A friend has a nice Hi Power, asking 900 for it.
Thinking of offering him my model 18, but not sure if winning, losing or draw.....
Any opines? I mean on value, I'm sure there are those among us who would think I'm crazy 😊
to even contemplate trading......
btw, finish almost perfect, I took the pic in the shop and it was pretty dirty at the time.....

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Without knowing the variant of High Power it's impossible to say for sure. But in general, blasphemy though it may be, I'd probably prefer the HP.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Value is probably a toss up - which caliber would you shoot more?

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S&W factory revolver armorer

I dearly love the Hi-Power.
But no way in Hell would I sell or trade a Model 18.

As nice as the High Power's are, I would not trade your model 18 unless I needed a defense handgun, and could not afford to buy one.

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Always Stay Strong!

I've had both. Don't have either anymore. If I could have one of them back, it would be the Model 18.

I have both and I like my High Powers, but if I only had a Model 18 there is no way on earth I would ever trade it for a Hi Power. Still I wish more people holding Model 18s who aren’t in love with them would let them go; the market could always use more Model 18s. In my area it would be a fair trade in dollar value if condition of both guns were similar.

That's a tough one... people would say that I'm crazy too, but considering how Browning HP's prices have gone crazy after Browning ceased production of them, and the older one have become classics, just as your 18-3, it would be tempting...

I think you would have a much more difficult time getting another pre-lock model 18, should you come to the conclusion down the road that it was a mistake getting rid of it, and want another one.

What's age of the HP your friend has? I'd be less inclined to trade if it's one of the recent ones, but if it was a Belgian Browning... like I said, it would be a tough call for me.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

Browning is mid 70s

Are you thinking about trading because you want a pistol as opposed to a revolver or is the trade more about perceived value of each firearm.
It's going to be harder to replace the 18-3 than the Hi Power, unless the Hi Power is an early one in 97% plus condition.

Do you enjoy shooting pistols more than revolvers? For me it's a no brainer, keep the wheel gun.

I have both and wouldn’t give up either one.

A mid 70's BHP depending on the condition, I would most likely choose the BHP.

T Series with round hammer, nice, with original stocks, I'd make the trade. Later ones, assembled in Portugal, I'd keep the M18. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

As always, it depends on your needs, desires, financial condition, and how good a friend it is, as well as condition of both guns. From my limited observations, really nice Hi Powers are running $1200 or more and really nice 18s around $700. Maybe $800 for like new. I have not been to a gun show in months so the market could have changed since then.
YMMV

I will add that I would not trade either of my Hi Powers for even the best shooter grade 18-3. Probably not even for a like new in the box 5 screw pre 18. And I don't have an 18.

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I've owned both a '70's ring hammer blue and a '93 Practical. The '93 Practical was of inferior metal and had a hard chrome frame that wasn't properly done.

I own an 18 or two. I would maybe trade an 18 for a nice '70's with original wood grips and black Browning zip bag. Would not have another 90's era in 9mm and certainly not in 40 S&W.

The BHP is not an overly robust design. I've seen them shot to death. The originals have a two piece barrel. I've seen these separate.

Was wanting a high polished blue HP, but I already have a HP Practical, so I am convinced by your arguments that I should keep the M18.
Why get rid of my only k22 , which I'd never be able to replace ( so few have I ever seen), for something that I already basically have one of....

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No way I’d trade an 18 for a BHP.

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

I have a 1953 K-22 and an older Hi-power. I wouldn't trade either one for the other.

Wise decision.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I have a 1971 HP that I bought new in 71. It has not been firedd in 45 years. So it is mint, and worth more than the really nice 18 that I have. I would not hesitate to make the trade IF the HP is mint, then go get another 18. There are a lot of nice ones around. HP's like mine are 1200 now. You are coming out ahead.

The BHP now wears Craig Spegal scales

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

Never owned a HP, at the range one day I met someone with one and shot it.

Not really impressed. And for that kind of money, no need for one in my collection.

Keep the Mod 18.

Some good replies here. I sure wouldn't trade a Model 18-3 with box and target grips in great shape for a Hi-Power. Instead, I would find the $900 somewhere to buy the Hi-Power outright and own both! That makes a lot more sense.

TTSH, would be a good idea, if I didn't already have the HP Practical. However, I suppose if I just have to have a blue one, I can try to trade the Practical..

Opps! I missed the post where you said you already owned an HP Practical. What kind of puts a different light on things.

In that case, I say keep the Model 18-3... and unless the Practical just isn't doing it for you for some reason, I say leave the other $900 BNP for some other lucky guy or gal who doesn't yet have one (like me maybe?).

I agree with Jeff the guns assembled in Portugal
Are second rate.

Dave357......like mine? 😊
Kinda reminds me of the guy who complements his date by telling her "you know,
you don't sweat much for a fat girl...."

I love 18s. Although I've enjoyed casual target shooting with a couple of High Powers I do not give a hoot about them. It hardly matters why. The consensus here seems to be that the value is a toss up or close enough that you'd be best off selecting the one that gives you the most pleasure.

Yeah to all above opinions...trade even...don't trade...buy 2 if you can...keep em all.

However...consider this..take your BHP (any version, any year) to your range, also take along your M18 (Model 17-3 in my case). Shoot the heck out of both, have fun..tell us the double stack BHP wasn't at least as much fun (and even close to same on accuracy) as the Model 18.

NOW...you get home , your cleaning both, and you say "hey I'm really a S&W guy, wonder what S&W has in vintage bottom feeders like my BHP?"

THEN you find the Model 39-2 usually for less than $500 and "off to the races" you go.

Don't get me wrong, 22's should be S&W wheelguns in my opinion, 9mm's should be BHP or S&W or both if you got the coin. Don't even think about asking me how I know this to be fact.

Ever wonder why people on this Forum are known as enablers?

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

I have both. Both are staying for completely different reasons.
It boils down to:
- What do you want?
- What do you want to do with them?
- What do you want them to do for you?
If the issue is simply 'value', then it's all about condition and when and where they were made.

Since we're talking about Model 18s, I am looking at four of them in one shop, one no dash, two -2 and one -4. No boxes, virtually new condition, three have correct stocks, 6" bbls., $800 - $950 price ranges. They don't seem to be moving. I'm not a fan of .22 WMR but would have considered a 4" bbl.

Thoughts?

HPs are uninteresting to me. That 18 with box is a great keeper.

I would trade mint 18 for mint Brn HP from early 70s or older. I have to many 22 handguns. Shooting revolver it’s always my old K22 I got new back in 60s. I’m down to one 18 no dash, 95%+ and one 34. I don’t have any murder weapons most all my handguns are 6” or better adj sight S&Ws. I have only one HP and its FN competition model with extended barrel and adj sights.

0132, I have always preferred 22 LR.
Since I think of any 22 as a fun gun plinker, I don't want to buy more expensive ammo. I have had three or four Single Six convertibles over the years and none ever had the 22 wmr cylinders out of the little red bags. I guess it boils down to what you are doing with the gun.

Murder weapons? Me neither.....��
I did once buy a commercial Colt Government model that had been used in a suicide, but only kept it two weeks......too creepy.......

cmansguns, yup I really like 39s. Got talked out of an ISP marked 39-2 a couple years ago, wish I still had it. Had five factory mags....(sigh).

Exl. condition early BHP will be worth more in a few years mostly because of the military history and the fact that it's a JMB design. Sort of a Rembrandt for firearms collectors. Most can't name the designer of the 18. Heck most people can't even tell you the cartridge it shoots or the frame size.

I don't have either but I would take the BHP if someone offered both for the same 800 bucks. That's a no brainer for me.

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That's just somebody talkin.

Didn't production of the Browning High Powers stop a year or so back?
Steve

I don't know if Smith is producing any variant of the 18 today, but it wouldn't be anything like this one. So, in effect, neither is being made any more. But like I said, I do have the two tone practical, so I currently do have both. I would just prefer the high polish blue HP, but maybe not enough to lose the 18.

I am sure 6" 18 would bring a
Premium and one in .22 mag.
Even more with factory letter!

Yeah, I doubt they are 18's, 48's maybe..

That should have been Model 48, sorry guys. Fixated on 18. Sincere apologies for distraction.

Can't get anything past these guys.

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That's just somebody talkin.