The Browning 1910
and a Spanish Copy, the Bufalo

by Ed Buffaloe

Just as the Model 1900 FN Browning, the first .32 caliber self-loading pistol ever made, set off a wave of imitations, so did the Model 1910 Browning which, with the Colt 1911,  is one of the most copied pistols of the 20th century (think Bayard, Bufalo, Danton, DWM, Melior, and the Czech Praga).  The Model 1910 was one of the first production self-loading pistols with the recoil spring around the barrel.  Like the Colt 1903 Pocket Model (also designed by John Moses Browning), it had a grip safety and a thumb-operated manual safety, and added a magazine disconnect safety as well.  The Model 1910 was manufactured continuously from 1912 to 1983, and is still highly regarded for its accuracy and reliability.

Most sources state that the Bufalo was manufactured by Gabilando y Cia from 1919 to 1925, and there is a Bufalo in the Museo de la Industria Armera in Eibar which is stated to have been made by Gabilando y Cia of Eibar under contract with Beristain y Cia; production began in 1920.  An advertisement in a 1922 catalog states that the gun is distributed by Beristain y Cia of Barcelona. 

The Browning and the Bufalo look very similar, but obviously the maker was trying to avoid infringing FN patents.  Gabilando produced a similar (but apparently not identical) pistol called the Danton between 1925 and 1933.  The Danton was also made in a smaller .25 caliber version.  (After 1931, Gabilando made pistols primarily under the Llama trade name, most of which were based on the Colt Model 1911, another design by John M. Browning.)  

Both of these pistols are quite reliable with hardball ammunition.  They both occasionally have trouble feeding hollow-point ammunition, but this isn’t unexpected since they were produced prior to the advent of hollow points.  Browning was somewhat fanatic about making his weapons handle all sorts of ammunition.  I was stunned by the accuracy of the Browning.  The other two guns I tested produced 3 inch groups at ten yards, and are certainly accurate enough for self defense, but the Browning’s group was hardly more than an inch across.  (I threw in the Walther Model 4 here because it is a very similar .32 caliber handgun from the same era.)

Browning Model 1910 Bufalo Walther Model 4 5 Shot Groups, Cor Bon 60 Gr JHP, 10 Yards

1910 Browning Bufalo Walther Model 4 Cartridge 7.65mm / .32 ACP 7.65mm / .32 ACP 7.65mm / .32 ACP Magazine Capacity 7 rounds 7 rounds 8 rounds Overall Length 6 inches / 153mm 6.11 inches / 155.3mm 5.94 inches / 151mm Overall Height 3.91 inches / 99.4mm 3.85 inches / 97.8mm 4.05 inches / 102.9mm Grip Depth at Base 1.67 inches / 42.4mm 1.84 inches / 46.8mm 1.62 inches / 41.2mm Barrel Length 3.44 inches / 87.5mm 3.42 inches / 86.9mm 3.46 inches / 88mm Slide Width .8 inches / 20.3mm .8 inches / 20.4mm .8 inches / 20.5mm Weight Empty 19.6 ounces / 554.8g 21.52 ounces / 609g 18.42 ounces / 521.2g All three pistols are single action only.  The Walther and the Bufalo have internal hammers, whereas the Browning utilizes a striker.  The Walther has no grip safety.

This catalog advertisement touts the gun as having a triple safety and calls it the New Model 1922. It also says “Ten shots in a few seconds,” obviously a reference to the 1907 Savage slogan--the only problem being that the Bufalo only holds a maximum of 8 cartridges.

Copyright 2007 by Ed Buffaloe.  All rights reserved.

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