No, this is not the gun that started World War One, definitely not! However, you will find that “fact” in several publications.
The gun that Gavrilo Princip used on June 28th 1914 was indeed a Browning, but the model 1910 in 9mm Browning short (.380 ACP), not the model 1900. The assassins guns are kept in the museum in Vienna, and anyone who wants to can see them with their own eyes, there can be no doubt that they are 1910s. I described that gun in my previous blog, those who want the details can look it up.
A few decades ago, a collector and writer made a mistake (no need to mention names), and misidentified Princips pistol as the model 1900. From there that mistake has been repeated in several publications and online. That is a pity, but no collectors book is entirely free of mistakes, we are after all only human.
So, the Model 1900 was not that notorious gun, but is still a fascinating little pistol in its own right.
It was the first semi-automatic pistol adopted by the Belgian army, and saw heavy use in the trenches. Chambered in the very popular 7,65mm (.32ACP).
It is quite strange to shoot as the heavy slide and strong spring makes it feel slow compared to other pistols, though it is reliable and well made.
It is a relic of the infancy of semi-automatic pistols, and those often have features that are now history, so also the M1900. This pistol has an indicator that pops up and blocks the rear sight when the chamber is empty. Very useful is it not? No, not really, as it pops up when you pull the trigger on an empty chamber, and at that point the lack of boom has already alerted you to the fact that if you still have time, you must put in a new magazine. Yes, I know that it will also tell you that the chamber is empty and safe, and that it reminds you to pull the slide back to chamber a round… But, if you pull the trigger on a chamber that is empty the indicator will pop up, if it is not, then boom.
So, though not his very best design, it is a step on the way on John Moses Brownings path to eternal fame as a weapons designer.
And, it was successful enough that others, like Friedrich Langenhahn copied features from it.
So, a nice little pistol, just not exactly that pistol…