BHP's Holding Their Value

[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.

 

[Bro. Dave]

I installed my first SFS myself and was successful, but sent the next couple to BHSS for installation. It was a great decision given my ineptness with mechanical things and want of patience with said deficiency.

The SFS does, I believe make the BHP a much better pistol. My experience with the new trigger available from BHSS is that it is positively transforming. Although, at this point, one could make the similar observation about my BHP as the guy who claimed to own the same hatchet George Washington used on the cherry tree, "...but it had had five new handles and three new heads."

BHSS offers expert installation and a pretty quick turn around on all their new and improved parts for the venerable platform.

 

[Papa-T]

My 1996 .40 S&W BHP with Adjustable Sight and Hogue Cocobolo Grips. Removed magazine disconnect and replaced trigger spring for a great trigger break and return. Spring kit from BHSpringSolutions. It's a favorite in my collection. Excellent grip frame size/feel, balance, pointability, shootability and reliability. Couldn't ask for anything more.

 

[squidsix]

I have a couple. One has the top end off for refinishing at the hands of a great forum member.
The other one is a recent addition with adjustable sights.

 

[0le]

I have police issued, complete outfit, manufactured in 1952. It is the pistol, holster, and two magazines matching by an armory number. Condition is very good.

 

[Golddollar]

I was out cruising US 30 from Gettysburg to Hanover after a breakfast meeting with the treasurer of one of my clubs. Just past the US 15 interchange is a local gun shop that I visit on occasion. Most of its handgun stock is newer models, but in one of the cases was a Browning High Power. Being that I like classic vintage handguns, I decided it couldn't hurt to take a look at it. The finish looked perfect, the bore was great, there was virtually no movement to the slide when the gun was in battery, the trigger pull was pretty good and the slide felt like it moved on ball bearings. It looked like it had been somebody's safe queen, and the price seemed fair.

But of course, I wanted to be responsible and not act on impulse. I went on to Hanover and on the way home stopped back in at the shop. Nobody else had scooped up the gun, so I figured I tempted fate once and there was no use letting this gun get away. I told myself it would make a nice upgrade to the shooters I already had. So it came home with me. Not only did it come with the original box, but it had every piece of paper that was issued with the gun and the test shell casing in a sealed envelope. This is definitely now the best of the shooter High Powers in my collection.

 

[paladin**]

I know the store you are talking about and it's a good thing you found it before me! I now have 3 of the last FN's made. As an NRA instructor I have always used Browning's (1911 or High Power) for my pistol qualifications. I agree they hold their value well. Unlike 1911's they are just not well received in the US and I believe that is because of the 9 mm cartridge. If they made a .45 like the 1911 manufacturer's have with the 1911 and 9mm it would be more popular.

But as one respected author (former Israeli officer) said he would have no problem going into battle today with the High power.

I have even carried it on occasion when doing open carry.

 

[paladin**]

You know they make a lot of changes to John's other famous handgun - the 1911! If any gun was perfect there would be only one handgun. The thing is that the high power is a platform that can be modified and improved.

 

[Grayfox]

The BHP is my all time favorite 9mm.
I have a MKIII, a FEG clone and a FM Argentine Detective Model. All are now worth about twice what I paid for them. Nope, they ain't going nowhere.

 

[TheHobbyist]

Thanks for your posts and the inspiration to buy one again.

I had two 1960's FN models that were old police trades and one FEG. Traded/sold about 8 years ago...time to get another!

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I had three HPs and traded them or sold them to buy some other things I thought I wanted. I should have kept the Hi-powers.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I've read the Stephen A. Camp website many times and don't recall him saying anything needed to be replaced to make it a good gun, just removing the mag safety if that's your preference.

On Florida Gun Trader I've seen quite a few BHPs offered for sale well below $1000. I have no idea of their condition, but that surprised me. Maybe there are people who don't realize they're collectable.

My local Cabela's had quite a few of those a few years ago. They looked like surplus and had been rode pretty hard. I can't remember exactly what the price was but I think it was over 1K. The condition kept my money in my pocket. They must have built 10 million of those things.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I've read the Stephen A. Camp website many times and don't recall him saying anything needed to be replaced to make it a good gun, just removing the mag safety if that's your preference.

On Florida Gun Trader I've seen quite a few BHPs offered for sale well below $1000. I have no idea of their condition, but that surprised me. Maybe there are people who don't realize they're collectable.

My local Cabela's had quite a few of those a few years ago. They looked like surplus and had been rode pretty hard. I can't remember exactly what the price was but I think it was over 1K. The condition kept my money in my pocket. They must have built 10 million of those things so I'm rather surprised that they have reached collector status already.