This is a pistol that's been on my "B" purchase list for at least five years. Every time I say that I'm going to buy one on Gunbroker, I end up picking up something else instead. There are certain guns that I want bad enough to look for on Gunbroker on a daily basis. Then there are other guns that I look for on a casual basis in my local shops, but they aren't rare enough and/or I don't want one bad enough to search for them on Gunbroker. For me, the Browning BDM is right on the border between these two mindsets. I did check out Gunbroker for them on occasion, but was just never motivated enough to purchase one, especially for the $500 to $600 asking prices (not counting shipping costs and transfer fees). On the other hand, they don't come up for sale locally very often and the few that I've seen over the years have always been pretty beat up. This one came into my local shop last week and its in a solid 90% to 92% condition and in perfect working order. My shop gave me an awesome price and I brought it home for $435 out the door. 
I think the biggest misunderstanding about the Browning BDM is that its a double action Hi Power. That is not the case. Its certainly based on the Hi Power to some degree, but FN did build some double action "Hi Powers" in Belgium on a limited basis. The BDM was never built in Belgium. It is an American pistol built by Browning Arms Company and quite a bit different than the Hi Power, or anything else for that matter.
The BDM was introduced in 1991 and was actually designed to compete in the service trials for the FBI. That obviously never came to fruition and the BDM was only ever sold to civilians. The gun was actually in production for a fair number of years. It was discontinued in 1998. As far as I know, the caliber was only ever 9mm. "BDM" stands for Browning Dual Mode. The gun can be switched from a traditional DA/SA pistol to a double action only pistol by simply changing the position of the round slotted switch on the slide. In the "P" position, the BDM acted like a traditional pistol. In the "R" position, the BDM functioned like a double action revolver. This capability certainly made the BDM a very unique firearm. The BDM also featured an ambidextrous frame mounted decocker, which I feel works quite well from an ergonomic standpoint. Although very rare, the BDM was also offered in versions that were just DA/SA or DAO and did not have the switch.
Another claim to fame of the Browning BDM was that it was perhaps the thinnest double stack auto of its day. Even now, its still amazingly thin for a high capacity pistol. It also weighs in at just 31oz, which is light for a full size, steel framed pistol. This gun is slightly larger than a Hi Power, yet weighs a little less. The thinness and weight are both achieved by the wrap around plastic grips. Though they are reinforced along the front strap with steel, the side and back of the grip frame are just polymer and hug the magazine very tightly. The grips are checkered on the sides and back. The steel front strap is also checkered to give the shooter a very firm grip on the pistol. I find the BDM to be a very ergonomically friendly pistol in my hands. The gun had a capacity of 15 rounds, but I only received two Clinton-era 10 round mags for mine. Being that it will be for the range only, I doubt I'll waste the time and money finding true mags for it. As for finishes, the BDM was offered in a matte "blued" finish like mine, a chrome finish, or a combination of the two.
As I mentioned, this particular example is in very good shape. There are a few handling marks and a little wear, but certainly no deep scratches or rust anywhere. Unfortunately, this matte finish is very similar to the finish that Sig used on their classic P series pistols from the same time period and it marks and wears very easily. :dunno:
Anyway, that's enough rambling. They aren't terribly common, but they definitely aren't what I would consider overly rare either. Does anyone have a BDM? If so, what do you think of it?
As always, please enjoy the pics and share your thoughts...
Thanks! :supergrin:
I think the biggest misunderstanding about the Browning BDM is that its a double action Hi Power. That is not the case. Its certainly based on the Hi Power to some degree, but FN did build some double action "Hi Powers" in Belgium on a limited basis. The BDM was never built in Belgium. It is an American pistol built by Browning Arms Company and quite a bit different than the Hi Power, or anything else for that matter.
The BDM was introduced in 1991 and was actually designed to compete in the service trials for the FBI. That obviously never came to fruition and the BDM was only ever sold to civilians. The gun was actually in production for a fair number of years. It was discontinued in 1998. As far as I know, the caliber was only ever 9mm. "BDM" stands for Browning Dual Mode. The gun can be switched from a traditional DA/SA pistol to a double action only pistol by simply changing the position of the round slotted switch on the slide. In the "P" position, the BDM acted like a traditional pistol. In the "R" position, the BDM functioned like a double action revolver. This capability certainly made the BDM a very unique firearm. The BDM also featured an ambidextrous frame mounted decocker, which I feel works quite well from an ergonomic standpoint. Although very rare, the BDM was also offered in versions that were just DA/SA or DAO and did not have the switch.
Another claim to fame of the Browning BDM was that it was perhaps the thinnest double stack auto of its day. Even now, its still amazingly thin for a high capacity pistol. It also weighs in at just 31oz, which is light for a full size, steel framed pistol. This gun is slightly larger than a Hi Power, yet weighs a little less. The thinness and weight are both achieved by the wrap around plastic grips. Though they are reinforced along the front strap with steel, the side and back of the grip frame are just polymer and hug the magazine very tightly. The grips are checkered on the sides and back. The steel front strap is also checkered to give the shooter a very firm grip on the pistol. I find the BDM to be a very ergonomically friendly pistol in my hands. The gun had a capacity of 15 rounds, but I only received two Clinton-era 10 round mags for mine. Being that it will be for the range only, I doubt I'll waste the time and money finding true mags for it. As for finishes, the BDM was offered in a matte "blued" finish like mine, a chrome finish, or a combination of the two.
As I mentioned, this particular example is in very good shape. There are a few handling marks and a little wear, but certainly no deep scratches or rust anywhere. Unfortunately, this matte finish is very similar to the finish that Sig used on their classic P series pistols from the same time period and it marks and wears very easily. :dunno:
Anyway, that's enough rambling. They aren't terribly common, but they definitely aren't what I would consider overly rare either. Does anyone have a BDM? If so, what do you think of it?
As always, please enjoy the pics and share your thoughts...
Thanks! :supergrin:
