I don't want to get this thread off track but with all the HP owners here I figured you all might have some info. After reading this thread and seeing all the beautiful Hi-Powers I was on the hunt for one today since I had the day off.

I didn't find an HP but did run across a FEG P9RK. This is the 4.25" barrel model with the decocker. It looks very close the HP in general appearance. This is not the FEG model with the vent rib. This particular gun is blued with a little blue wear, let's say 90% on finish with two factory mags priced at $375.00. Knowing nothing about these pistols I did the best a could to check it out and it seems to be in great shape. I know it's not the HP I was looking for but for the money is it worth a second look and possible purchase? TIA

I did determine this model was made between 2003-2005 and the serial number puts this one near the very end of that production.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

Here is my entry. It needs to be refinished and have the sights replaced. I am thinking about have 1911 sights fitted to the slide. The pistol had the works done to it at Arizona Response Systems many years ago. Its been a great shooter.

The gun as you seem to know is a BHP in look only. It actually is more of a S&W based gun than a FN/Browning. IIRC the internals are a S&W 59.

If you want a BHP or a BHP clone I would pass. Parts will be an issue if anything fails on this gun. With a FEG BHP clone you can replace 99% of parts with FN/Browning or other aftermarket parts.

If it was $200 and ran well and you liked it I would go for it but if you want a BHP get a BHP.

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Use should dictate gear!

Depends on the gun and depends on which round. I have owned 15+ BHPs over the years only a few had would not feed one of the following Gold Dots 124s, Federal Hydra Shok 124s or Winchester Ranger 124s or 147s.

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Use should dictate gear!

One of my best 9mm, love shooting this one.

[IMG][/IMG]

For those asking about hollowpoints feeding in older BHPs, I am going to repeat something I have posted about here before. The newer FN magazines (the ones with the "mousetrap" springs), have a slightly different follower that positions the round sightly higher. Supposedly, this aids in feeding of hollowpoints. These magazines are made by Mec-Gar in Italy (as are many other OEM Mags), but are different than the Mec-Gar marketed ones, which are identical to the older FN magazines (except for the bright blue finish). I have not run tests to ascertain if there is an improvement, since I hardly ever get to a range, but it might be an interesting project for someone. For use with FMJs, the much cheaper Mec-Gar marked mags are just fine. BTW, "mousetrap" spring refers to a spring on the bottom rear of the magazine that will eject the magazine even against the force of a magazine safety holding it in. That aspect of BHPs (mag not dropping free and mag safety), was requested by military customers that FN was courting in the 30's.
Hope this helps!

Is blasting the only way to get the epoxy off? What media did you use?

BHP to me is one of the best feeling and balanced handguns ever. Here is mine with mods by C&S and with G-10 grips.

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Caper

I have several HP's but I think this 1977 with the beer can target sights is my favourite.

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my late fathers 76C BHP was a little finicky about round overall length, but fed various bullet types without issue... one bullet my father used in competition back in the day was a lead conical flat point... I can't remember the exact bullet weight... I was 12 years old at the time... remember the bullet shape because they looked "funny"

kinda looked like this...

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Spenser and Axel Foley, among others, have carried them.

Frank Farmer, too. Spenser had a beretta in the tv show. Not sure about the books.

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Because of the metric system?

Parker had Spenser carry a "snub nosed".38 S&W most of the time in the books. The BHP came out when he was expecting trouble.

Something I forgot to mention in my post above is Anthony Vanderlinden's excellent book FN Browning Pistols has some information regarding figuring out the manufacturing date of High Powers that was not in R. Blake Steven's book. As many know, up until about 1963 it was difficult because often Browning would issue the same serial numbers as used previously when a new contract run was produced. Other than the proofmarks and features or known contracts it was often impossible to pin it down. For the guns made between 1946 and 1963, there is a number date code with lines around it, most often marked on the barrel that indicates the year and quarter that it was proofmarked. So assuming that the barrel is original, you can look at the chart and see for example that a gun was made (or at least proofmarked) in the second quarter of 1953 or whatever.

I've long admired the Browning Hi-Power but have never bought one for one reason or another (usually because a Smith & Wesson caught my eye about the same time). I've owned a Hungarian and Argentine over the years but sold them both.

I did recently pick up another Argentine about 3-4 months ago.





I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. My wife and I have been in the hospital/sick for the last couple of months. Prayerfully, things are starting to turn around and I hope to get it to the range soon.

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John 3:16 .

The grips are Herrett's Checkered cocobolo ambi safety panels. The dull, no figure original factory grips had the same profile. I sold those to a forum member whose HP had plastic factory grips.

I was very lucky to receive grips with such beautiful grain since I bought them from CDNN!

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

Great 9mm since 1935. It was the popular choice in the 1970's. Still good today.

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Love my hi powers. Didn't get my first until later in my "gun life" but it wasn't too long before I got the second. It's a model I always admired and more so since actually owning them. When the "one-gun scenarios" get tossed around I usually say at best I could get down to 3: a 1911, a 3" Model 65 and a BHP. I will show pics later but wanted to post to keep this thread going.

First allow me to apologize for the terrible photo. I'll try to replace it with a better one tomorrow. In fact as I posted earlier it was all the truly wonderful photos in this thread that got me on the hunt for a BHP. After a couple of days I finally picked up this new Mark III today.

I have to say it feels as good as I hoped it would. Just need to get her to the range.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

I always liked that LPA sight on those MKIIIs.

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Use should dictate gear!

Some beautiful Hi Powers represented here. Mine's nothing special, a stock "C series" from 1968...



Roe

Don't sell yourself or your gun short that is a nice BHP! Love the C and T series guns of that vintage.

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Use should dictate gear!

Another 1994 pdf owner. Left the epoxy finish on, recut the muzzle crown and added thin grips. No worry's over marking it up and it fits the hand better than any other semi owned. Own a newer black finished assembled in Portugal, a .40 and recently obtained a completion gp version.

Excellent pointing pistol, reliable and accurate.

I posted this BHP in this forum a few weeks ago but I guess it belongs in this thread as well. This is an early (2 digit serial number) Chinese contract Inglis that I acquired a couple of months ago. According to Clive law's book 1578 of these pistols were part of the infantry division worth of equipment sent to Belgium as aid just after WW II. I understand many of these made their way into the civilian market after being surplused in the 80's

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I've had this one for quite a few years along with its little friend. Also have a Practical that gets shot fairly often. Great guns, I wouldn't be without at least one.

I should avoid reading posts such as these. Makes me realize I "need" a 9mm BHP.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I had no idea that there so many guns that I "needed" before I started hanging out here!!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

YES, you do!

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Stay protected my friends.

i have 2... a late 60's and one from '72. the 70's one went to cylinder&slide for a major repair and upgrade in 2013. bbl cam replacement and action package#1. thing is too good to carry now. love me some hi-power...

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why? why not?

I tried soaking it in all kinds of solutions and the slide came mostly clean but the frame refused so I went the media blasting route. I forgot what my gunsmith said he used, something oxide? If you really want to know send me a message and I'll give him a call.



This is how it came out after soaking in a solution I bought at Tractor Supply named Evapo-Rust.



Here she is naked after the blasting. I liked the way it looked and thought about not bluing it and just soaking it with oil and going with the matte finish as is.

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Isaiah 41:10

I just found these old new stock uncle mike's slim grips that were supposedly designed by Spegel.....


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Thats a nice one lawandorder. I've been a Hi Power fan for many years and have owned a number. Still a fan, but down to three now, a GP, T-Series and MKIII.

BTW, SC_Mike, I have used aluminum oxide blast media that leaves a gray finish as shown in your photo. Looks like that is what your gunsmith used on your gun too.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

So,if I shoot you with one of mine and you die,does that make you a wimp?
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

I own a 1972 9mm. Browning Hi Power almost identical to the one shown. With out a doubt it is the finest and most accurate hand gun I have ever fired. Excellence is very difficult to exceed.

[QUOTE=William J. Holub, Jr.;139454636]
I own a 1972 9mm. Browning Hi Power almost identical to the one shown. With out a doubt it is the finest and most accurate hand gun I have ever owned and fired. Excellence is very difficult to exceed.
I enjoyed a quote the other day when talking about another lesser fire arm the speaker said, " Its best use is to THROW it ".

No...............it just makes him a "Dead" wimp

You guys with High Powers are killing me. Around my house on range day with family over, everyone gathers and picks which one of pops guns they want to shoot that day. Of course first choices are most of the Smiths, then maybe the Ithaca 1911A1, possibly the Ruger .22 six-gun, or the Colt Woodsman.
Seldom....seldom....does anyone pick the M1935 High Power, even if I offer to load the double stack mags, so..... it is just like being the middle kid growing up......odler ones always get to chose, then the baby or vice-versa but never the poor middle one (that's me too).

So what happens just as we are ready to packup and head for the range......out comes this medium pitch (Not wimpy, not Loud) voice from the gun safe...."TAKE ME....TAKE ME....TAKE ME"

So the High Power gets to come along for the ride, but depending on who's shooting.....steals the show!.

How about you folks? Trouble choosing on range day?

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

LPA makes a wonderful target sight for the HP-35 which wouldn't require cutting the slide for 1911 sights.

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Virtue,Liberty & Independence

That's just hitting it's prime....are those Spegel Grips?

Uncle Mikes were designed by Spegel. They have been discontinued for a few years now. Bud's guns had some last year. They found some old new stock. Another good source for them were the Charles Daly FEG Hi Powers. They were the OEM grip for that gun.

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Use should dictate gear!

They look thinner than the Uncle Mike Spegels. They look more like Navidrex grips to my eyes. They are the thinnest grips on the market.

NAVIDREX BROWNING HI-POWER COMBAT GRIPS | Brownells

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Use should dictate gear!

That is where I found mine at Buds. Cost me 30 bucks.


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They still have some. They have sold over 175 on Ebay alone.

New Uncle Mike's Craig Spegel Browning Hi-Power Grips 59508 Discontinued | eBay

I think you can do a make and offer and get them around $40 these days.

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Use should dictate gear!

I've got a Spegel HP grips... they are not wood or rubber ...... can't remember what they are made of....IIRC mine are from an overrun from the FBI Novak(?) HRU guns from the 80s.

He does Delrin grips from time to time if there are enough orders. It is very similar to Micarta which is what the Navidrex are made out of which is why I thought they were Navidrex.

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Use should dictate gear!

The gentleman who posted the truncated bullet mu advise to you would look up the last few issues try and look up copies either rifle or handloader
They ran article regarding this bullet.Seems there was complaints from the allied forces regarding the use of this bullet. The boolit was causing damage and demanded the Germans stop using this bullet

Here is my classic P35. Vintage 1952, German police issue, all matching, with 2 matching magazines and matching holster. The holster and mags match the rack, issue, or stock number on the right, rear side of the frame

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That's a lovely example....looks to be in great shape!

Thank you sailor723. It is in very good shape. The grips are painted red on the inside and it shows just enough wear to bear witness to it's service.

Be careful with that internal extractor. They are somewhat fragile. They are not as robust as the external version and they are no longer produced by FN/Browning.

I hear Jack First is making them now but they are pricey. $60 IIRC

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Use should dictate gear!

I just ordered a part for another old gun from Jack First and noticed the newly made internal extractors are $90.00 now. Have to admit that if I still owned any internal extractor guns, I'd pay it.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640