No more Hi Power

[Collo Rosso]

Browning announced that production of the Hi Power has ceased. Kinda sad. Never owned one but was looking into buying one when I came across CZ's. After shooting a 75B my want for a Hi power went away. Now that they're out of production I'd like to find one but imagine the prices will go into the stupid zone.

 

[Watchdog]

I don't foresee that much of an uptick in Hi-Power prices. Simply because there are untold millions of the things floating around out there now.

The vintgage Hi-Powers, and the wartime pistols have just about topped out in price...at least as far as the average shooter/collector can afford. Would I pay $1600-$2000 for an NIB C- or T-numbered, Made in Belgium Hi-Power? Nope.

And there seem to be more and more of the Nazi-marked ones showing up on the market. People used to go all goo-goo eyed over them, but not so much now.

I guess we'll see what happens.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

The Hi Power will still remain one of my "must have" pistols. Started using one in Vietnam about 1970 and have owned one pretty much every day since. Can't imagine any need for a 9X19 pistol that the Hi Power won't fill for me.

 

[Farmer17]

I just got my first HP a couple of months ago and it is now my favorite, I would love to have one of the high polished blued guns.

 

[Watchdog]

The Hi Power will still remain one of my "must have" pistols.

Totally in agreement with that. For semi-auto pistols, the only two must have pistols for me are the vintage Hi-Power (Before Portugal and before ambi-safeties) and the Series 70 1911 or 1911A1 (and maybe a Series 70 Combat Commander).

Those are the two benchmark semi-auto pistols, and I really don't think any shooter's or collector's collection is complete without them.

 

[cmort666]

Browning Hi Power Out of Production

FN is stopping production on the Hi Power:

Hi Power Production Ends

It's a sad day. I'm glad I bought mine back in the '80s.

I wonder if somebody else is going to step up again like FEG, maybe somebody in the Philippines. There'd be a market for a Hi Power clone at Citadel prices and level of quality.

 

[Lonestar57]

For me, few handguns point as well as a BHP. As a matter of fact I'm having a hard time thinking of any......

 

[S&W629]

As a die hard S&W owner...I will admit....I treasure the three BHPs that I have.....Mk111 forged frame(pre-port)....Standard deep blued with Adj sights...and a Mk111 cast frame...

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I may have posted this before. Belgian HP. Purchased new in the red pouch in 1972 for $114.00......Still have it.
The HP or P35 design was started by John Browning and finished up by Dion Desalve who worked with Browning at FN. The HP or P35 was the FIRST high capacity semi auto pistol. When I got mine in 1972 it lived on Lee Jurras's Super-Vel ammo.

 

[OLDSTER]

Totally in agreement with that. For semi-auto pistols, the only two must have pistols for me are the vintage Hi-Power (Before Portugal and before ambi-safeties) and the Series 70 1911 or 1911A1 (and maybe a Series 70 Combat Commander).

Those are the two benchmark semi-auto pistols, and I really don't think any shooter's or collector's collection is complete without them.

AGREE. This 1967 "T" series Hi Power is, without a doubt, one of my "special" pistols, and will never be sold or traded away

 

[Aircrewman]

Yep, a sad day indeed. One of the iconic modern 9mm autoloaders ever made. I like them very much. Have had a succession of them including a T serialed round hammer. Last one owned is a Novak customized. Very nice.
I have wished that the model would have been manufactured by the Miroku factory like the rifles and shotguns. I think that they would have been marvelous renditions of the High Power...!

 

[Watchdog]

I may have posted this before. Belgian HP. Purchased new in the red pouch in 1972 for $114.00......Still have it.
The HP or P35 design was started by John Browning and finished up by Dion Desalve who worked with Browning at FN. The HP or P35 was the FIRST high capacity semi auto pistol. When I got mine in 1972 it lived on Lee Jurras's Super-Vel ammo.

Interesting that you mention the price. In 1970, I dropped in at a gun shop in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, while stationed at Eglin.

I was looking to buy a gun.

They had a Hi-Power in the case for $112 and a .357 Ruger Blackhawk for $79 (if I remember correctly).

My handgun knowledge was still in its infancy back then, and I thought $112 was a ridiculously high price for a gun that wasn't even made in the USA (insert long drawn out sigh here and an eye roll or two).

I bought the Ruger...which led to a long road of learning about shooting, handloading, and various hunting/shooting adventures.

But I can still see that Hi-Power laying on that shelf behind the glass. A nice memory, but somewhat painful at the same time.

That's a nice pistol you have there, and kudos to you for hanging on to it.

 

[jrm53]

Thats a shame I never owned one but I always thought I would get one but now its passed me by. Thanks for the heads up on the news. Jeff

 

[Xfuzz]

Long time HP fan...
Picked this one a couple months ago.
Ends up being a fairly scarce HP.
Around 11k came out of the factory between
1980-1982 with this nickel finish.


Check the sale price of this one...crazy.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/740589826

 

[cmort666]

My BHP alongside my Glock 19:

 

[Watchdog]

AGREE. This 1967 "T" series Hi Power is, without a doubt, one of my "special" pistols, and will never be sold or traded away

Nice photo! Curious...did you buy the pistol new?

 

[Walkingwolf]

Kinda kicking myself for never picking up one of the surplus HP from a couple decades ago when they were very affordable.

 

[DWalt]

I've shot several, but never owned one. I think the HP is the ultimate classy autoloader, and I would love to find a good one at a reasonable price. But as I already have too many 9mms that I don't shoot much, that probably won't happen.

 

[Watchdog]

Kinda kicking myself for never picking up one of the surplus HP from a couple decades ago when they were very affordable.

There's usually a bunch of Israeli surplus Hi-Powers on the market for less than $500. Unfortunately, they all seem to have some importer's rollmark stamped on 'em, and they're in pretty bad shape, finish-wise. Some I've seen look like they've been sprayed with black paint or something.

But still...for a shooter that you absolutely would not worry about scratching/dinging up, they're not bad.

 

[loeman]

Totally in agreement with that. For semi-auto pistols, the only two must have pistols for me are the vintage Hi-Power (Before Portugal and before ambi-safeties) and the Series 70 1911 or 1911A1 (and maybe a Series 70 Combat Commander).

Those are the two benchmark semi-auto pistols, and I really don't think any shooter's or collector's collection is complete without them.

Thanks for this post Watchdog. A couple of years ago I decided to thin my collection of non-S&W firearms. But there were a few that just could not be sold. Among them were these true classics that are a true pleasure to be the current caretaker.

Colt Series 70 Gold Cup (I purchased new in '79)
Browning HP Early Commercial, Pre US import ca. 1951
Browning HP, T Series ca. 1970
HK P7