Surplus Israeli Browning Hi Power (pics)....

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canoeguy

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Picked up another neat gun today, a Browning Hi Power (MKIII) that was said be surplus from some Israeli source, these were imported a year or so ago.

It is marked "Fabrique Nationale Herstal Belgique", it has an "L" on one side of the trigger guard and two other marks that are hard to make out on the other side of the trigger guard and frame. No other marks to speak of or to indicate Israeli ownership. Import mark "Mech1 Knoxville TN". Lanyard ring, ambidextrious safety and some sort of painted on finish.

I like Hi Powers, I had an older (MKI?) years that was made in Belgium and had the small safety. Like all good things, it was traded off, so when the opportunity came up to buy this one, I had to jump on it.

Took it out today and ran an assortment of ammo through it, no malfunctions, adequate trigger. I didn't bench it for accuracy, just shot it at some steel targets at 10 and 15 yards to determine reliability. After I got used to the trigger, it didn't seem capable of missing. I like it, a lot....

Anybody have an idea of when it was made? Serial number is 245PVXXXXX.

Here's some pics:

IMG_4909_zpssivdvuik.jpg


IMG_4908_zpsnyzaqfvc.jpg


A cold but happy shooter having shot my "Limit" of steel:

IMG_4911_zpsnclccw1d.jpg
 
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I own a MKIII and it appears you have the black epoxy finish the guns have from the mfg. I love my Hi Power and carry it frequently. A good reliable weapon. I replaced the plastic grips with Herrett Cocobolo grips. Next and only other mod I will make is removal of the mag safety. Enjoy your HP!
 
I've always wanted a Browning (or Inglis) HP, but never owned one. Probably too late to start, and one thing I don't need is another 9mm pistol (which would make 4).
 
Nice surplus Hi Power. I believe that it is a MKII not an MKIII. MKIIIs started in 1988 give or take. Browning/FN is horrible about serial numbers and dates of manufacturing.

The PV in the serial number tells you it is 1985. The other things that lead me to believe this is a MKII is rib on the top of the slide and the hog nose bushing on the front. I can't see from the pics but I am willing to bet there is a hole in the front of the slide below the barrel.

Your gun is an Isreali Defense Force surplus gun. It appears to have IDF proof marks. Does it have a Jewish Star on it like this?



Ambi safeties were stock on the later MKIIs. The sights also lead me to believe that it is an MKII because they are slightly smaller than the MKIIIs. The front sight does not appear to be dovetailed which is also a feature of a MKIII.

All that said I love that Hi Power. It shows honest wear and should make a great shooter.

One other note. It appears that the stock trigger pin has been removed. It appears to have been replaced with a roll pin. You can see what it is supposed to look like here and in the pic above. I would order the correct part and replace it. I do not believe that the rollpin will have anywhere near the strength of the OEM pin.

 
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Great grab.....looks like a great shooter...................


I have 2 of the MarkIII HPs...... my older one has the matt finished; it got a set of Spegel grips and a Millett red ramp front sight (dovetailed) ...... while I don't carry Cocked and Locked ........ the Browning is one of my favorite handguns!!!!!!

About 10 years ago was wondering around a "burgh" gun show.....noticed a box buried on a table covered in parts (no guns)..... turned out the "seller" was "selling the gun on consignment for a neighbor".......asking price was $350 anib and still in the box........it's now set up like my matt gun and is a favorite safe Queen.
 
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The guns from Aimsurplus that I've seen that were Israeli imports all have the Star of David on the side of the frame. A good friend of mine, former IDF and police carried the Hi Power. He got one from Aim last month, very rough shape, grips are warped but mechanically in great condition.

We shot it last weekend and while it has the typical heavy trigger it digested everything we fed it and was quite accurate.
 
S&W Fan said:
The guns from Aimsurplus that I've seen that were Israeli imports all have the Star of David on the side of the frame. A good friend of mine, former IDF and police carried the Hi Power. He got one from Aim last month, very rough shape, grips are warped but mechanically in great condition.

We shot it last weekend and while it has the typical heavy trigger it digested everything we fed it and was quite accurate.
Click to expand...

Mach 1 is a known importer of these Hi Powers. PW arms and CDI sales are two of the other big names in BHP importers. You see others occasionally but these guys are the biggest sources. They are still being sold/imported by Mach 1 on GB. CDI sales AKAs Coles Distribution also has surplus Hi Powers on GB.

One big advantage of the CDI sales surplus guns is that he does a great job of hiding the import mark. Most of the time you cannot find it.
 
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WVSig,

There is a marking in the same spot that you illustrated as a "Star of David", but this one looks like a square or a book inside of a circle. Same size as your Star of David mark....
 
canoeguy said:
WVSig,

There is a marking in the same spot that you illustrated as a "Star of David", but this one looks like a square or a book inside of a circle. Same size as your Star of David mark....
Click to expand...

It is a different IDF marking.

Israeli%20Hi%20Power%20markings_zpsbxtm2wi9.jpg
 
canoeguy said:
Picked up another neat gun today, a Browning Hi Power (MKIII) that was said be surplus from some Israeli source, these were imported a year or so ago.
Click to expand...

Can't beat a Hi-Power. Probably the best 9mm pistol ever made (my opinion), and other than the 1911, it's probably the most easily recognized pistol on the planet. There's usually a bunch of Israeli surplus on a popular auction site...most at okay prices, considering.

Congratulations on your purchase.
 
I have the two-tone BHP in .40, but I like my unlicensed Hungarian hi-power clone just as much. Early FEG PJK-9HP:

29b7007b02b7e9cb07b69490e5e3db52.jpg


I'd love to have an Israeli HP. The hunt commences.
 
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