For me this is as close to perfect as it gets. Tweaked enough to improve the design, but not covered over with bells and whistles.
Armand Swenson built this pistol for a friend of mine in the early 80's. I was lucky enough to end up with it.
The trigger breaks a little under 4 pounds, it has never jammed great sight picture, and is very accurate.

That's Sweet! I love the S&W rear sight.

I always wanted one of his pistols. Practical but not covered up with "tactical' geegaws.

Eltioloco. I really, Really, REALLY Hate you! Green with envy does not even come close!

Still Green and getting GREENER!!!!

The HP has the best grip ever made IMHO.

Perfect!

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S&WCA # 2045

No polymer there.

A very neat pistol built by one of the "Greats". I am fortunate to own a 1911 that Armand Swenson built for me in the early 70's. I also got to spend some time with him at the very first Bianchi shoot in Columbia , Mo. I found him to be very interesting and easy to visit with. He held over 100 patents dealing with everything from guns to specialized planes for speed boat racing. He was a good man.

That is gorgeous and sublime. Color me green with envy!

That sir, is a beautiful pistol!

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I hope I copied that right

One of the finest. Lucky you.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Now THAT is perfection!

I love it. In 1968 I tried to get him to work on my BHP but he was backed up with work and I didn't wait.

I'm happy to see someone had a High Power "Swensonized"

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JIM
NRA Pistol Instr

Awesome Hi Power. Love those old custom Hi Powers with S&W revolver sights.

If you ever decide you'd rather have a few....(maybe a few and a couple more), nice S&W's instead, let me know.

That's a keeper! Classic pistol tuned by one of the great gunsmiths.

I recently sent my Hi-Power to Novak's, for their home defense package. Very affordable ($575 for a Mark III, $645 for a Mark II)) and practical...all you need to refine a defensive pistol. Great customer service and quick turn around, too.

If you're interested, you can check it out at Welcome to Novak's

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Trust, but verify - R. Reagan

The original post shows a darn near perfect HP. Swenson was a master and way ahead of his time.

HPs do need some custom touches to make them more acceptable. This is a pic of a Hungarian FEG clone (very high quality, by the way) that I had customized by Cylinder and Slide some years ago. To my way of thinking, it's perhaps the ideal service pistol if you have to go with 9mm for whatever reason.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

C&S did mine around 1986...I kept it simple too John. Sights, safety, trigger job and matte finish on top of slide (didn't request it but they offered while it was there)..if I remember correctly, the whole thing ran about 2 bills..today that might get the sights put on. To me, it's the perfect 9mm and still my favorite gun of all time.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

That's great to see. Thanks. Some day, hopefully before too much time gets away, and it is going fast, I would like to own one of his pistols. To me, his work always set the standard by which everything else was judged... and still does (in my mind).

Searching for information about my Swenson Browning Hi-Power, I found this 3 year old post and photo. Purchased my gun at Ohio Gun Collector's show in Columbus in 1971, and to this day have not established a sensible value for the weapon. Chrome alloy finish, pachymar grips, target trigger, hammer, extended safety, barrel bushing, micrometer adjustable sights (S&W?), beveled mag well, filed down hammer and of course, stamped on the slide AD Swenson, Gardena, Calif. Any information from serious collectors will be greatly appreciated.

I started to read through this thread, not realizing it was an old one, and started to think about what to post...then came across my own post.

And I had nothing new to add...and no information to help the fellow that revived this thread.

To the OP, what a great gun. Enjoy.

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Trust, but verify - R. Reagan

I have a hi-power that I believe is an early Armand pistol. My dad used to shoot with Armand in Gardena. Dad said they would shoot bowling pins together with 45s and dad even had a donzi boat that I understand Armand was into. When I started shooting 45s, I heard dads stories so I wrote a letter to Armand but his wife replied that he had had a stroke.
Fast forward several years and my dad has passed away and left me the hi-power “Fabrique Nationale d’armes Guerre s/n 30739”
There is a stamped “s” on top of the slide and it has been textured on the top and o the front strap. He had said he has a target that Armand signed so I’m still looking for that. It doesn’t look as fancy as some of the newer 45s but I’d be willing to bet that it is a good example of where he started getting the passion to work on these. Appreciate this thread and also any input on what I might have here

I have a hi-power that I believe is an early Armand pistol. My dad used to shoot with Armand in Gardena. Dad said they would shoot bowling pins together with 45s and dad even had a donzi boat that I understand Armand was into. Dad said he would go over to Armand’s place and he would be watching tv and working on a pistol. Said he had each customers pistol neatly organized in its own cigar box. When I started shooting 45s, I heard dads stories so I wrote a letter to Armand but his wife replied that he had had a stroke.
Fast forward several years and my dad has passed away and left me the hi-power “Fabrique Nationale d’armes Guerre s/n 30739”
There is a stamped “s” on top of the slide and it has been textured on the top and o the front strap. He had said he has a target that Armand signed so I’m still looking for that. It doesn’t look as fancy as some of the newer 45s but I’d be willing to bet that it is a good example of where he started getting the passion to work on these. Appreciate this thread and also any input on what I might have here

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Great pistol, the picture says it all. Innovation and quality all in one package.

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SWCA#2288
SWHF#407

Beautiful pistol. And the thread is just over eight years old.

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Oh well, what the hell.

I came back to check a new like and I don’t see the pic at all.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Some of you have probably heard of Stephen A. Camp ( Hi Powers and Handguns) He was Mr. Hi Power. I was recently working with his best friend, former college roommate and the two had worked on the Denton Tx. police force together. Russ started telling me about his friend one day at work. He then told me that he had received Stephen's #1 Hi Power that is on the front of his Web Site from Stephen's wife when he passed away. He said that he had one almost identical that he had done by the same gunsmith except that Camp's had a Barsto Barrel in it and his did not. Both guns had S&W sights milled into the top of the frame, trigger jobs to die for and had been hard Chromed. Long story short, He sold me his because he said that he didn't need two!!! I am too embarrassed to say what he sold it to me for. If I remember correctly it is a 1971 gun. Lou Williamson in Texas did the work on both guns. I would love to post a pic of it but I can never remember how to do it!

My biggest problem when shooting some semi auto pistols has always been the sights. When I used to shoot steel plate matches over 20 years ago all I had was a 1943 Ithaca 1911A1. As anyone who has shot either the 1911 or the A1 models the sights stink. Then I bought semi custom Springfield Armory 1911A1. With the high square faced front sight and STI adjustable rear. I was in hog heaven. For the first time I could actually use the sights. One match I tried my Beretta 92fs and it wasn't the same. Last year I bought one of the Israeli MKIII's and took it to a local smith to check it out and remove the magazine disconnect. No big improvement in trigger pull. But at least with the current high sights on the MKIII I can use them. Brownells sells the LPA adjustable rear sight for the Browning. That's next on the hit parade. Would like to replace the recoil spring,hammer spring and firing pin spring. Does anyone know who sells these springs? I have arthritus in both hands and occasionally I have problems racking the slide and want to either install myself or have a smith do it. Thanks,Frank

I am actually considering selling the hi-power but I’m not sure the best way. I am thinking gunbroker would be the best way. Most dealers would offer low and then sell it for true value. Can anyone help me with a ballpark value?