Most associate the Browning High Power pistol with Fabrique Nationale, in Belgium, and rightfully so, as that's where the first ones were made. The HP was a John Browning design, perfected by Dieudonne' Saive, who later gave birth to the FN FAL rifle, among others.
But during WWII, Belgium was overrun by the Germans, who promptly took over the FN plant in Liege. There, they continued production for the Nazis.
England and Canada had need for that pistol, so they turned to the John Inglis Company in Toronto, Canada to make them. Inglis reverse-engineered the HP with the help of former FN employees, and started making the HP there for the Crown's soldiers.
This particular High Power is an Inglis MKI* (Mark One Star), made in December 1944. The HPs were issued primarily to commandos and paratroopers, so it's likely this one saw use with these troops during the war. It has the standard painted-on finish, fixed sights, and a lanyard ring. This one has had the magazine safety removed; probably a good move for a military pistol. It came to me with an Inglis-marked spare magazine and a British web holster, also made during the war. After the war, it was given a military overhaul (in British parlance a "Factory Thorough Repair") at Enfield Armory in 1962. It does have a very tiny import mark above the left grip.
I love seeing guns that have been there and done that. This superb 9mm pistol is one of those, a nice addition to any WWII military collection.
John
But during WWII, Belgium was overrun by the Germans, who promptly took over the FN plant in Liege. There, they continued production for the Nazis.
England and Canada had need for that pistol, so they turned to the John Inglis Company in Toronto, Canada to make them. Inglis reverse-engineered the HP with the help of former FN employees, and started making the HP there for the Crown's soldiers.
This particular High Power is an Inglis MKI* (Mark One Star), made in December 1944. The HPs were issued primarily to commandos and paratroopers, so it's likely this one saw use with these troops during the war. It has the standard painted-on finish, fixed sights, and a lanyard ring. This one has had the magazine safety removed; probably a good move for a military pistol. It came to me with an Inglis-marked spare magazine and a British web holster, also made during the war. After the war, it was given a military overhaul (in British parlance a "Factory Thorough Repair") at Enfield Armory in 1962. It does have a very tiny import mark above the left grip.
I love seeing guns that have been there and done that. This superb 9mm pistol is one of those, a nice addition to any WWII military collection.
John
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