Chilean Presentation Pistol

[30Mauser]

Thought you folks would appreciate this. It is an extremely small (my thumb for scale) Chilean .25 ACP that was presented to my great-grandfather, Edward H. Brooks, when he was Commanding General, U.S. Army in the Caribbean (1947 - 1949). The slide reads:
FABRICA DE MATERIAL DE GUERRA
CHILE


The box has a seal that reads FABRICA DE MATERIAL DE GUERRA DEL EJERCITO - CHILE

It has his rank and initials engraved on a plaque affixed to the left side "GRAL EHB", with some sort of symbol on the opposite side, a red and blue shield with a star in the middle. Not sure who presented it to him, whether a military or political figure. Details are probably buried somewhere in the archives I have.

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[30Mauser]

Confirmed that the shield is from the Chilean national seal.

 

[IPSC_DRL]

Confirmed that the shield is from the Chikean national seal.

Here Chikey, Chikey.

Nice piece of history there Ted.

 

[30Mauser]

Here Chikey, Chikey.

Nice piece of history there Ted.

Funny typo!

Manufacturer looks to be FAMAE, which is an abbreviation of the name I noted above on the presentation box.

 

[30Mauser]

Found it! This is apparently a Chilean made Browning Model 1906, also known as the Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket. Found a couple of videos about stripping and reassembling it, and found some paperwork about the Chilean decoration he received that indicates it was likely presented to my great-grandfather in 1948.

 

[30Mauser]

Can't for the life of me find any evidence of Chilean arms maker FAMAE producing this... but then, I don't know Spanish. Anyone have any insights?

 

[JuergenG]

Maybe made by FN and only distributed by FAMAE under their Label?

 

[30Mauser]

Maybe made by FN and only distributed by FAMAE under their Label?

Could be, I suppose. I don't know if the Chilean markings on the slide or the very low serial number (4 digits on a 1940's era model 1906/1908) are consistent with that theory. Also, there are none of the typical Belgian proof-marks on it (like the Perron).

Vielen Dank für deine Aufmerksamkeit!

 

[JuergenG]

You're welcome
Right, the missing Belgian proofs don't compute. Maybe a series done by Colt, using a serial number range for a custom
run? Who knows.... However, my money is on a non-Chilean manufacturer; she appears to be to
precisely made for being made there in the 40's or even earlier.