New to me Browning HP, need help from the HP experts

[oysterer]

Hi,

my LGS showed me a HP at what seemed a super low price..let's see...I need your help.

I have never owned one, never shot one. I fondled around with it and thought it was super comfortable, kind of cool and I like to know what they are all about, best way getting to know it is owning one.

All the fans and experts: What is it that I have here?

-Browning HP made in Belgium, assembled in Portugal.
-LGS said it was made in 1988
-Mat finish
-Ambi safety
-A raised rib on top of the slide
-Small old school front post and rear notch sights,.
not sure if the front is dovetail
-External extractor.
-classic GI style hammer.
-Serial: 245PP770xx

I can't take any more pics as I have to wait 3 weeks.

Is it a MK 3? Or MK 3 S?

Forged? Cast?

Please help me out what I have here? Thank you very much.

 

[shell627]

While I am far from a expert.I have owned shot and carried high powers since 1976. And what you have is one of the finest shooting and carry handguns of all times.if you remove the magazine safety it will greatly improve the trigger.Novak sights are also very nice but not nessary.Congratulations on your BHP.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

Yes, you have a fine handgun there. I have a similar one, but it has the blued finish, spur hammer and enhanced sights. It is a 2" handgun at 25 yards with cast bullets, probably better with a good match grade bullet. I don't remember it jamming in the 40 years that I've shot it.

1988 sounds about right for your HP version as I bought mine in 89 or so. Mine sure looks like it was forged, but I really can't confirm that.

 

[biku324]

I own a similar pistol, the MkIII, from 1994/5 in 40 S&W. It was my duty pistol to retirement, both regular duty and SRT.

 

[Sistema1927]

If you look at the bottom of the butt, behind the magazine, if it is smooth it is forged. If it has serrations, it is cast. IIRC cast frames didn't come on the scene until after 1990, but don't quote me on that.

 

[Texasproud]

If it has a rib on the slide it may be a Mk II. I have 5 HiPowers and the only one with a rib on the slide is the Mk II, the slide may also have a small drain hole below the barrel up front.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Looks like a Mark III to me. Finish appears to be a phosphate coating (similar to Parkerized finish) which is usually quite durable in use and provides good corrosion resistance.

Perhaps not as desirable as a T-series Belgian pistol from the 1960s, or a WW2 Nazi-proofed occupation pistol, but definitely worth consideration as a carry piece!

 

[Arenko]

For everything you need to know about Hipowers visit Steven Camp's website: hipowersandhandguns. Much information there about the HP you have and the ones you're going to want.

 

[Bro. Dave]

I predict it will turn out to be $650 well spent. If you don't like it I would cheerfully give you what you have invested! The PP in the serial does indicate 1988 production.

I am an admitted fan of Hi-Powers and highly recommend you check out BHSpringSolutions for great accessories, especially the SFS system. I would also heartily agree that Steven Camp's work is extremely helpful.

The HP has been, arguably, the service pistol of the world since its development. Critical original designs were by JMB and finished by Dieudonné Joseph Saive. Another masterful work is the book by Anthony Vanderlinden, "FN Browning Pistols."

 

[LVSteve]

Can you explain the three WEEK wait for us?

 

[oysterer]

Can you explain the three WEEK wait for us?

30 days wait in NJ between purchases and a purchase made 1 week ago.

 

[OLDSTER]

If it has a rib on the slide it may be a Mk II. I have 5 HiPowers and the only one with a rib on the slide is the Mk II, the slide may also have a small drain hole below the barrel up front.

Yes; what you have there is a nice example of a MK II, introduced in 1982, and replaced by the MKIII in ca. 1988. The frame and slide are forged. The front sight is not dovetailed but is part of the top rib. The parkerized finish and black plastic grips are standard on the MKII.

 

[03hemi]

I have that Mk III Hi Power too. I immediately yanked the plastic grips and replaced with some Hogue's though.
As far as accuracy, I was dancing a Barbie Doll head around on the ground from about 50 feet with mine. Mines very accurate, I'm not that good of a shot.
I also have a 69 "T" series as mentioned above.

 

[gen3guy]

Add to your list of features...

"- Single action"

I don't see that this has been mentioned in this thread.

 

[Grayfox]

I'm a fan!

 

[oysterer]

Add to your list of features...

"- Single action"

I don't see that this has been mentioned in this thread.

Right...

I was more trying to figure out what gen this is which thanks to this great group I know is a Mark 2, 1988 (PP serial stands for 88), maybe the last year before the Mark 3.

It may have a firing pin safety or maybe not. I need to pick it up and then look under the slide.

Only thing: I am not sure about the finish, is it mat blue, parkerized or phosphated (maybe park and phos are the same)?

Thanks for all the help.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Right...

I was more trying to figure out what gen this is which thanks to this great group I know is a Mark 2, 1988 (PP serial stands for 88), maybe the last year before the Mark 3.

It may have a firing pin safety or maybe not. I need to pick it up and then look under the slide.

Only thing: I am not sure about the finish, is it mat blue, parkerized or phosphated (maybe park and phos are the same)?

Thanks for all the help.

The original Parkerized finish was done with zinc phosphate, a dull gray finish with occasional greenish cast. More recently a similar process has used manganese phosphate with a dull black result. There are perhaps other similar methods used.

The advantages are very good corrosion resistance, greatly reduced reflectiveness, and very good abrasion resistance.

Unlike bluing, which is actually a controlled oxidation (rust process) that becomes part of the steel, phosphate finishes are a surface application that covers the surfaces of the steel.

 

[Narragansett]

My 1971 made in Belgium HP that I bought new in 71 for 94.00. I recently upgraded the grips to Spegel's which are getting hard to come by. I doubt this has 200 rounds through it, and for sure has not been fired in 45 years

 

[Double-O-Dave]

The Browning Hi-Power came across my level of consciousness during a conversation with a friend of mine who was a LRRP (Long Range Reconnaissance and Patrol) member in Viet Nam. Home on leave, he was overjoyed to find a NIB version. He quickly decade me on how the advantages of the extra magazine capacity far out weighted the larger size caliber of the Government's Model over the Hi-Power. I always wanted to buy a Hi-Power, and luckily was able to buy one LNIB just before Browning announced they were no longer going to manufacture Hi-Power. The sale was for the pistol only. No box, no extra magazine, no paperwork, etc. Sometimes, it pays to ask nicely, and I asked the sales clerk if he could please check to make sure there was nothing else to go with the sale. After a few minutes, the clerk met me with the factory original box, papers, and extra magazine. By the way, I found out that aiming the Hi-Power is like pointing your finger

Regards.

Dave

 

[gunsnrovers]

That's a very clean MkII. They are a neat transition between earlier models and the more common MkIII's. Enjoy.

I picked up one in similar condition a few years ago. Some more smithing on it to get it where I wanted mine to be.