Have the possibility to purchase a used one from a pawn shop in the 9500 serial number range that is cosmetically in excellent condition. Comes with one 15 round factory mag and 2 nickel Mec Gar 15 rounds mag for $500 OTD. I've read of the earlier ones having extraction or ejection problems of the spent case caused by a faulty ejector/extractor and/or ejector/extractor spring. Does anyone know the serial number range that Springfield supposedly fixed the problem or does anyone have a later serial numbered one with similar problems? Thanks.

My serial number is in the 8800 range and I have about 700 rounds through it so far with no issues. From my limited understanding the extractor issues were limited to guns fairly early in the production run.

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AKA SixToEight

And you can swap in a Browning extractor (or any of the better aftermarket ones) for $30 if you ever have trouble. It is a very easy part swap.

No brainer. Yes. As stated, easy fixes if there is a problem.

You could give Springfield a call and ask what serial number range experienced the issue?

Larry

If you can get an SA-35 for $500 out the door, go for it! You will be saving at least $200 over buying a new one....

A few pics of mine, which I am quite pleased with, even after paying full price!



With an El Paso Saddlery "Threepersons" holster:

Mine is a 2700 and I haven't had any issues.

Nope.

But then again, why would I need that when I have the real deal?

I have one of the early ones and have had so issues with it at all, other than the sharp edges on the 'beaver tail' at the rear of the frame.

I've had mine, 5K serial range, over two years and somewhere over a thousand rounds of assorted factory ammo. Finally had one failure to extract. Pulled extractor and spring. Extractor cut in slide full of semi-sold sludge. Cleaned all, reinstalled extractor, back to boring reliability.

I'd think a clean example for $500.00 would be a good buy...YMMV

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NRA Life, COTEP 640

I have been on again off again as far as buying one of these ...but if I saw one in the condition you describe for $500 I think I'd buy it.

Thanks for all of the replies. Think I'll go for it!

Yes, if I did not have a Highpower I would go for it.

The "real deal" as someone wrote above.



But purchasing a replica of a hard to come by original has never been a bad idea. Look how many cowboy action shooters shoot SAA replicas from Italian companies, or Ruger Vaqueros, etc.

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Come and take it!!

I have read on various sources that the extraction problems were primarily in the first 7,000 produced.

Mine is in the 23,000 serial number range and I had two failure to extracts in the first 150 rounds. I didn't want to mess with shipping it back to Springfield Armory so I had a Cylinder & Slide extractor installed.
350 rounds later and no further problems.

Sold my Browning when I bought the Springer. It’s a better gun. I’ve had four Hi Powers. The Browning was middle of the pack at best.

I always laugh when I read "replica" comments about any firearm that is manufactured based on an original known design.

Remington-Rand was an expedient war-time producer of the 1911A1. Are they "replicas"?

John Ingliss Co. made Hi-Powers during WWII. Are they "replicas"?

FN altered the original HI-Power design over time with - among other things - and external extractor and a 2-piece fabricated and brazed barrel. Are those "replicas"?

S&W made so many revisions to their revolvers and pistols over time... which are the "replicas"?

Colt has contracted the production of several of their designs over the years, presumably because they were unable/unwilling to produce it themselves. They are stamped "Colt", and sold and/or advertised by Colt. Are they "replicas"?

Some people need to get over themseleves.

In my view what’s too many. This is a small selection of mine.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Hi-Power, but a gently used SA-35 with two spare Mec-Gar magazines for $500 would be a quick buy for me!

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

I have not had an opportunity to handle one of these yet, but the hammer/beaver-tail pictured is most above look quite capable of "Hammer bite". Has this been addressed with the Springfield gun?

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Point of order, Mr Speaker, "hammer bite" only happens if you hold it incorrectly.

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Release the Kraken

I strongly disagree. I get bit by the hammer on the HiPower regardless of grip. The “no bite” hammer solved this (mostly) for me.
Some of us have pretty big hands.

FWIW, here is the late Stephen Camp's article on this issue. I had a T-Series and now a slighty-customized Argy and no hammer bite with either. I have medium-sized mitts, which may be relevant.

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

Yes, you do need to get over yourself.

Back in the day, everyone in cowboy action shooting called the various Italian Colt SAA reproductions "clones". The great gun writer John Taffin disabused us of using this term by explaining that a clone has to be precisely like the original and most of these guns were not. Even "reproduction" implies very close similarity. Thus, he explained that "replica" was the correct term. The similarities are close enough but since they're not clones they must be replicas.

So, while you are laughing, if you have a better term why don't you educate us?

Your examples, BTW, have no bearing on the issue. Guns made under government contracts or guns revised by the original manufacturer are not considered replicas as that term is generally used when describing commercial "copies". Licensed "copies" are not replicas, either.

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

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Come and take it!!