Hi Power Imports- Who paints guns like this?

[VictorLouis]

Yes, goombada, LOL. Rabbi, homey, a hook-up, or an 'in'.

 

[LVSteve]

They call them a snout where I come from.

 

[billwill]

OMG..in the picture on post 50...........there is 1/2 of a revolver on that table........what kind of place is that...oh the horror

 

[BB57]

I don't know who made them for sure. It says Fabrique Nationale De Guerre Herstal-Belgique. Browning's Patent Depose I'm just guessing they're fakes.

if the serial number starts with "B" and has 5 digits following it, it's one of the FEG made counterfeit Hi Powers.

FEG made their P9 Hi Power clone with FN roll marks to make it less obvious they were violating arms embargoes against various Middle East countries when they sold them to said countries.

 

[BB57]

Can't speak about those specific guns
but once long ago had a Canadian made
Hi-Power contracted for shipment to
China during WWII.

The gun worked wonderfully but it had a
coat of enamel paint on it that looked like
it was laid on with a spatula.

I surmised it was typical war time type
of finish where the polishing process
was skipped and the paint was deemed
more resistant to pitting than normal
bluing.

Commonwealth countries often coated firearms with Suncorite as part of their FTR process (Factory Thorough Repair). Other then being a carcinogen it worked pretty well, but did look like it was painted on with a brush.

 

[Zipdog]

if the serial number starts with "B" and has 5 digits following it, it's one of the FEG made counterfeit Hi Powers.

FEG made their P9 Hi Power clone with FN roll marks to make it less obvious they were violating arms embargoes against various Middle East countries when they sold them to said countries.

No B prefix. These are FN made Hi Powers all the way.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Fascinating thread, no matter what!

I was researching my Israeli high-power a few years ago (mine came with yellow tape on it) and it seems the Israeli police would mark their handguns so that during a shootout it was a way to help tell the good guys from the bad guys. Not sure exactly how accurate my research was but I guess if nobody is in uniform and everyone is shooting then you just shoot the people that don't have the color of the week marking their firearms.

My particular example also had a Star of David stamped on the frame near the trigger guard but I understand that marking wasn't real common.

In light of the article about the plain clothes Capitol Police I guess it must not be a totally unheard of practice to mark officers' guns to distinguish them from the opposition but in a firefight I sure don't know how you would have time to look and tell but, hey, I'm not a cop, don't play one on TV, so what do I know?

A Star of David stamped onto any Israeli firearms is usually indicative of service with the IDF. The star is usually rounded/no sharp corners, and does not look like the star on Israel's flag, the typical interlaced triangles.

An Israeli made Hi-Power is called a Kareen. This one does not have a star on it:

 

[ohioan55]

They were marked to distinguish them in inventory for a specific reason, perhaps as training guns as mentioned. Or the ones to be sent away for sale in gun stores in SW Ohio.

The slide stamping sounds correct for a factory gun. A great deal at that price if mechanically sound, and paint thinner should take care of the red stuff.

Hey now, I'm in SW Ohio.....

 

[SgtBob]

I have an Inglis Canada Hi-Power serial 2CHxxxx with tangent rear sight & shoulder stock slot - Chinese contract but not sent to China. It also has the "Fabrique Nationale..." script. The finish is nicely Parkerized not painted.

Early in my military service '70s Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal) & then Intelligence Branch on occasion we would still get issued these Chinese contract pistols.

 

[GT_80]

Super cool, at that price I would have bought a couple as well. Man, $299 each? last one I saw locally I think was like $1200 in good condition, not even mint. Don't come up much in my area, so they've been around a while, unless someone bought a bunch off a surplus place.

 

[dpast32]

Paint markings such as those observed on your examples are usually attributed to, & or found on, ' D.P.' / Drill Purpose weapons, primarily within the Commonwealth group of Countries or Nations. Personally, I would be extremely careful before attempting to fire any such weapon, at least until I've fully inspected it, & then confirmed my inspection via someone knowledgeable as to such things, such as a Gunsmith, Armorer, or like person. First, run a few dummy rounds though it to check functionality, then either perform an 'detailed' inspection, or have it done. Better safe than sorry, right ? Also keep in mind, they are probably around 70 or so years old, depending upon date of manufacture, so that's also a concern. I will say though all of the DP designated examples I've come across aren't marked as crudely as these, so that too may be an indicator or sub-standard workmanship, & or attention to detail, either of which should give you cause for concern, & could get you hurt !! Just remember, someone marked them like that, & for some specific reason !! GOOD LUCK !!

Best, Dom P. / dpast32

 

[the perfesser]

Goomba?

But seriously, if you're using the Italian-American slang for friend, then it's Goombah, with an H at the end. If you're talking about King Koopa's henchmen, then carry on.

"Compare" is Italian for "godfather"; in southern Italian dialect it can be transliterated as "goombare" or "goomba" to denote someone who is almost a kinsman. As an adolescent I occasionally addressed my godfather as Goombare Charlie. As a godfather to 10-yr.-old twins, I am working, probably in vain, on having them greet me with "Godfather, I kiss your hand." If someone were to take my money and buy one of these AIM HPs on my behalf -- going through an FFL, of course -- I would kiss his hand!

 

[DogBytesMan]

Hey Zipdog, sorry but I've been away from the board for awhile, about 10 years ago I bought three of those red-painted Hi Powers. Sorry but I don't remember who from, but I'll try to look in my records. They were marketed as "Israeli Training Pistols" for gun disarming and pistol training techniques. Mine are all pretty beat up, the barrels had a pin through them, other than that they were ready to be refurbished. They were about $100 each, and came with plastic military grips and standard spur hammers (not the round style). Also no mags. In the years since I've taken apart one and sandblasted it, took out the mag safety, and then it got set aside in favor of other projects. I also bought a bunch of extended mags from CDNN, but while they seem sturdy, I'm not sure if they are crappy or not. I'm glad this post came up....I need to get back to that project! At the time I bought a cheap-o extended, threaded barrel for one, so want to try fitting that and see how it shoots. Other than the scuffs and the pinned barrel, they seem sturdy and recoverable. I'll post back if I ever get one going!

Thanks!
Brad

 

[vinn]

Only the Britts ! that is jungle paint. less chance to rust. it would aceptable to paint some other color. its not easy to get it off with out etching the steel good luck vin

 

[Steve912]

Those flushable wipes were the problem. Packed in tight.

Those things are gawdawful. They don't dissolve, decompose,
or break down.