Looking at a 1989 Hi Power

[zogger]

My local gun shop has a nice 1989 Hi Power in 9mm. It comes with the original box, papers, and 4 magazines. The rear sight is fully adjustable. The front sight is ramped with an red insert. It looks like the previous owner put on a Cylinder and Slide no bite hammer. The price is fine.

Any comments/ideas before I make the plunge? Thanks!

 

[Warren Sear]

I have an FN Hi-Power made in 1950. I hand load for it. It works great with jacketed round nosed or hollowpoint ammo, but shoots terribly with cast lead bullets.

Mine has fixed sights, but shoots to point of aim.

I get no hammer bite at all with mine.

Overall it is a beautiful gun to own and shoot. I can't imagine anyone regretting buying one.

 

[Baxter6551]

That’s a beauty. Millett sights are great and no longer available except on used market and hard to find. Is that skateboard tape on the front and back strap or stippled frame ?
Grab it quick !

 

[zogger]

That’s a beauty. Millett sights are great and no longer available except on used market and hard to find. Is that skateboard tape on the front and back strap or stippled frame ?
Grab it quick !

Talon tape I think but it might be skateboard tape instead.

 

[zogger]

That’s a beauty. Millett sights are great and no longer available except on used market and hard to find. Is that skateboard tape on the front and back strap or stippled frame ?
Grab it quick !

I am going back tomorrow to see if I can make a deal.

 

[zogger]

I have an FN Hi-Power made in 1950. I hand load for it. It works great with jacketed round nosed or hollowpoint ammo, but shoots terribly with cast lead bullets.

Mine has fixed sights, but shoots to point of aim.

I get no hammer bite at all with mine.

Overall it is a beautiful gun to own and shoot. I can't imagine anyone regretting buying one.

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That's a nice one!

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Don't make a deal..........BUY IT.........They ain't making anymore like that...........Mine from 1972.

 

[03hemi]

If it's $1000 or under buy it without hesitation.

 

[BarryinIN]

I have “a few” HiPowers. Some observations about that one:

1990 falls right around the time they switched from a forged frame to cast. Without digging up some material, I would say it’s from a little before the switch and is forged.
That has good points and bad. The forged is actually softer steel than in the cast frame. The cast frame came about when they made the BHP in .40 S&W, and it needed to be harder.
On the plus side, most people don’t know any of this and prefer to have a forged one.
All but the very, very early cast frames have identifying serrations in the bottom, around the magwell opening, that run fore and aft.

Are you sure that’s a no-bite C&S hammer? Not all of the C&S ring-types were. In fact, I would guess most were not, since C&S was selling that style for quite a while before making the no-bite type.
The no-bite is identifiable by having a scallop cut out of it below the spur in what I call the shank of the hammer.
The reason I bring this up is because the C&S “pre-no-bite” ring hammer might be the worst hand biter out there. Some people get bit by the hammer spur on BHPs, and some get bit by the shank. If you happen to to be one who gets bit by the shank and it’s not scalloped, you will find out soon enough.

Browning used a few different types of adjustable rear sights. Millet was one of the suppliers for a short time. I don’t think they ever sold any with a red insert in the front sight, but I suppose anything is possible. Millet sights are OK, if really tall, but don’t hit them with anything or the sight casting will break. I just happen to know this.

As a fan, I encourage everyone to buy one. To fully appreciate the grip shape, one has to get some thinner grips. The ones on it are pretty to look at, but they are also pretty thick. Thinner grips change the feel completely.
If you really study the frame design, you realize Browning or Saive (or both) really topped themselves as geniuses in how they designed it. Most of the grip area is the same width as a magazine. It’s pretty neat. Honor them by installing grips that make the most of that.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I have two Hi-powers, and love them . I have one exactly like the one you're looking at, and a Silver Chrome model. A friend has two that i previously owned and hope to get back at some point, and Capitan model and a fixed sight T series.

 

[kas9412]

I have a Mark 2 Hi Power made in 1988 that could be its twin, except for the ring hammer. It an accurate piece, but it has an extremely hard trigger pull, between 8-9 pounds. I don't shoot it much because of this. Been meaning to get a trigger job on it but haven't done it yet. They say you can easily make the trigger better by removing the magazine disconnect, but on mine, it is a bugger to get out, so it's still in there. Unfortunately, most Hi Powers of this vintage are like this.

 

[kas9412]

PS: I paid $1K for mine about 4 years ago.

 

[Derosa]

Buy it. Just like wives & high performance Camaros, Firebirds, GTOs, Road Runners, et. al., once gone, they are cherished and fondled on recalled Friday night dates. Just do it.

 

[Ameshawki]

I have a Mark 2 Hi Power made in 1988 that could be its twin, except for the ring hammer. It an accurate piece, but it has an extremely hard trigger pull, between 8-9 pounds. I don't shoot it much because of this. Been meaning to get a trigger job on it but haven't done it yet. They say you can easily make the trigger better by removing the magazine disconnect, but on mine, it is a bugger to get out, so it's still in there. Unfortunately, most Hi Powers of this vintage are like this.

Taking out the mag safety may or may not help. I've had mixed results. They can be difficult. The biggest advantage is mags will drop free. High Power triggers typically don't get better than "ok". The design just doesn't allow for much improvement. Owned four, still have three. I like the platform, I sort of consider them the British sports car of the gun world. Beautiful, classic, but different and not for everyone.

 

[HML1950]

If you buy it you should go to BHSpringsolutions.com and consider replacing springs, etc. They even have threaded barrels if you want them. Also, if you really want to know about FN Browning pistols go to wetdogbooks.com. They offer massive books that probably tell you more than you ever want to know about them.

 

[zogger]

So I bought it! Since I am in NY, I have to put it on my permit which I can't do until next week! I will post info once I go to the range. Thanks for all the comments! Here is the label.

 

[Mike LaNier]

Well, for my two-cents worth, I got my first High Power (a 1939-40 vintage, tangent sight and cut for a shoulder stock) in 1963, and have owned at least two other Hi-Powers (i.e., US versions) over the past 60 years; I believe that EVERYBODY should have at least one! I had a Frankengun, a High Power made during the war, with German proof marks but later chrome plated; sadly, it was stolen at the Portland Gun Show years ago. My most recent purchase was in 2021, after our fire, and I got a pristine 1970 version. I've never had one that didn't shoot very well. Wish I could show pics, but don't have a phone or a camera. Sorry...

 

[robvious]

my late father used to shoot with Bill at C&S... dad wanted a ring hammer and Bill couldn't find any that he was willing to put in dad's back then.. my dad also polished the front strap of his magazines to smooth up the trigger.. it's a nice trigger.. Bill also removed the magazine safety... I predict you will enjoy it...

 

[Baxter6551]

Enquiring minds want to know - if you care to divulge purchase price ?