A prize handgun from the last month of WWII...

[PALADIN85020]

I'm always on the lookout for great condition firearms from the WWII period. I scored one today at a gun show. This is a Mk. I* 9mm High Power pistol, made by the John Inglis Company in Canada. It was manufactured in August, 1945, the last month of WWII. Since it probably didn't see any action, it's in really excellent original condition. No import marks, either. I'd have to rate it at 99%. This one has the tangent rear sight graduated optimistically to 500 meters, has all the proofs, and matching serial numbers on the barrel, slide and frame. It was evidently issued to the Canadian military. The icing on the cake is that it came with what was probably its original shoulder stock/holster, which was stamped as having been made in 1945. Thought you might like to see some pics of this gem!

John

 

[Texas Star]

John-

I thought those tangent-sighted guns with stocks went mainly to China. The Commies wouldn't take over for a few years, and China was an ally then. These Inglis guns were meant to replace the Mausers previously favored.

I've never seen a Canadian or Commonwealth soldier with one. They all had the fixed sights and webbing holsters. Some MP's had leather holsters designed very like the webbing ones.

Canadian troops still use these Inglis Brownings, even in Afghanistan. The UK and other Commonwealth countries have ordered more modern ones from FN. Don't think Canada ever did.

Prince Harry may have one of these now. But he probably wears a newer example. I've seen film of him in Afghanistan with one in a holster on his vest. Had a rifle on the wall of his shelter, too. HIs base was attacked a couple of weeks ago, with casualties in both US and UK ranks. We lost some Harrier VTOL fighters, too. The media didn't say if those were all USMC or RAF planes. The base is shared by both nations. You probably saw this on the news. This happened within a few weeks of HRH's arrival. May be a coincidence, as the enemy didn't seem to be targeting Capt. Wales or his helicopter unit. This attack took place within a month or so of his celebrated romp in Las Vegas, where he showed little wisdom in how many girls saw him, uh, out of uniform.

 

[PALADIN85020]

John-

I thought those tangent-sighted guns with stocks went mainly to China. The Commies wouldn't take over for a few years, and China was an ally then. These Inglis guns were meant to replace the Mausers previously favored.

I've never seen a Canadian or Commonwealth soldier with one. They all had the fixed sights and webbing holsters. Some MP's had leather holsters designed very like the webbing ones.

The Inglis Chinese contract was cancelled on September 14, 1944. This specimen was produced almost a year later. They were made until October of 1945, and this gun definitely has the "C enclosing broad arrow" Canadian military stamp. I have a British issue Inglis High Power made in December of 1944, and it has the fixed rear sight. Both versions were made for British Empire countries. As I said, I suspect this particular gun never saw action; it's damn near perfect. Check the marks on the larger pictures in the "Pictures and Albums" section. I suspect they figured out that the tangent-sighted stocked version really wasn't very practical; I bet most went into storage after the war.

About 60,000 tangent-sighted pistols were made by Inglis; of these, nearly 44,000 went to China.

John

 

[V-35]

IIRC the 2CH s/n means it is for the 2nd Chinese contract.


Art

 

[PALADIN85020]

IIRC the 2CH s/n means it is for the 2nd Chinese contract.


Art

Originally, CH prefix guns were for the Chinese. 1CH prefixes were shipped to the Chinese until one month after the Chinese contract cancellation in September, 1944. Additional 1CH and then 2CH prefixes, starting in July '44, continued the style, but were kept for commonwealth use. The last CH prefix was 5CH9926, in October, 1945. T-prefix guns were made concurrently, the last one being 9T3626. The numbers preceding the letter prefixes were used when the number in a series got to 9999, and then a new series with a higher number preceding the letter was used. This had no relationship to any contract.

Confusing, huh?

John

 

[V-35]

Originally, CH prefix guns were for the Chinese. 1CH prefixes were shipped until one month after the Chinese contract cancellation in September, 1944. 2CH prefixes continued the style, but were kept for commonwealth use. The last CH prefix was 5CH9926. T-prefix guns were made concurrently, the last one being 9T3626. The numbers preceding the letter prefixes were used when the number in a series got to 9999, and then a new series with a higher number preceding the letter was used. This had no relationship to any contract.

Confusing, huh?

John

Very confusing. I had about 30 Bng. HP's at one time, all internal extractor, pre War & early post war. They were a real bitch to get info on. Thanks for the update. I still have a few of the Nazi proofed HP's.


Art

 

[hsguy]

John, great looking Inglis! I have a rather ratty looking one but I like it because my Dad was in the RCAF during WWII and may have handled one during the War. Unlike yours, my seems to have been through a rebuild and has been refinished with the ubiquitous Suncorite paint. I was also lived in Toronto for a few years where the guns were built. I have included a photo of the gun and a few photos of a stock I also have. Here is a link to a wonderful photo site about the Inglis factory. http://www.pbase.com/mrclark/inglis_factory_

 

[DGT]

Great catch! Congratulations.

 

[Rule3]

Good Golly Miss Molly!

I love HP's

 

[Muley Gil]

I had one with the tangent rear sight years ago. It was a good shooter; it even fed hollow points well.

 

[geoff40]

Thats a really nice find!

 

[PALADIN85020]

John, great looking Inglis! I have a rather ratty looking one but I like it because my Dad was in the RCAF during WWII and may have handled one during the War. Unlike yours, my seems to have been through a rebuild and has been refinished with the ubiquitous Suncorite paint. I was also lived in Toronto for a few years where the guns were built. I have included a photo of the gun and a few photos of a stock I also have. Here is a link to a wonderful photo site about the Inglis factory. INGLIS FACTORY Photo Gallery by mrclark at pbase.com

Your stock has the same markings as mine except for the "MADE IN CANADA" stamp under the metalwork in back. This marking was applied to comply with U.S. import regulations. Mine does not have it; it's as issued. These stocks were overruns from the Chinese contract; some were issued to Canadian forces, but they were impractical and not often used. Small Arms Ltd. made the wood, while Inglis made the metalwork. Marks are found from 1944 and 1945; both yours and mine were made in 1945. Thanks for the link!

John

 

[PALADIN85020]

I've never seen a Canadian or Commonwealth soldier with one. They all had the fixed sights and webbing holsters.

The number 1 pattern (with tangent rear sight) was not common, but it was an issue item for Commonwealth countries. This is an illustration of both patterns (number 2 being the fixed sight version) in a 1946 British manual for the Inglis High Power. The tangent sight version is specifically referenced here.

John

 

[Thuer]

Congrats with this nice Pistol. Do I see right that the magazine safety is removed?

 

[PALADIN85020]

Congrats with this nice Pistol. Do I see right that the magazine safety is removed?

Correct. I have two Inglis High Powers, and both have no magazine safety. I suspect that's the way they were issued; mag safeties would not be wanted on a combat gun during those war years, and were additional parts that didn't have to be manufactured. My Type 2 (fixed rear sight) version has a pin in the trigger hole, but no mag safety.

John

 

[goldenlight]

Wow! That is an absolutely beautiful example of the war time Canadian made Hi-Power pistols. I've never seen another one as nice.

Envy: I haz it.

 

[Bat Guano]

John, I think your Inglis has been refinished; originally the serial numbers were engraved through the finish and so were in the white.
Also, reproduction wood holster-stocks were available about 15 years ago and pretty closely duplicated the originals.

I always had a certain fondness for the Inglis pistols. Back around 1960 I shot one in a "Commando Match" up in Canada. Pretty tame stuff compared to today's combat shooting, but I got to use a borrowed Canadian Army Inglis and shot against the more common revolvers. It took a long time but I finally got my very own tangent-sighted Inglis. The barleycorn (triangular) front sight is weird but I'd still choose it over a Beretta M9 any day of the week! Better yet is a Mk. III with Spegels.

Clive Law's book "The Inglis Diamond" is a gold mine of info on these, and Stevens' book on the BHP is also good.

BTW the last I heard, all the Inglis pistols now in service will be destroyed by the Canadian government as they are called in. Talk about a travesty!

 

[PALADIN85020]

John, I think your Inglis has been refinished; originally the serial numbers were engraved through the finish and so were in the white.
Also, reproduction wood holster-stocks were available about 15 years ago and pretty closely duplicated the originals.

I always had a certain fondness for the Inglis pistols. Back around 1960 I shot one in a "Commando Match" up in Canada. Pretty tame stuff compared to today's combat shooting, but I got to use a borrowed Canadian Army Inglis and shot against the more common revolvers. It took a long time but I finally got my very own tangent-sighted Inglis. The barleycorn (triangular) front sight is weird but I'd still choose it over a Beretta M9 any day of the week! Better yet is a Mk. III with Spegels.

Clive Law's book "The Inglis Diamond" is a gold mine of info on these, and Stevens' book on the BHP is also good.

BTW the last I heard, all the Inglis pistols now in service will be destroyed by the Canadian government as they are called in. Talk about a travesty!

A refinish job is a definite possibility - if it is a refinish, it's quite expertly done - no rounded edges, all markings sharp. The condition of all the parts is remarkable - practically brand new. The barrel is in exceptional condition. I understand that the serials were routinely applied by pantograph after the bluing at the factory, but I don't know that this was done in all cases. I've had the gun examined by collectors, and their opinions vary. One comment is that a number of the parts have finishes which are slightly different in color from the others, usually a sign of factory originality, since parts there were done in separate batches. A sure sign of a refinish would be all the parts being uniform in color. As an example, the front sight is a slightly different color, and is staked in place with no evidence of re-staking. It would be very expensive to duplicate the factory appearance. The stock appears to meet all criteria for an original, including the SAL stamp.

Sorry to hear about Canada destroying the Inglis pistols - that would be a piece of history gone forever. I'm glad to have both a type 1 and type 2 in my collection. I have Clive Law's book, and it is quite thorough.

John