Browning BDA Handguns

Browning BDA
Browning BDA Handgun Series
Service history
Used by	Huntington Beach Police
Production history
Designer	Sig-Sauer
Designed	1976
Manufacturer	Sig-Sauer
Unit cost	$345
Produced	1976-1980
No. built	1800
Variants	9mm x 19mm, .38 Super, .45 ACP
Specifications (BDA)
Weight	.51 kg (1.1 lb)
Length	200 mm (7.9 in)
Width	1.5 in (3.8 cm)
Height	5.5 in (14 cm)

In 1977 Browning introduced four models of their Browning BDA (Browning Double Action) handgun. Gun Digest Browning Models. These guns came in two frame sizes from two different makers. The large frame handgun was made in three caliber; 9x 19mm Parabellum (9mm NATO), .38 Super, and .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol). The guns were sold from 1977 until 1980. These guns were made in Germany by Sig-Sauer.

Photograph of a Browning with Box and magazines.Browning BDA 45

A smaller BDA was offered in .380 ACP caliber as the Browning BDA 380 which was manufactured by Beretta in Italy. The BDA 380 is similar to Beretta's M84.Browning BDA 380

In 1983 Browning was preparing a gun for submission to the USA XM-9 handgun trials. They called this model the Browning Hi-power BDA. This gun was designed and manufactured in many models by Browning until 1999.

The Browning BDA in 9mm, .38 Super, and .45ACP was a modification of the Sig-Sauer Model P220. The Browning version has the sides of the slides polished and blued. The frame is aluminum. The handgrips have Browning on the right side only. On the right side of the slide is the serial number. The Browning DBA 45 shown in the photographs has a production series number starting with 395. The RP that follows shows that this particular handgun was manufactured in 1977.

Serial Number Listing showing codes for dates and production series.

The Sig-Sauer made Browning BDA series has all the features of the Sig-Sauer P220 early version. This handgun was developed for the Swiss Police and Army to replace the Sig Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (not Sig-Sauer) model P210. It is a full sized pistol easily capable of handing .45 ACP, 9mm, and .38 Super. The action is a locked breech short recoil system based on the Petter-Browning design that was produced in France in their model 1935 handgun. The Browning has a double action trigger which resets after the first shot to single action.