Handgun from the genius of John Browning and one
of my favorites.
Couple years ago, I gifted a family member with
a 1980 vintage nickel BHP.
Soon after Browning discontinued the model.

Have owned three over the years; a Browning, a Feg, and one of the new Springfields. The Feg has been a project over the years, been tweaked a few times. Once I got the Springer I sold the Browning. The Browning was a MkIII of not great distinction. The Springer was better is every way; tighter, better trigger, more accurate.

I like the platform but its a bit of an acquired taste. A lot of folks jump into them not understanding their quirks. The trigger is just adequate, there are typically more accurate pistols out there, the mushy safety, the mag safety, hammer bite, etc. But there is a certain air about them.

I've owned a number of them over the years but never ended up keeping any other than a few military issue guns (Canadian Inglis and Nazi marked FN guns) for my collection. Good guns, but just not my cup of tea for carry or target use.

The HP is still one of the best feeling and pointing handguns out there for my hand and its approaching 100 years old. I like everything about my MK III and I installed Herrets checkered grips and a ring hammer and have no problem with bite. Trigger is a little gritty like many guns from the 1980s but decent for a combat weapon and I could have it tuned, but I own many other guns with sweet triggers if I need one. It's one of the top classic handguns of all time!

Same day in early 1970s got Brn HP, S&W 39 & Colt Commander 9mm
The HP was most accurate shot of rest, the trigger was not bad, sights were tiny and hard to see.
The 39 was easiest to shoot accurately, best sights and trigger about same as HP.
The Colt was lowest score of three in all departments except function. It would shot and cycle anything we put in it. Poor sights and worst trigger.
I now have the Comp model HP. Trigger is Target grade as accuracy. The most accurate 9mm I’ve ever shot. Have shot a SIG 210 yet but I doubt at my age if I could use any advantage it might give.

I wanted one from the days of my misspent youth when I learned about them in the movie "Serpico". Some years ago I had the opportunity to acquire this one and I like it - it's way too big for me to carry but it is fun to shoot and I started my point shooting training with it some years ago - and I surprised myself on my inherent ability so I continue to practice that skill.

I changed the stocks; I really like these:

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Come and take it!!

This is an Israeli "Kareen", a BHP replica:

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Come and take it!!

Agreed. That's why I bought 2 Springfields. That way my left hand gets to enjoy it too.

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The best I can with what I got

I shot a nice HP remake, the Girsan P35 PI OPS (same dimensions as a "Detective", milled slide for optic). No magazine safety, nice sights, somewhat heavy trigger that is supposed to get better with break-in. I think there is also an alloy frame version.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I have a couple of Israeli police Hi-Powers a Kareen and a FN MKIIIS. I have a Argentine, FM I picked up years ago, I also have a variation called the Arcus 94 - it's a Hi-Power but odd looking - feels good in the hand, though!.

Hi-powers are the one of the few that I don't change to thicker grips. They're good shooters once you get used to the trigger and the safety.

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Thread Killer.

A Practical model with Spegel grips, it appears some scalawag has removed the magazine safety. ;-) And a Girsan Match (I think that's they call it, I can't keep up with all the acronyms and numbers these days) that shoots about as good as the Browning, but I still prefer the real deal, probably psychological. I love Hi Powers, but I wish their grip frames were about one-half inch longer - big hands problem.

Bought mine in 1967-my first handgun, still have it. Only flaw in the HP design is that since JMB and Dieudonne Saive designed it around the 9MMP it can't be chambered in 45ACP w/o a major re-design and tooling.
Bought the Ciener unit for mine, fired it more w/that than w/centerfire.

I have always had a soft spot for the BHP - Even though they bite the webb of my shooting hand. They feel a lot like a CZ-75 to me, which is to say, very good in the hand. I have two now, a "real" BHP, and an FEG clone, which is just as well, or better finished than an earlier blued BHP I once owned.

Larry

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I have three left, having sold two back when I did a herd thinning several years ago. A new Springfield picked up recently, a Browning badged example with holster wear and a late '40s war horse than has been there and done that written all over the wear patterns. I keep the last one to have something to tinker with. It has had ejection issues since I got it, but it was only $275 so I don't mind working on it.

I'm one of the few who does not see the Siren like allure of the HP. My FEG rattlebox shoots quite well given how far the slide moves as you squeeze the trigger. Yeah, it's that loose. HP users I knew in the in the UK were not convinced about their long term durability.

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Release the Kraken

FEG's do have some slop in the slide when you pull the trigger, but my two Brownings don't at all. I do wish they had the trigger of a 1911, but other than that I like the overall improvement.
69 "T" series and my ~80's MkIII


69 T again

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

I read the SAS only fired hot smg ammo in their hp's and it wore them out much quicker than regular ammo would have.

I have a 1982 model. I'm not a fan of SAO pistols, and it's the only one I have, but I can't bring myself to sell it. It's beautiful and accurate, and the trigger pull is actually pretty nice, even with the magazine disconnect intact.

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Years ago I visited Dances Sporting Goods in Petersburg Virginia, as I often did when I was in the area for business. In the used gun case was one of the ugliest firearms I’ve ever seen. It looked like a Browning Hi Power but it had an internal extractor like a 1911 and said “Inglis” on it. I told the guy it looked like some ****** copy of a Hi Power. Upon getting home I started researching with this Internet thingy and learned all about Inglis Hi Powers made during WWII.

A day or 2 later I wandered back to Dance’s and offered them $300 cash for that crusty junk and they said “OK”


It might not be worth more than $300 today but I love it! The frame was made in 1944. It has matching serial numbers on the frame, slide and barrel - only in 3 completely different fonts and the barrel looks like another number was ground flat before this one was stamped. The slide and frame both say “FTR 63” with a cartouche someone kindly identified as an armory in England. My guess is that is when the slide, barrel and frame came together and got painted black. Yes, it is thick, cruddy black paint. Who knows why? But it runs like a top.

If only guns could talk…

I have an Argentine FM Detective, not a fan of magazine safeties so I pulled it out. Haven't fired it in years but it shot well with whatever I ran through it. My only complaint is that it's a real pain in the butt to load the mag's. I can't get more than 6 or 8 rounds in the mag before I have to use the loader to top it off.

I dug out the second HP clone I have, it's an FEG, beautiful firearm, haven't fired it yet.

The P35 was the first Hi-Cap 9mm.

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S&W Accumulator

Kind of hard to find in CA. I got this one a few years back for about $400.00 because someone had fiddled with the hammer, causing it to follow the slide. Was a pretty easy fix -

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A MkIII in 40 S&W and now with a 357 Sig barrel -

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Uses the same magazines. Plink and practice with the 40 S&W barrel. Learned that 357 Sig is kind of a PITA to reload.

I've heard it said that we buy 1911s for the caliber and BHP for the gun.

The BHP is my favorite handgun of all time. I feel blessed to own two nice specimens, a C-series from 1969 and a 245 series from 1977. I really need to take a family photo of them...

It's the only handgun that feels better in the hand than a K-Frame with target stocks. For me, anyway.

I've owned two FEG copies, and I found those to be just as reliable and finished almost as well as the originals.

My hands are relatively small but the BHP fits my hand like it was made for it. I bought a standard blue model back in 1977 that has been fired quite a bit over the years. It is accurate and extremely reliable. A few years ago I bought an almost new MKIII at an estate auction and decided to give my older one a rest. The MKIII is slightly more accurate which surprised me. It is a bit stronger with an improved slide and is better for hotter ammo. Both are stock except that I removed the magazine safety on both which did improve the trigger pulls. Both are keepers.

I've had two, one of which was a .40 Practical.
Sold both of them.
The 9mm bit my paw, the .40 didn't do anything better than my 1911.

That is a nice one Xfuzz. I've been a fan since the '60s, and have owned I don't know how many. I used to fancy myself a small time, very small time, Hi Power collector. I think I'll aways keep a Hi Power or two, most recently one of the Springfield examples. The SA-35 is the only one I have that does not cause hammer bite bloodshed..

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

I have a C-series from the mid-70s. Completely stock except I added Browning "mousetrap" magazines. These (and the original mag that came with the gun), help the trigger pull a lot, because of the phosphate (I think) coating. I have some Mec-Gars, but the shiny blue actually drags on the magazine disconnect and makes the pull very gritty. Removing that disconnect would fix that, of course. Trigger is six pounds and very crisp. Not target pistol standards, but a very good real-world service trigger, in my opinion. The "moustrap" magazines have another advantage (besides ejecting out of the gun): They present the round to the chamber at just a little higher angle. I've done some limited testing with +P Critical Duty 135 gr. ammunition in these magazines and it they worked just fine.

As for the sights and safety (two areas where the older models is often criticized): since I've had cataract surgery, I find the sights very precise. The safety took some training, but it's extremely unlikely to ever get rubbed off accidentally, and I'm used to it now.

I don't get bit, fortunately.

I think the High Power's day as a service pistol is over, but it can still do what it always has. It's like having a handy three-inch barreled K-frame, but with 13 shots and a round intermediate between a .38 and a .357!

Mine , don’t know if custom finished or came from Browning as is?

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....... Best I could do was always 10. The list has shifted around a bit as my experiences, knowledge and needs grew.

In the top 5 there has always been a BHP, never with out one. One, enhanced by Nighthawk, is always with me in large urban areas ( which I try to avoid ).
A mint T series is in the bank.

Other ones that reside in the always own one category are, M1 Carbine, Remington 870 ( 2 barrels), K frame 3 " and a J frame snub

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LEX ET ORDO

I recently picked this 245 series up with the tangent sight, haven’t shot it yet, but it sure is pretty.

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Some 4 plus years ago when I acquired a Model 39-2, I decided to hit the range with both, my 1988 BHP and the May 1978 Model 39-2. Same ammo, same range conditions, both offhand at 10 yds.

Both performed admirably per my standards, but I guess I have to give an edge to the M39-2 because a: it was new to me; b: cost more than my old BHP; c: was prettier; d: hey...this is a S&W forum.

The BHP still gets shot and still has that special spot in the safe along with others of JMB design like the Ithaca 1944 1911-A1.

Can't really go wrong with a BHP in my opinion.

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Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570

I also have a Girsan P35PI OPS. I wanted to try a HP and liked the idea of the Detective length which is an inch shorter.I also really like the beavertail ,I want nothing to do with hammer bite. I had my gunsmith work on the trigger and he reduced it to a smooth 4 lbs 8 ounces measured on my Lyman gage.He also milled the slide and installed a green fiber optic front sight . I like the gun but it is a Lille heavy for concealed carry.
Just don’t expect ANY part’s support from EEA. Their customer support SUCKS !!!!!!!

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Respectfully
JoeDice

I never have cared for 9mm, hardly ever shoot the one pistol I have in that caliber. I always wanted a BHP, but held off until I found one in .40S&W. It's a tad heavier than the 9mm version, but still lighter than a 1911 in any caliber. I love it, to me it's a perfect meld of gun and caliber.

Are you worried about carrying a SAO cocked and locked? I never could get used to the long first pull on a DA/SA trigger.

They made a "Silver Chrome" finish, not sure yours is factory because the ones I've seen (and I also have one) have either a black or gold trigger. Here's my .40S&W Silver Chrome, came standard with the Millet sights. Also came with Pachmayr grips, I changed mine to Hogue cocobolo wooden ones.

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A 39, blue LW was my very first auto that I sold like a fool.
Back on the bucket list, your's is a nice example!
I'm revamping my daily carry to my MkIII HP over my custom Wilson/Colt Officers because of mag capacity. Just need to run enough of my defensive ammo though first.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

Always loved the HP, one of those firearms that just fits perfectly!

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Life Member GOA and NRA

I guess I got bit by the Browning Hi-Power bug hard many years ago.
I first bought 2 of the Israeli imported guns from AIM. Both were finish challenged and were perfect base guns for custom guns so I sent them to Novak's for complete custom builds. Both guns now are real gems.
When Browning came out with the Hi-Power in .40 S&W (a caliber I really like), I just had to have one. It took quite a while to finally find one but I was totally disappointed when I did, because the accuracy was absolutely atrocious. The new .40 was also sent off to Novak's for another custom build & upgrade with a new Bar-Sto barrel.
Several years ago I got to purchase a post WWII FN Hi-Power, with a 5 digit serial number, tiny sights, the old internal extractor and right side slide cutout for removing the slide stop shaft, from the estate of an old friend who was a retired Air Force Officer. This gun is apparently one he brought back from one of his tours in Germany, as there are no import marks anywhere. This gun has obviously been shot a bunch and I know it was a favorite of Jacks, so it will be left as is.
Just a couple months ago, while visiting my local tiny fun shop, they had an FEG High Power clone that was in nice shape except that a previous owner had driven the trigger pivot pin out of the frame in the wrong direction and the pin now wanted to walk out when the pistol was fired. I fixed the wandering pin and now the gun is fully functional again.
On my most recent visit, my favorite fun shop had finally gotten in, one of the Springfield Armory SA35's. I am really torn, because I have wanted one of the SA35's since they came out and I REALLY would like to get one now that SA has apparently got the early bugs worked out.
Now my dilemma, I also have been craving one of the new Beretta A300 Ultima Patrol shotguns for an advanced tactical shotgun class next year.
Decisions, decisions.

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All the "T" means is it is a High Power, nothing more
Then it changed to "C"

Hi Power Pistol - Browning

In 1964 the product code for the Hi Power was the letter "T"

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Still Running Against the Wind

The essence of the debate about DA versus SA is right there in those two quotes.

I won't own a 1911, even though it's a wonderful pistol, because I can't be bothered with cocked and locked. Alternatively, I love TDA pistols with the long pull for the first round like a revolver.

I have the B-HP pictured above solely as a range gun and for the juvenile reason that I find B-HPs divinely good-looking (remember, I fell in love from a decades ago movie!) and I like the triggers because they are revolver-like.

The Kareen doesn't count in any of those respects. I was just fascinated when I discovered it long ago as a B-HP replica from Israel. That was a sufficiently good reason to have one.

And so it goes.............

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Come and take it!!

Do you own or carry any striker-fired pistols that have an external thumb safety but not an exposed hammer? If so, they are no different in practical operation than a 1911.

You insert a full magazine; you rack the slide to chamber a round and cock the pistol; you flip the thumb safety up. The only difference is that you can see the cocked hammer on the 1911. (or the BHP, for that matter)

True, but they're mostly coveted and desired for their superior fit, finish along with being Belgium made and assembled, they always bring more bearing their condition. The tangent sights with the detachable stock is the most sought after along with actual WWII models. The Renaissance models bring big bucks, but they were limited.

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Dave Ramsey Cultist

mckenney, I get it about about the "atrocious" accuracy with the .40 Hi Power. I had an early .40 Hi Power, and .40 SIG P229. Both boringly reliable, but the .40 Hi Power did not have the accuracy of the .40 SIG, or my 9mm Hi Powers. Gunsmith Richard Heinie commented on the .40 Hi Power in one of the gun magazines years ago. He indicated the .40 HPs did not have the accuracy of the 9s, and he might have to add a BarSto barrel to his .40 HP custom packages..

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

I bought my BHP new in 1971 fo 94.00 OTD. I put maybe a couple hundred rounds through it, and put it away in the safe. It stayed there till the spring of this year. Number one son has always wanted it. He caught me at a weak moment, and I gave it to him with the caveat that he wills it to his younger brother.

This pic shows the Spegel rosewood grips I put on it a couple years ago

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Pete
I ain't no fortunate son

I had a magnificent Belgium made Hi Power for a few years. I sold it many years ago because it was my only 9 at the time and while it performed flawlessly, I always felt it was too large, heavy & bulky for a 9MM cartridge.

Probably should have held onto it.

The Hi-Power is my favorite 9mm pistol.

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Internet folly. I have three Belgium made ones, one with a adjustable sight (not the tangent) None are "T"

What was different in 1964 to 1969??


Copied from another forum. Then there is the hype about the ring hammer


The "T"'s were just an earlier run of the same model of HiPower. In 1964 FN changed from a numerical only serial number to one with the letter "T" as the first character. ("T" being the product code for the Hi Power). In 1969 FN again changed the numbering system to use the last two digits of the year, followed by a new product code...the letter "C". So a Hi Power made in 1969 would have a serial # of 69Cxxxxx. As there were a number of frames already assigned "T" serial numbers, but not yet assembled, FN continued to use the "T" serial numbers for several years even after they began producing "C"'s. Occassionally you will see a post on a gun forum where someone believes their HP is uber rare because the serial number is not shown on Brownings Arms "Date Your Gun" database. (FN and Browning have never been very good about recordkeeping)

The "T" & "C" series are identical in quality, fit and finish.

Quote:
xxx I have a T series that i love dearly as well as a C series. The T series was made before 1970/71 when the C series came into being.
The earliest "C" series was manufactured in 1969 (serial #'s 69Cxxxx) and had ring hammers. (I own two of them)

Quote:
The T has a ring hammer as opposed to the spur of the C and had plastic grips and a lanyard loop.
Almost all of the "T"'s and "C"'s imported into the USA by Browning Arms had blonde or honey colored walnut grips. A "T" or "C" series with plastic grips and a lanyard loop is most likely a military contract HP.

Most of the folks bit by a Hi Power are bit not by the ring or spur itself, but by the shaft of the hammer. And most of the bitten are 1911 fans trying to take as high a hold as possible....like they do with their 1911.
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Still Running Against the Wind

Center body mass at 25 yards is far from atrocious. Maybe the 9mm is better, but my .40 is good enough, and does plenty of damage. I suspect the outliers are more me than the pistol, it's much better at 15 yards. These were my fist range outing with my .40 BHP. 155 gr.JHP's at around 1200 fps MV.

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Been saying it for years. Just because you can get higher on a gun doesn't mean that you should. If the flesh on your hands rolls up over the tang of any gun, you're holding it too high. If your hands are getting chewed up by the moving parts of any machine, you need to change what you're doing to reduce the blood spatter. How hard can it be?

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Release the Kraken

I just picked up two myself for my collection.

You are correct, and I have one, and I'm not crazy about it. But it's a nice-sized gun for concealment whereas your typical 1911 is not, unless you get a pocket-sized one from Kimber.

Which explains why I carry other guns.........most of the time.

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Come and take it!!

With essential modifications: Novak sights, C&S hammer and sear, mag safe removed, Spegel handles …