I may be among the worst to think of inventive ways to 'fill a niche' in the practice of accumulating hardware.

As most know, not too long ago Browning announced they were discontinuing the carrying and sales of the iconic Hi Power pistol.
Kinda sad, but I'm sure all-steel, expensive hi-cap 9mm's are not real big sellers in the grand scheme of 9mm service style pistols.

I've been a BHP fan for a long time. My first was part of a small commercial run of the 'El Capitan' model with tangent sight way back in the mid-70's before I knew how important visible sights were on a handgun.
Also, at that time, the BHP had the reputation of being reliable with a wide variety of the fairly-new-to-market JHP bullet designs - something not enjoyed by many 9's on the market then.
Anyway, some years later that BHP left my hands in a trade for an approved OD piece.

Just a few years ago, got a great deal on a near-perfect late-80's BHP. Someone had replaced the 'beer can' rear adjustable sight with a Millet adjustable. Shoots great, had a pair of Hogue checkered wood grips with just enough palm-swell to remind you of expensive Spegels.
I did a mag-safety delete on it, resulting in a much better trigger.

Began thinking that with the discontinuance of Browning selling the HP any longer, prices may go up some. Maybe I should look at another? Maybe a 'stand-in beater'? Knew there were many clones on the market and some priced fairly low....
A little checking shows the best known clones are the FEG (Hungary), the Kareen (Israel), FM (some from Argentina, some marked that from FEG/Hungary), some Charles Daly actually made by FEG. I'm sure there's others.

Some GB surfing showed that yes, REAL HP's were certainly going up in prices as well as even the clones.
FEG's seem to have a reputation as some of the better clones, so set out looking at those.
Ended up with this FEG FP-9 at a lower bid than I'd planned. It was one I was actually more 'watching' than anything, but ended up being about the only bid.
It's in really good shape, evidently shot very little. Came with a couple of funky mags that the bottom half is a plastic block, I'm sure limiting it to 10 rounds.
Already have a bunch of other real BHP mags, so no bother.

Cleaned this up, did a mag-safety delete on it, resulting in a very much better trigger. Polished the feed ramp, which showed a little tooling....
Will probably put a pair of VZ grips on it to replace the OE black plastic.

Have to say, I'm not really sold on the ventilated rib/raised sights thing. And the slab slide minus the forward slide cut that instantly identifies a HP seems a little strange.
Have not shot it yet, so we'll see. It may become trade-stock, or go away to find a more faithful clone/repro that's sans rib and weird slide....don't know yet.

Anyone here mess with the HP clones?
Please don't gush about beautiful Brownings and Nighthawk Custom HP's. Everyone knows how nice they are. I'm talking pedestrian hardware here.

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FEG.BHP.jpg (139.8 KB, 189 views)

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I have a FEG Hi-Power equivalent, no complaints after having the magazine safety removed.

I suspect the Hi-Power premium will moderate after the initial "shock" of the end of production, similar to Winchester 94s after they were (temporarily) discontinued - nice guns but not exactly scarce.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

One of those FEG clones is on my short list of semi-auto's to acquire.

Had a couple FEGs over the years....wish I still had them.

Nice guns for the price.... mine worked and shot well ....... just no bragging rights to ownership.

Kind of like the Model 915 of Hi-Powers!!!!!

Does an EAA SAR B6 (European American Armory, Sarsilmaz SARARMS, Turkey, Model B6) count as pedestrian? My (incomplete) understanding of HP clones is that the CZ75 was, more or less, a HP clone with what CZ called "improvements." In turn Sarsilmaz claims improvements over the CZ75 although I do not profess to know what those improvements are. I have a B6, all-steel, with 4.5 inch barrel that I bought new three years ago as they were transitioning to polymer frames and shorter barrel lengths. The pedestrian part comes in, I think, because I bought it new for just over $300 with shipping and transfer from a not-so-popular internet sales company. It functions beautifully, shoots quite well and all I did was smooth internal surfaces and the feed ramp. It's a nice looking pistol that appears more expensive than it was. They claim it is/was the standard sidearm of the Turkish Army, the second largest standing army in NATO, for what that's worth. Informative thread - thank you!

I have a FEG FP-9 a Kareen and a Browning Mark 3. The Kareen and the BHP have Uncle Mike's grips.

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SWCA #2817

Long time follower of the BHP's and think they, along with some nice clones, still fulfill the level of protection anyone may ever need. Solid pistol for many years!

One question...after reading this post, it reminded me of something I've often thought about and just never asked. I've always left my BHP's stock as manufactured except for an occasional grip change.

When you eventually sell your BHP's that have the magazine safety removed, do you notify the new owner of the modification or just complete the sale and let them discover it on their own?

The guys over on the 1911/HP forum have nothing but good things to say about the FEG clone . They are getting hard to find in decent condition and affordable compared to the Belgium HP. If you find a nice one you should buy it.

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John

My FEG (PJK-9HP)runs just as well as my 1969 Browning Hi Power. It is also every bit as accurate for a fraction of what BHP's are going for now.

That's the only clone that I own and I am totally pleased with it.

Randy

My first Hi Power was a Belgian FN P35 that I captured in Vietnam (late 1970 or early 1971), brought home as a war trophy, later stolen in a burglary of my home.

I acquired another Belgian-made Browning-marked Hi Power about 1977. Price tag was $105 at the time. Carried it off and on for about 10 years. It was stolen with my locked suitcase during an airline trip (airline insisted on attaching the tag identifying that suitcase as containing a firearm, thus alerting all baggage handlers of the opportunity for larceny).

About 1990 I acquired a Mark III (made in Belgium, assembled in Portugal), which I still have. Excellent pistol. Spur hammer, ambi-safety, good high-profile fixed sights with bright white post-style aids.

Along the way I have also picked up one of the FEG clones and an early FM (Argentine) clone, both of which were very faithful to the original P35 pattern. Both were decent pistols, both came to me in trade deals and I used them for a while, then they went away.

I have examined the later FEG and FM pistols, and was not impressed by them. I have also handled an Israeli Kareen, which I found to be quite good despite very heavy wear & tear.

Long and short of it, all of those pistols have been very reliable with any ammo I chose to feed them with, all have been accurate enough for defensive use. Those based on the original P35 pattern all share the same tiny sights, with thumb safety levers I find to be way too small for positive engagement under stress, and the trigger pulls can be much improved by the simple expedient of disabling the magazine safety (judicious polishing at the hammer-sear engagement is also an improvement). For magazines I prefer either Browning OEM or Argentine military (standard 13-round, not the extended 17-rounders that were making the rounds on the surplus market some years ago), although the FEG mags seemed pretty good as well.

The Mark III that I continue to use is an excellent pistol. Has the black finish (anodized, phosphate, whatever) that is very durable, even though it lacks the beauty of the original FN polished blue finish. Positive ambi-safety with longer engagement levers. Very good sights. Shoots anything I feed it (surplus, ball, hollow-points, cast bullet reloads, etc), and prints at point of aim consistently at 50 feet.

The Hi Power will always be one of my "must have" handguns.

I have an FM detective model (4" barrel) and an old FEG HiPower as well as my one-and-only Browning marked T-series.
If you blindfolded me I would not be able to tell the difference between the FEG and the Browning. They are very nicely made.

In certain states firearms sold have to have all factory safety features in place, including magazine disconnects. In the free states removing it is probably a positive sales point so I would have no trouble telling a potential buyer about this .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I had an FEG chambered in 45 acp that I bought new from the Rod & Gun club when I was stationed in Germany sometime in the late 80's. I remember it being the roughest action I every saw but it smoothed out to be one of the best I ever handled after a couple hounded rounds. Still kicking myself for trading it off.

Bought a 9mm Charles Daily HP at a gun show about 9 years ago. I traded a gun and some cash which came out to about $550. The finish was a nice blue. The sighs were XS Big Dot, the safety was extended and the grips are either uncle mikes or something very close to them. It feels very good in the hand, Runs like a sewing machine. and eats anything you feed it.

A few month ago I considered selling it so I did some internet research to see what they were selling for. What I found out is that they have a following. People are paying high prices for them. I had no idea! I had always thought I overpaid for it and would never get my investment out of it, much less make a few bucks. So for now it will stay in the dark place call the back of my safe. Heck, I may even take it out and shoot it!.

Old Corp, No personal experience beyond handling, but I remember when those FEGs with the vent rib were in regular production. They appeared to be nicely finished, and always thought they were an interesting variation on the Hi Power theme.

BTW, TXBryan, the CZ75 is not a Browning clone at all, improved or otherwise. Since the '60s I've owned a succession of FN/Browning Hi Powers, and three CZ75s.
They are similar in that they are both service type pistols of similar size, and magazine capacity, originally chambered in 9MM. I'm aware of no parts that are interchangeable between the two designs.

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

Been eying a NIB FM but not sure if the price is right?

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BCCI Life Member #2068

Over the years I have had a number of FEG clones. Best one PJK-9HP. Also just solf my Kareen HP35. Now only have a genuine HP in the collection. 1988 MKII in mint condition.

There is nothing (other than caliber and double stack magazine) that are in common with a CZ75 and a P35 (Browning Hi Power). I own a number of each.
Both have their own niche in the world of handgunning however.

Randy

PS. Yes, both have external hammers and are all steel construction....forgot about that for a moment.

I have a license built DGFM Argentinian HP and a Kareen. I also have Arcus 94.
The Arcus 94 is, basically, HP innards in a slightly different frame and slide. Grips and magazines interchange with regular HPs.

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Thread Killer.

I've been a fan of FEG firearms since the early 1990s and sold LOTS of their offerings back then. I'm familiar with everything from the Walther PP copies to the Hi Powers to their excellent SA-85M AKs, but I've never seen another example of the FP-9 you have with the lack of slide relief cuts. That being said I'm sure it will be a good shooter, just not as close to a pure Hi Power copy as the KBI imported PJK-9HP.
I bought 2 PJK-9HPs on a whim in 1998 when they were $199 from CDNN, and still have both of them. They have been, in every way, quality analogs of actual FN Hi Powers and the closest I've ever seen to the "real thing".
The metal polishing and bluing on the KBI imported guns is truly "python-esque".

I've owned two FEG Hi-Power copies in the past, and I found their finish to be second only to a Belgian HP.

This is the gun that sold me on the HP. I'd always liked the look and the feel, but these guns would function reliably with anything I put in them.

Now, I have a C series from 1969 and a 245 from 1977, but I'd still buy a FEG if I found one at the right price.

A Hi-Power (or clone) is something I've always wanted to give a try. People seem to love them. I've been looking for a FEG or a Kareen for sale for the right price. If I ever found one, I'd probably pick it up in a heartbeat.

The Regent/Tisas imports seem to be promising. I know Brownells sold out much faster than they expected and have not been able to restock as of last month. I am keeping my eyes open.

I found an FEG at a police supply place, and got it for my oldest son last Christmas.



It is a very nice gun. The finish isn't quite on a par with my Browning, but it sure ain't far behind.



The safety is actually better than the one that came on mine, which I had to replace with one from Cylinder and Slide. This is the FEG:



The sights are nice, too.



If I ever run across another I'll keep it for myself.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Now there's one I'd buy in a heart beat

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John

Try to find the FEG; it's a true high quality clone. The Israeli Kareen, although a great pistol, is not really a clone of the Belgium HP. Just my opinion based on discussions over on the 1911/HP forum

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John

I’ve had the Browning for a long time and about a year and half ago I found the FEG. I didn’t know much about the FEG’s, but it does not disappoint. I just picked up a set of wood to try on the FEG.

Attached Images

Hi Powers.jpg (42.9 KB, 42 views)

I currently have three of them, after selling one to a friend.

I'm a big fan of the FEG P9 (a near perfect pre-MK II Hi Power clone with 100% parts compatibility) and the first generation FEG P9M (a P9 with a 1911 style slide stop, an extended safety lever and larger, 3 dot sights, and otherwise 100% parts compatibility).

There is however a great deal of variation as FEG made the military pistols to whatever spec the customer ordered, so you'll see some P9s with extended safety levers and larger sights as well as both round and spur hammers on P9s and P9Ms and some blued examples although most were parkerized. The civilian market pistols were also made to specification, but were also made to a less costly, "whatever parts you have on hand" specification, so you will again see some mixing of P9 and first gen P9M features along with both round and spur hammers.

The second generation P9M used a S&W style locking system and they are not true Hi Power clones - and they have significantly less parts compatibility with a Browning/FN Hi Power or a licensed Argentine "FM" high power.

The FEGs are very well made guns and the civilian examples had excellent polish and blue. The flats are not quite as flat as those on a polished and blued FN Hi Power, but then again they cost half as much in comparable condition before they Hi power was discounted and they are about 1/3rd as much now.

True to military roots, the FEGs are biased toward reliability and have a slightly looser fit than the FN Hi Powers, but there is little difference in accuracy and the FEGs tend to be less picky about ammo. I've heard for years that pre Mk II humped feed ramp used by FEG can cause issues with hollow points, but I've never found that to be the case with the 4 I've owned. All of them shot 124 gr and 147 gr Golden Sabers and 124 gr XTPs with 100% reliability - and those are vary different hollow point designs with the GS having a rounded flat nose shape and the XTPs having a truncated cone shape.

I modified one of my first Gen P9Ms to the SFS configuration to match the FN SFS Hi Power I carried at the time. I got the parts (hammer, sear, safety, slide release) from Cylinder and slide and hey were drop in, with the exception of the safety, which required the normal amount of hand fitting common to any Hi Power.

This is one of my FEG P9s, which in this case has the first gen P9M's extended safety.




-----

I also have an interest in some of FNs less common (and less successful) Hi Power derivatives, a Browning BDM, a Browning BDA, and an FN SFS Hi Power (a modification/variant of the standard FN Mk III Hi Power):

I like "pedestrian hardware". I don't like to worry too much about marring the things.

Isn't there some connection between the Hungarian FEG and the Israeli Kareen? Seems like I heard that once.

And I do have a BHP and a Kareen, pictured together and separately below - the Kareen came to me filthy but turned out to have a pristine barrel:









I have changed the stocks on these but I have no pictures. Yet. The Kareen is a fine handgun. Pedestrian, but fine.

Yes there is.

FEG initially sold P9s directly to Israel, but Israel being Israel was also interested in having it's own internal production capability. In that regard, FEG also sold parts to Israel that were then finished and assembled in Israel and these are the Kareen marked pistols.

FEG also sold some P9s that were roll marked like FN pistols to mid eastern nations during an arms embargo. The FN markings were intended to avoid the appearance of FEG selling arms to those nations during the embargo, although all of them have FEG format serial numbers with a B series and 5 digits, which is the best means to identify a counterfeit "Hi Power" made by FEG.

Israel has been exporting surplus high powers for the last few years and they are an interesting mix of pistols as Israel acquired Hi Power pistols directly from FN, P9s directly from FEG, P9s as parts from FEG, P9s finished and assembled as Kareen pistols, and both actual FEGs and FN Hi Powers, as well as "counterfeit" Hi Powers" captured from the nations it's fought over the years. Examples of all of these can be found in the imported pistols, as well as parts guns assembled from parts taken from all of the above.

I swear, you guys are a really bad influence.
I've thought about one of these several times, but this thread pushed me over the edge and I done went and bid & won an auction on this FEG this afternoon. $300 delivered to my FFL. Probably not a bargain, but not a terrible price in today's market either, I'm thinking....

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	RtSide.jpg (64.0 KB, 48 views)
	LftSide.jpg (64.5 KB, 39 views)

That sure sounds like a bargain to me. Congrats!

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Great buy. You won't be disappointed

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John

I have joined the Hi-Power clone club!

A couple of weeks ago I was perusing the used handgun case at my local sporting goods and pawn shop. This caught my eye.



Sticker price $400, I was able to get it for $350 including taxes and background check fee. It's a hard chromed FM-90. Based on the serial number, it may be among the last before the introduction of the FM-95.

Fired 20 rounds of American Eagle 124gr FMJ after giving it a good cleaning. 7 rounds for function check, 13 for accuracy check. Magazine failed to reliably activate the slide lock after the last round fired and ejected cases landed a full 8 feet away, so the springs are a little weak. Accuracy, it dumped all 13 rounds into a 4 inch circle at 25 yards.

It's a keeper!

One of the relatively few types of common handguns I have never owned has been the BHP or any of its clones, although I have fired several BHPs over the years. And it's not like I need any more 9mm pistols than the four in that caliber I already have. Nonetheless, I do have the urge to buy a FEG if I can get a good deal on one. I came close to buying a FEG, as-new in the original box for, as I remember, around $300 several years ago and wish I had. I am sort of priced out of the market for any original BHP I have seen for sale. The closest 9mm pistol to a BHP I have is an EAA Witness (full sized steel frame) which is a very dependable and accurate fun gun, except that it weighs a ton.

I attended the gun show in Richmond, VA. this past weekend. I did see one blued FEG, appeared to be in new or like new condition, with a box, for $350, so they are still out there.

Oh, and I too have a CZ clone. Mine is an FIE TZ-75 Series 88. Quite accurate, feels good in the hand, and also quite heavy.

Just for clarity, perhaps only because I think it matters and I offer it to you as I figure you might also...

FIE never made anything (that I know of...), much like EAA today. Your pistol is absolutely a Tanfoglio, always was, before FIE existed, and the Witness pistols today are as well, long after the demise of FIE.

These are very good handguns!

Hello. Curious if anyone has a opinion on this FEG PJK 9HP. I am new to the FEG game, but they seem to be great pistols. Is the one I am looking at, one of the "Better" ones that I hear about? I hear some websites saying that you need to stay away from this one or that one, and some websites are saying as long as they have the Browning lockup system, you are good to go. One way to look for the Browning system I understand is to look for a oval on the right side of the frame above the trigger guard. Does this pistol seem to have the markings I am looking for? Any and all info would be greatly appreciated. Gun could be mine in the $350 range with one 13 round magazine.

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	9219392_01_hungarian_feg_pjk_9hp_browning_640.jpg (86.8 KB, 29 views)
	9219392_02_hungarian_feg_pjk_9hp_browning_640.jpg (94.1 KB, 23 views)

Yup, as I understand it that should be one of the good 'uns.
Same as mine.

From what I have read, the only significant difference between these and the genuine article in terms of design and parts interchange is the 1911 style slide lock vs. the original BHP "half moon" style.

I stumbled across this one at a gun show just a couple of weeks ago. The price was so good, that I just had to buy it.

Now that you have piqued my curiosity, how much is a price "so good I just had to buy it"?
That's a pretty decent looking one BTW.

Looks like the good one...... I've had a couple over the years ....... went away after I got my first real Browning HP MkIII wish I'd kept them!!!!!

I got it for $325 OTD.
Unfortunately, due to weather and other things, I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet. Hoping to get it to the range soon.

Awesome!! Thanks for the replies!!! I wanted to throw that price up there to get a feel for it also. I would guess that it is a fair to a good deal on the piece I am looking at. ( I wanted to offer him the same $325 OTD) He stated it definitely woks, but when he picked it up, he shortly afterwards found a great deal on a Browning, and then another apparently, and the FEG just sits in the safe. He is cleaning out this and a few SKS's, Nagant's ( rifles and revolvers), and other WW2 odds and ends that he has bought and put into his safe along the way. I know I am not guilty of doing such things.....

Thanks you very much for the replies and please keep them coming!!

"Please don't gush about beautiful Brownings and Nighthawk Custom HP's. Everyone knows how nice they are. I'm talking pedestrian hardware here."

Ted Yost or Don Williams will actually increase the value of your Hi Power if you send it to them, especially Yost. Nighthawks are great 1911's, but the Hi Power is overpriced and over rated. I compared one right next to my 69 "T" series when I bought it and my "T" had a much better trigger and fit and finish. Nighthawks don't get a lot of respect in the Browning world. However, several clones do get a lot of respect! I don't have any clones, but have learned from the guys that have both, don't put down some of the clones until you handle one! Respect much.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

I have three Hi-Powers, an FN Mk III, an FEG, and a Tisas BR9.

The FN and FEG were both Israeli surplus. The Tisas (stainless) is brand new. I have done extensive work on all three. The FN and Tisas were both converted to SFS. All three have had the mag disconnectomy. All springs were replaced. The FEG received an ambi safety as well as a new hammer and sear. Extractors have been replaced on all three. Tisas wears the original three dot signts, FN now wears XS Big Dot, and the FEG still has the pre-Mark II tiny sights. Because of sights the FEG is relegated to range duty, but I am comfortable carrying either the FN or the Tisas for self-defense.

The finish on the FN is very nice, but the FEG is pretty sorry in the blueing department. The FEG is going to receive the Oxpho blue treatment just as soon as I find some spare time.

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Only a cold warrior

Very good. I spent about $30 more for mine OTD including with taxes, shipping & fees. Yours is in better shape.

Tell me more about your version of the "Oxpho Blue treatment".
Mine needs some finish rescue too, and the standard application of Oxpho Blue doesn't seem to be all that durable. Do you do something special beyond the standard application?

Picked up a nice surplus Israeli FN Mk III years back which has done EDC duty from time to time. I much prefer it to a Glock. Earlier this year I got a Tisas clone, removed the mag disconnect,fitted a C&S safety and Uncle Mikes Spegel-type grips. Surgery put me on the beach for a while, but the Tisas seems to have a future as a practice understudy to the Mk. III. I have heard of some extractor problems on the Tisas but allegedly there is a fix for it.

I DO like BHPs.

Nothing special, just trying to make it look better than it presently is.

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Only a cold warrior

I'm a fan.

Here's a Kareen that I bought because my local gun pusher offered it at a price that I couldn't refuse:


A $300 gunbroker FEG that I purchased so I could try my hand at slow rust blue on a semi-auto. I ended up replacing a fair amount of the internals as well: