Developed in 1902 and also known as the "War Model", the 1903 was a John Browning design that found military and police buyers, both contract and private purchase, across much of Europe, seeing active use into the 1940s and even during a brief window in the 1980s as a Swedish stopgap between the emergency retirement of the Lahti pistol and the acceptance of the Glock. As was the style of the time a shoulder stock was optional, though with a novel mounting method; two rail slots are cut into the bottom of the grip frame, and the stock slides onto the bottom, acting as an extended magazine well for a long magazine. The magazine serves as a reinforcement for the stock, giving a significantly more rigid mounting that many other stocked pistols. Blade and notch sights, with the two line FN address and Browning patent marks on the left side of the slide, Belgian proofs on the slide, barrel and frame, and a pair of checkered FN-marked grips, properly shortened to accommodate the rails. "CAL 380" is stamped on the left of the frame. The underside of the slide is numbered to match the frame. The stock interior is cut to accommodate the pistol, a magazine (both normal and extended will fit) and a cleaning rod, and the attaching iron is numbered "1160".

Very fine, retains 80% plus of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to mostly a smooth grey patina, primarily in the form of holster and handling type wear, and the front sight cut down/modified. The grips are fine with a moderate chip at the top front of the right panel and otherwise minimal handling evidence. Mechanically excellent. The stock is fine with minor dings and scratches scattered throughout and retaining 75% of the original blue on the iron.