BHP's Holding Their Value

[otis24]

I would like to find a BHP with SFS or have the kit installed on my BHP.

 

[hyena]

Bought mine new in 1974 for $184.50. (Adjustable sight model.) My first handgun. In countless thousands of rounds, never a failure with factory ammunition. Nothing has ever been replaced, including the original magazine spring and recoil spring. I don't shoot it often anymore, but no way I'll ever get rid of it.

Not a film, but those who read Robert B. Parker's Spenser books know he carried a Hi Power on those occasions he needed more firepower than his usual snubnose Smith provided.

 

[SgtBob]

We need a popular TV show where the hero uses a BHP...

"Black List"... doesn't Raymond Reddington use an HP??

 

[LT7d103]

BHP is my all time favorite pistol. I have a 91 Silver Chrome that I bought used. It had mega issues with reliability. Mr. Camps short book on the BHP allowed me to fix it by replacing the home cut main spring job with a 28# spring. 100% reliable ever since. Not for sale at any price. 4.5# smooth trigger. The OP's guns were priced low if in excellent condition. T Series have shot way up in price.

 

[Rock185]

I'm a very long time fan of the Hi Power, and have owned, probably more than my share, my first about '66 or '67. IIRC, I paid something like $97.00 + tax for my first new T-Series. Used one for the API 250 class at Gunsite, carried one off-duty, etc. If used for carry, Gunsite type training, etc., the pre MKIII guns could benefit from a larger thumb safety of some kind and larger sights. BarSto, etc. barrels can improve accuracy, and I did use Barsto barrels in 2 or 3 of my Hi Powers, including the one I used at Gunsite. The down side is, that the closer fit of the BarSto barrel did not tolerate any significant debris, or even a tiny fleck of jacket material, etc., before function was compromised. Every day at lunch time, while the other guys were eating, smoking and joking, I was thoroughly cleaning my Hi Power. The factory Hi Power barrel would have been plenty accurate for any training I experienced at Gunsite. The only time I could detect any advantage to the match barrel, was when I was shooting carefully from a rest.

In any case, not perfect, but still very good pistols IMHO. I may still have one or two around here somewhere

 

[Lilly]

"Black List"... doesn't Raymond Reddington use an HP??

He sure does, to great effect too.

 

[Lilly]

How does the Argentine Hi-Power compare?

 

[jdlii]

Another one of JMB's innovative master pieces, with a little help from his friends.

Satin nickel finish, factory "beer can" adjustable rear sight and factory pouch. Three matching magazines.

Yes, it appears that BHP pistols are holding their value and then some!

 

[cyberdemonbfg]

My little tack driver and it's Practical(Pun Intended).

 

[CMudrock]

I too am fond of the HP Platform, But have purchased mostly Hungarian FEG Clones (I had to sell one to buy another "must have")
My other remaining Feg Is one marked & marketed by MAUSER (Model 80 SA) I completely refurbished it with new parts & stainless barrel.
My last HP is one of the first 200 REGENT BR9 SS (TISAS) imported to the USA. It really needs to be seen & experienced to appreciate it - not a tool mark anywhere on it - flawless fit & finish. Only mods made were removing the magazine safety (trigger pull greatly improved - same as with my Feg ) I also installed a pair of the rare thin checkered rubber Uncle Mikes Grips. Biggest difference noted between my Mauser FEG & TISAS BR9 are the sights, the Feg as small military sights - the Tisas has NOVAK copy 3 dot combat sights. Surprisingly both the refurbished 40 year old Feg Mauser & My Tisas BR9 shoot the same, & are both extremely accurate. The Stainless Tisas were about $500 when I got mine. I really had to stretch to afford it - but had decided to have one since I heard rumors of their existence. My Turkish clone like my Feg Mauser have been really great. The one genuine Browning I want & am holding out for - is an Early example with Tangent Sight & Butt Stock.

I take very guarded care of my HP clones & would trust them with my life - but lately I have been bringing along my $400. Turkish CZ75B Clone - The "SARSILMAZ 2000", a stainless DA-SA, on my away from home adventures. It is also amazingly well made & finished. I feel safer with a pistol (with round chambered) in a DA/SA action. The Sarsilmaz Handles a lot like my HP clones. Because of my latest preference of DA/SA & size - I prefer to carry one of my Russian Makarovs concealed.
To each his own - right ?

 

[Golddollar]

As to the mag disconnect, I am one of the weirdos that leaves it in place.
I have shot identical HP's side-by-side with and without to confirm this.
For me, the trigger return is lacking once removed. In place, the spring
force helps to boost trigger return, allowing a faster, more positive reset.
I'm okay with that in exchange for a pound or two of increased let-off.

There is some what of a way to have our cake and eat it too. After learning how the magazine disconnect works, I took the final stone out of my Buck knife sharpening kit and rubbed the edge of the stone on the front side of the magazine. I discovered an immediate improvement in the trigger pull.

 

[sigp220.45]

My Hi-Power is my "worst case scenario" gun. If some crazy circumstance forced me to rely on one pistol, the BHP would be it.

Mine has never jammed. It has gone full-auto once, but I don't hold that against it.

I had the mag disconnect removed, the bitey hammer swapped, and a better thumb safety installed. I also put some Uncle Mike grips on it.

I'm gonna have to be really hurting for cash to sell this one.

 

[357p239]

The HiPower is a great gun

I've had three. First was a pre '68 burr hammer commercial that I sometimes used in IDPA competition. The only mods were the removal of the magazine safety and installation of low mount micro sights. Ended up selling it when I realized that the gunsmith had open up the slide mouth when he was installing the front sight which produced vertical play in the muzzle.

Second one was a post '68 spur hammer with adjustable factory sight I like it because I no longer get hammer bite. The mag safety has been removed, of course. Still have it.

Third one is ab FN wartime burr hammer in good but not new condition. Nazi proofed. Mag safety is removed and I have added a spare barrel in .30 Luger with a weaker spring to make it work. still have it.

They're great guns.

 

[22lrfan]

My only HP is a well used 1941 model. Still shoots great.

 

[OLDSTER]

I've owned this 1967 "T" series since 1988; paid $380 for it.

 

[sodacan]

Not on TV, but there's always Axel Foley...

Maybe it's just because I pay more attention to them, but I've noticed that everytime a BHP thread comes up, the owners pound it with photos of their babies. It is quite the photogenic pistol.

Also Serpico.

 

[BB57]

I believe they are still an excellent choice for carrying, especially decked out with an SFS and new barrel, trigger group, and a few other goodies from BHSS. I carry one every day, as a matter of fact.

I'm a big fan of the Hi Power and in particular the SFS Hi Power. It resolves the mushy safety issue, is very comfortable in concealed carry given that the hammer is "down" in Condition 1, and in open carry the "hammer down" appearance in Condition 1 carry doesn't scare the citizens like Condition 1 does in a 1911 where the cocked hammer is raised.

The SFS system also resolves the hammer bite issue for the small minority of Hi Power shooters who have issues with hammer bite.

I was never taken in by the mystique of the Hi Power, especially after hearing from users in the UK military. The above list of "things that need replacing" reinforces my skepticism about the design.

I'd take a lot of that with a grain of salt. For example I attended OCS in 1985 when the Ms were just rolling out. The 1911A1s we had at the time were worn out and not too impressive. The same was true for many of the M16A1s that were still in use.

The point being unless those users in the UK were older than dirt, they probably didn't have experience with Hi Powers that were in great condition.

There's also a certain amount of prejudice among older troops against most weapons that were in service when their grandpas wore a uniform. It could be perfect and they'd still find flaws with it.

You'll also find younger shooters and soldiers who are more familiar with tactical plastic and don't understand that you can't run pistols like the 1911 or Hi Power nearly dry like you would a Glock.

——-

I own three Hi Powers including the factory original FN SFS Hi Power above. All of them are accurate, extremely reliable, point well and hold up very well in service.

 

[BB57]

How does the Argentine Hi-Power compare?

It depends.

The original licensed "FM" Hi Powers were made on FN tooling with FN staff doing the final inspection and they are as good as the other FN Hi Powers from Belgium or Portugal.

However when FN dropped the license agreement with FM, FM started making their own version of the Hi Power. These usually have a 1911 style treatment of the forward portion of the slide.

Quality varies (and got worse over time) and isn't up to FN standards. That said most of them are still very serviceable pistols.

 

[BB57]

I would like to find a BHP with SFS or have the kit installed on my BHP.

Cylinder and Slide still sells it, and they are original FN parts.

I installed on on one of my first gen FEG P9M pistols. The hammer and safety assembly didn't need anymore than the usual amount of hand fitting. However the first gen P9M has a 1911 style slide stop and the smaller slide cut for that stop required some modification of the SFS slide stop (unmodified top, modified bottom).

That said there is. I reason to replace the slide stop. The SFS q of works fine with the original slide stop. Other than getting an extended slide stop the change is essentially cosmetic.

 

[Golddollar]

I lucked into this set of Browning handguns on one of my trips to Ohio. It came in the box and has the matching manuals and pouches. It goes with the two blued and one chromed High Powers that I have.