I really know so little about high powers, but I am a sucker for boxed guns. I encountered this yesterday at a pawn shop-



$900 out the door. Made in Belgium. I gave a close inspection, it appears LNIB, looks like factory grease in the barrel. Grey wooden box with velvet liner and black velvet pad on the bottom, stamped silver latch closure with double hook. 73C series on the serial.

2 questions I need a yes to, and I will grab that gun-

Is that price in the ball park?
Is that box original?

All other info in gratefully welcome.

Pristine, made in Belgium, target sights and a nice presentation case(I doubt the case is original); BUY IT! Then shoot it. Wonderful pistols, I love mine.
Seriously, $900 is not an out of line price at all.

__________________
Virtue,Liberty & Independence

Yes, as pictured and described, buy it for that price. Don't know about the case, but that would be an attractive price for the gun alone.

I never particularly liked the awkward appearance of the adjustable-sight Hi-Powers, looked a bit like putting a bike rack on a Ferrari, marring the classic lines, but they are great shooters, and that package at that price is hard to beat.

I'd probably pass at $900. They are great guns, but I would look for a fixed site gun in the $700 range if I wanted one. The Hi-Power is one of the first handguns I ever bought. I bought it new about 20 years ago and still have it.

The case is not original.

__________________
My sgntr is mor thn 30 chrctrs

Well worth the price for the gun alone. But, I would still like to see other pics of the box. It could be an original Browning box, but not necessarily for that gun. Either way, a free display case to go with the gun. Use your "buy it now" option!!

I am glad you know something of the boxes. I did some googling around on the subject and pretty much came up empty. Except this- the browning centennial edition HP has the same latches and hinges and velvet interior looks about the same. But this isn't a centennial. And I can't find a picture of a box that looks like this that isn't a commemorative edition. I would like to find out if this was an original box.

Agree with Steamloco on the box....... but figure a nice "box " will run you $100 or so (?) so at $800 an "OK to good price" on the HP IMO

Offer them $800.00...I bet they take it...

__________________
Hipcocked45

A "C" series with target sights in that condition at that price would be a great buy, but it can't hurt to try for less. Good luck.

Not a steal,but fair enough.(I had a later adjustable sight model.Also a T series Renaissance)(C model a plus,but not as much as T model) For me,the deal wouldn't pivot on the box details-The gun provides adequate value for the money.I probably sell it off to reduce the cost and storage space. I agree with the others.800 should get it in your hands.If not,then certainly 850 would.

You guys are great with my money, and wifey definitely appreciates it.

Thanks!

Beagleye, Nice gun, and price is right. I owned several C Series Hi Powers, and handled and examined many others. I have never seen a standard C Series Hi Power originally cased as in your photo. Box is not original to the gun, IMHO. Were I in the market though, I would buy it anyway. It appears to be a very nice Hi Power, and the box is nice, original to the gun or not.

__________________
NRA Life, COTEP 640

Nice gun at a very fair price. As far as the box, I do know Browning did offer display boxes for some of their FN made handguns. Whether that is an original to that gun box or not, I can't say, but I do remember seeing boxed Renaissance grade sets, as well as optional standard grade box offerings, albeit many years ago.

Larry

Buy it!!!! A twin to mine. You can't buy this quality at this price. Who ever regretted getting a high power.

__________________
Old Guys Rule!

Offer them $700 and let them keep the box.

Look for a MK III gun with fixed sights. The slide has been beefed up where it can crack at the edge of the ejection port and the slide is made of stronger steel.

I still wouldn't shoot an awful lot of Plus P 9mm ammo in a Browning, but unless you're into action pistol shooting or in a military special ops unit that shoots LOTS of ammo, this probably won't be a factor.

I suggest the same ammo diet for Beretta M-92 series guns. I do load HST 124 grain JHP's for business and don't worry about moderate use of those or Speer's Plus P Gold Dot. My Beretta is one of my primary defense guns, very reliable and accurate

Me. I had one jam, probably due to an extractor fitted too tightly and another caught the end of my parka sleeve between the hammer and tang and I had to take the coat off to get the gun free. Thankfully, this happened on a range, not in a gunfight.
I thereafter carried a revolver in cold weather,, where bulky coat sleeves were a factor. In fairness, that freak occurrence could probably have happened with many other autos.

On the plus side, my son loves the HP and his MK III in Iraq killed several jihadists. This with military hardball ammo.

Everyone needs to own a High Power once in their lives and at that price, for that clean of an example, I say buy it. A new one would cost you more than $900 and de-value quickly. That one should only go up.

My first handgun ever was a BHP I bought in early 80's and kept it over 20 yrs. Keep kicking myself in the buttocks for selling it...

__________________
Isaiah 41:10

Have seen that same box design on 'special edition' BHP's such as Centennial, Renaissance and such. Probably not original to a basic gun. Matters little.
In BHP circles, the sorta-unusual adjustable rear sight is sometimes referred to as 'beer can' sights, due to the large round profile.

Got a very similar model (@$450), but someone had replaced the beer can sights with a Millet rear adjustable, and I radiused the corners of it. Do prefer that over the Browning rear adjustable.

They're neat 9mm's. Get and enjoy.

__________________
Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Most members here are very liberal spending other people's money

__________________
Hipcocked45

That's a steal in my neck of the wood. I paid way more than$900 for each of the beer can sight Belgium made Hi power. The custom case made me do it....
Thanks

Attached Images

IMG_1939.jpg (33.7 KB, 21 views)

Mildly high on the price but a great gun if its in the condition you describe. Browning did offer red velvet lined boxes in the 80s but some deteriorated and some guns had debris from the box adhering to them. Also, since they are red velvet the flakes and "fur" can mislead some into thinking there is rust on the weapon. From the pic you inserted that one looks to be in perfect shape but I would inspect closely to see if the velvet has started to disintegrate or adhere to the side of the pistol. Good luck.

__________________
Who watches the watchers?

Thanks dudes. Great info. I am buying it.

On the subject of the box- a lot more indifference to the box than I expected. Clearly a different collectability factor with S&W boxes. So less value there than I hoped. Even if not valuable, I have a feeling it's original based on just the fact the hinges and latch were a little unusual and were the same on the centennial collector set. We shall see.

Discount any value associated with the box. It is most likely not a Hi-Power box and is nothing unique. But $800 range for a nice "C" series Sport model like that is fair. Good luck

__________________
John

Beagleye, please post pictures of the outside of the case. Here is mine, it is not factory, but nice wood and presentation. I dig it.

Thanks

Attached Images

IMG_1935.jpg (72.9 KB, 8 views)

oops wrong thread

__________________
John