Any Vintage Hi Power experts?

[YouveHadYour6]

I recently picked up my first Hi Power, which is a fairly uncommon factory SFS .40 caliber from 2003, still LNIB.

Now just a few weeks later I've been offered this specimen from what the seller believes is '52 - I know my way around HPs, but am not deeply knowledgeable on the proofmarks of the era.

What I can see here seems correct - can anyone confirm or deny?

**Havent gotten to see in person yet, but anyone ballpark what a fair offer on this era is these days? Vintage HPs seem to run the gamut, but the lack of large import mark for the age helps I know. Finish seems correct to my eyes?

Thanks all!


Full pics:
1952 (?) Hi Power - Album on Imgur

 

[YouveHadYour6]

*Meant to add, no import marks or unusual marks aside from the uppercase 'B 1' on the right side trigger guard - though I feel like I've seen this before somewhere?

 

[biku324]

Don't know a thing about your '52. My duty weapon from '93 to retirement (including SRT) was a personally owned plain Jane High Power MkIII in 40. Still have it, still shoot it.

 

[target tech]

You can go on the Browning website and find the S/N date range your gun falls in. Just Google Hi power serial number date.

 

[YouveHadYour6]

Pre-dates company import range of 1954 (when Browning started keeping track), but not by much, so 52-53 is logical at least.

 

[swagmeister]

Can't help you with information about the proof marks but the gun looks to be in very good original condition. As far as a fair offer, vintage Hi Powers, like Colt Pythons, have risen to stupidly high prices the past few years, and you are correct that they are all over the map, and mostly in the high range. If you really like the weapon and are not getting it with the idea of making several hundred dollars on it down the road, you will probably have to spend a fairly large amount for one like that these days. How much, I have no idea. I guess you could look on different auction sites to see what one in that particular time frame and in that condition is selling for (not the asking price) and go from there. It probably just comes down to how bad you want it. Good luck.

 

[Grayfox]

I'm no expert, just a big fan of the Hi-Power. I've seen guns like that selling in the $1200-1500 range lately.

 

[YouveHadYour6]

Will hopefully have more pics this weekend, *knock on wood*

 

[Hair Trigger]

I recently picked up my first Hi Power, which is a fairly uncommon factory SFS .40 caliber from 2003, still LNIB.

Now just a few weeks later I've been offered this specimen from what the seller believes is '52 - I know my way around HPs, but am not deeply knowledgeable on the proofmarks of the era.

What I can see here seems correct - can anyone confirm or deny?

**Havent gotten to see in person yet, but anyone ballpark what a fair offer on this era is these days? Vintage HPs seem to run the gamut, but the lack of large import mark for the age helps I know. Finish seems correct to my eyes?

Thanks all!

Have you shot your .40 BHP yet? If so, how do you like it? I also have one, from around 1995 (they started making them in 1994), and it's a different animal from the 9mm. Recoil is much stronger and once you get used to the trigger you can fire it faster. I recommend removing the magazine disconnect, it improves the trigger feel. I really like my pistol, but it's the only BHP I own.

You might want to ask your question about vintage BHP's on the 1911 forum, they have a section on BHP's and there are a lot of fans over there.

 

[erikpolcrack]

Can't help much, but I believe the old type extractor on this gun was eliminated in 1962.

 

[moralem]

That is in fact a post war HP and about 72000 of them were made. If yours is a 5 digit serial number 374xx I would guess 1952 is pretty close assuming production for the post wars ran approximately from 1945-1954 before they hit the states at around serial number 80000.

.

 

[otis24]

Try Browning Hi Power group on Facebook.

 

[Golddollar]

I don't know if I'm an expert, but yesterday I decided to take this customized Browning High Power out of the safe for the first time and took it up to the indoor range on the other side of Harrisburg. I found it at the York gun show a few years ago . I'm really smitten with customized handguns and with the BoMar rib and the super dark thumbrest grips I just had to take it home. I don't know who did the work or where the grips came from but it really is a gorgeous gun. According to the serial number lookup this gun was made in 1965. It appears to be well taken care of.

I was doing function testing as well as trying to sight the gun in for the first time. I shot 4 5-shot groups from different types of magazines. They all fired without a hitch. The first group came in at the lower left of the total group, and as I adjusted the sights I walked each group further up and to the right. The little holes in the center are from somebody else's .22. This gun still has a Browning barrel so I was really impressed with how it shot.