Chinese pistol,During the World War II and Pre World War II era China needed weapons, and they needed them badly.  The Japanese had overrun Manchuria, Northern China, and were beginning to make forays into the south.  Unfortunately China did not have the manufacturing base to mass produce arms in enough quantities, nor the cash to buy imports.  It was not uncommon for the enterprising owner of a small machine shop to begin making firearms.  Anyone with technical expertise might be called upon to make weapons for the Chinese Republic.This strange pistol is an example.  Most likely made by hand in a small workshop, this 9mm semi auto pistol has features from a 1906 Browning and a Mauser 1910/1914.  Perhaps its most unusual aspect it the odd assortment of stamping all over the pistol, which is common on such Chinese knockoffs, and quite interesting.On the right hand side the Mauser logo is flanked by two Belgian proof marks.  The pistol is dated 1941 and the trigger is stamped with a random number.  On the left hand side above the trigger “GUERRE NATIONALE” is stamped, while “BELIGIQUEHERSTALGUERREDARMESdeNATIONALEFABRIQUE” is stamped. The upper receiver is stamped, which a mix a gibberish proof marks and “BELGIOUE”.There were many of these pistols made, all of the same design, but none are exactly the same. -- source link

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