No more Hi Power

[PALADIN85020]

I've never owned a Belgian Hi-power, but have two of the Inglis-made WWII guns. My first was this British-issue gun, probably used by paratroopers or commandos, where they were standard equipment during the war. This one was overhauled in 1962 and later released for sale.

FEG in Hungary has made some affordable high quality Hi-power clones, and I chose one of those to customize, courtesy of Cylinder and Slide.

Next, when I came upon this beautiful Canadian-issued Inglis with adjustable rear sights (Chinese contract type) and matching shoulder stock, I couldn't resist. Here it is with an issue holster.

Here's another picture of it in full battle dress.

Once upon a time, I found and bought a High-Power in a pawn shop that had a strange marking on the top of the slide and on the base of the magazine. It had the long-range adjustable rear sight. I asked the experts at the NRA what it was. Turned out it was Lithuanian issue. The folks at NRA allowed that it was fairly rare, and wondered how it got into the country. Like an idiot (I was then a newbie collector) I sold it at a gun show for not much more than I paid for it; the fellow that bought it said it would be on its way to a noted High Power collector. The me of today wants to kick the butt of the me of yesterday for doing that...

To me, the guns that have "been there" in war have more appeal than the commercial guns that are certainly beautiful but have no particular history. I guess that's just me.

John

 

[Texas Star]

I picked up a NIB, FM Hi power last year. Must have been someone's safe queen. I added an ambi safety and corrected the mag disconnect. Trigger pull is nice and smooth. I just need some good sights on it. It runs any HP I put through it without a hiccup.


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You mean the Argentine Fabrica Milatar (FM), not the Belgian FN, right?

I've had both. The Argie was a nice gun, if not as well finished as the Belgian ones. But it had a military finish. The others were commercially blued.

My son found a MK III very effective in Iraq. When you can't carry 9 mm JHP ammo, the NATO M882 FMJ works, with good placement. But he uses a pistol far better than most soldiers.

I think he fired a Browning HP for the first time when he was about 13.

I've never owned a Hungarian FEG. I gather that they're good guns.

 

[cbore]

Got mine in the mid 70s and was actually my carry weapon on "Bad jobs" while in Narcotics. Mine a Belgium with spur hammer and adjustable rear sight. Rest happy in my safe no way it is going anywhere

 

[FifthWheel]

I just bought a 2014 NIB Hi Power Standard last month. The bluing is top notch.
Then I got a used one. Had to get a new barrel due to gouged rifling near the crown. The crown was in need of attention also. I was able to fix the crown but a new barrel was the only way to go. I now have more $ in the used one but got a great deal on the new one.
Pics 1&2 the new one. 3,4,&5 are the used one.
I understand they were all assembled in Portugal from about 1980 on. Then around 1989 the Browning guns had the "Portugal" roll mark added.

 

[RoninPhx]

my first hipower was in the 70's primarily because of the way it fit my hand and about the only hi capacity i knew about. I have since accumulated more. But at the time jeff cooper was fond of the cz75, something that was real rare at the time. I consider it in many ways a superior handgun to the hi power, and that's not slighting the hi power but there are some design issues with it.
One of the boner things i did years ago for a cousin who is a dirtbag i wont even talk to now, is point out at a show two consecutive serial number T series unfired in a presentation box priced about 900 dollars. convinced him to buy them. Sure regret that.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

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.

Watchdog is correct - they are out there. The name on mine is a Kareen, and it is a replica Hi-Power made by FEG in Hungary I believe. When I got it we were afraid it was a total mess. My FFL, also a good friend, and a fanatic gun cleaner, took it apart, cleaned it all, and then went after the disgusting barrel. When he was done the barrel was no longer disgusting - it was pristine! Clean bore, crisp lands and grooves, we were amazed. Good shooter, too!

I will have to take pictures of the Kareen and my real Hi-Power, Belgian-Portuguese model - picked it up just a few years ago around the same time as I picked up my other two grail guns, a S&W M25 in .45 Colt and a 4" Model 19 to replace the one I blew up in 1997.

I am not a 1911 fan for various reasons and for EDC I am not a Hi-Power fan, either. OTOH, the Browning Hi-Power, to my way of thinking, epitomizes the essential combat automatic pistol, high capacity, sleek, built to last forever, etc. I know the American world of shooters adores the 1911 and I get it but I think the BHP is just sexier.

They will be missed. And, I'm an optimist, if Browning doesn't want to make them I bet Armscor will!!!

 

[Watchdog]

Some people get it, some people don't. But this is the wrong forum to troll...

Maybe if we don't feed them, the trolls will go away.

 

[Stephanie B]

I have a surplus import Mk. III. I may see about getting a rounded hammer fitted. The spur is sharp enough to draw blood.

(Or I'll just round it off.)

 

[Rio Laxas]

My BHP alongside my Glock 19:

I am of the opinion that it is hard to beat the size of the Glock 19 for concealed carry. The critical dimension is the height of the pistol.

The Hi-Power is very competitive with the Glock 19 as it is roughly the same height, but has a longer barrel. I prefer the longer barrel and sight radius, as I have never had any difficulty carrying up to a 5" barrel.

My only Hi Power is a 9mm Practical that my father gave me, but it is definitely one my favorite carry pistols. I like the Swiss SIG P210 and the Sig Sauer P226 more for target shooting, but the Hi Power conceals better than both. My only real complaint is the hammer bite, which I've learned to work around somewhat, and the lack of a trigger reset. Neither is a deal breaker for a self defense pistol.

It's a shame to see it go.

 

[cmansguns]

apologies to OP and others for confusion

Apologies seem to be in order for my post #45 in this thread;

First to the OP for diverting (aka hijacking) the BHP subject to Sigs of which I admitted I have no interest....

Second to Mike, SC Hunter (post #48) for my "all steel" comment on high priced used SIGs. The LGS that I happen to see one actually used the term "black Stainless" and then had me heft it (yea it was heavier than most plastics...but again no interest so no further research by me). When he was putting it away is when he mentioned that was why he was asking more than a new "modern" SIG. I honestly don't know but apologize for the confusion.

Third goes to WV SIG (post # 58) with thanks for the info on Mr. Saive as the designer of the BHP we love today. I had always thought JMB designed it, but it didn't get to market until the mid 1930's, hence the Model 1935 I heard about, but again... no substitute for real research before opening mouth (or punching on a keyboard)....so sorry to all for confusion and mis-information.

 

[Rio Laxas]

Second to Mike, SC Hunter (post #48) for my "all steel" comment on high priced used SIGs.

There actually are stainless steel framed versions of a few models of the Sig Sauer classic P series pistols, and they do command higher prices than their alloy framed equivalents. For example, I have a P226ST, which is an all stainless version of the P226, and also a couple of P226S X5 pistols, which are all stainless target pistols. They also made all stainless steel versions of the P220, P229, & P230.

I have a surplus import Mk. III. I may see about getting a rounded hammer fitted. The spur is sharp enough to draw blood.

(Or I'll just round it off.)

Oddly enough, I have the opposite problem. The ring hammer on my Practical tears my hand up every time, but the spur hammer was not an issue when I owned an older Hi Power that I have since traded away.

 

[blaser1234]

Hi power 9MM

Really believe like every fine firearm, this too will become a collectable, albeit specimens in ASNIB condition. Bought mine several years ago NIB and immediately made it a safe queen. Simply too well made to ignore and had premonition then that due to scarcity that FN and Browning were on a short path to discontinuing. Polymer competition and pricing doomed it. Just a classic from a collecting point of view, in my opinion.

 

[WVSig]

Apologies seem to be in order for my post #45 in this thread;

Third goes to WV SIG (post # 58) with thanks for the info on Mr. Saive as the designer of the BHP we love today. I had always thought JMB designed it, but it didn't get to market until the mid 1930's, hence the Model 1935 I heard about, but again... no substitute for real research before opening mouth (or punching on a keyboard)....so sorry to all for confusion and mis-information.

No need to apologize. Many people attribute the BHP to JMB. He had a part in its designs origins and Saive borrowed from JMBs playbook to finish the pistol but I feel it is more Saive than it is JMB. No harm no foul.

 

[handejector]

I traded into a Mod 39 S&W when I was a teenager, before I had ever fired a Browning. I fell in love with the idea of a loaded chamber, hammer down, safety off.
I respect the HP for what it is, but never really fell in love.
In the 90s, I fell in love with Sigs. 220s, 226s, 228s, 225s just do what I want them to.
I still hate to see it go!

I've never saw a Sig "all steel" quote...........I own a couple and all the grip frames are aluminum.

Just for the record, the 40 cal 229s had a steel frame from day one. I bought one of the first ones built. I don't know if the current ones do, if they even still make a 229. All my Sigs are like me- old.

Got mine in the mid 70s and was actually my carry weapon on "Bad jobs" while in Narcotics. Mine a Belgium with spur hammer and adjustable rear sight. Rest happy in my safe no way it is going anywhere

That brought back memories. I knew several narcotics officers back in the 70s that carried HPs for the fat mag because they ran the risk of being "made" in a crowd of 4 or 5 people or more and just didn't feel confident with only 5 or 6 rds in a revolver.

Anyone remember the sets?

 

[ISCS Yoda]

No need to apologize. Many people attribute the BHP to JMB. He had a part in its designs origins and Saive borrowed from JMBs playbook to finish the pistol but I feel it is more Saive than it is JMB. No harm no foul.

Interestingly, there is almost always confusion about this issue. But never fear, it's NEVER your fault - the following from the Browning website:

No longer in production. The Hi-Power is one of John Moses Browning's finest designs. And although it is possible to still find Hi-Power pistols at dealers across the U.S., the Hi-Power is technically out of production. Current dealer inventories will be the last available from Browning for the foreseable future.

© 2016 Browning

If that's what Browning puts out in public EVERYONE has the right to be confused.

Briefly, you have to understand that FN asked JMB to design this pistol pursuant to French Army requirements. So that starts the facts from the get-go. But the 1911 was still covered by patents that Colt bought from JMB so he had to create/design a gun that did not violate those patents. Right in the middle of this work Browning died. A couple of years later the patents expired and his FN teammate, Dieudonné Saive, was able to use various aspects of the 1911 design to complete the Hi-Power.

The best name is probably Browning-Saive Hi-Power but you know that won't work!

So, it's kind of like asking you who was the first President of the United States. Your answer will be George Washington - EVERYONE knows that. The fact that John Hanson was the first President of the US under the "Articles of Confederation" that preceded the US Constitution is generally overlooked and there are all sorts of arguments, pro and con. But we go with what works best!

And that's the name of that tune............

 

[shawn mccarver]

Just talked to Browning.

The guy I talked to said they were revisiting the issue of the tooling to see if there is a way they could make them and keep them at a price point at which they will sell.

I suggested that until they get their new tooling that they have the licensed manufacturer in Argentina, FM (Fabricaciones Militares) make them, mark them Browning, and bring them in.

Suggestion passed on, so who knows.

That company, by the way, is making Beretta PX4s and ARX200s under license now for a military contract.

 

[hammer 1]

The reason why nighthawk customer's hi power is out of stock. Glad I have my two, one a inglis

 

[Watchdog]

Next, when I came upon this beautiful Canadian-issued Inglis with adjustable rear sights (Chinese contract type) and matching shoulder stock, I couldn't resist. Here it is with an issue holster.

Here's another picture of it in full battle dress.

To me, the guns that have "been there" in war have more appeal than the commercial guns that are certainly beautiful but have no particular history. I guess that's just me.

John

I've never seen an Inglis in that good of a condition, especially one with the shoulder stock. You're fortunate to have that one, no matter what it may have cost you.

And for whatever it's worth, I'm in agreement with you regarding the guns that have been there and have a history. I might not know what their history is, mind you, but when it's evident from the guns appearance, it increases it's appeal for me by a whole lot.

 

[sheepdawg]

That's sad, the second most iconic 9mm. of all time.

 

[Thin Man]

There has never been a pistol that so well fit the line from Star Wars: "An elegant weapon... for a more civilized age".