Question on an early FN High Power

[GRIZZLYBEAR]

I know that this is a Smith & Wesson Forum but I have been a member here for several years and knowledge of the members that frequent this forum is amazing. I have asked this question on other sites and have recieved no response. So here goes.

I finally was able to get an older FN High Power, I think that it might be a WWII era German Made firearm. I would like to find out a little about this High Power.

Since I don't have a camera available that will take good enough pictures, I'll try with a description; hope that will work.

The serial number on the frame and showing in the slide ejection post is 65XX [no other letters or markings].
The Serial number on the slide is SS65XX.

The sights are fixed, no stock slot, and no lanyard ring.

Markings on the left side of the slide

FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE
HERSTAL-BELGIQUE
BROWNING'S PATENT DESPOSE

Markings on right side of slide

on barrel inside slide ejection port serial number 65XX
On the slide directly under the ejection port is SS65XX. Slide has a relief cut.
on the frame directly over the trigger guard is 65XX

On the frame near the magazine is some marking which seem to be A (hard to read) Large F next what appears to be a Q over a D and finally a U.

This pistol has an internal extractor and seems to be in excellent condition mechanically.

Any help with the ID of this High Power would be appreciated. Hope this firearm turns out to be what I think it is.

THANKS

 

[Rule 303]

I'd try one of the High Power Forums.
They have folks there that know High Powers like some of the
folks here know Smith and Wessons.

Rule 303

 

[sipowicz]

I see you registered at the hi-power forum...as a HP fan, I'm curious myself as to your date so keep us posted...

 

[2152hq]

Not familiar with a (slide) number starting with 'SS'.
The German production did abreviate the serial number on the bbl and the frame and use the entire number on the slide,,that was a change done in the early part of 1944.
However they were using a 'b' suffix with the serial numbers by then for HP's.

They did produce a very few commercially proofed, fixed sighted Hp's in that time and they would not be WaA140 marked.

The German mfg pistols always had the frame recess takedown cut. One thing they did not elliminate as a shortcut in production.

If the markings/stamps are on the front grip strap at the bottom edge,,it's a common place for post war markings to have been stamped. W. German and Austrian Police and Security Forces were armed with H/P's right after the war. Most common are LGK__ and GEK__ markings. Not familiar with the ones you have and it's not to say they couldn't be from another era all together.

HP contracts and use by police and military units all over the world can lead to some interesting markings.

That's about all I can remember from High Power class..

 

[SASABERANGER]

One thing unique about the pre 1954 HPs is that FN would serialize the guns with contract specifications. So there are several (unknown actual numbers) with the same S/N in the period between 1935 and approximately 1954. I do not recognize the SS prefix variations.
Recommend that you get one of the HP books and read up on the early guns. Depending on the barrel locking lug type you could have real early one or a later vintage.
The records for anything prior to 1954 is iffy at best. The exception is to the ones built under Nazi control, those seem to be well documented.
If you were closer I would load you up with several books that tell you more about the HP than you ever wanted to know.
[email protected]
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474

 

[bmcgilvray]

Perhaps its one of the Austrian Rural Police Hi-Powers that were imported in the mid-1990s. I bought one of those out of a "Shotgun News" ad. The price was great and for a bit more one could obtain "select" grade. I paid a small amount extra for the better grade pistol. These were said by the ad to be immediate post-war FN production. Came with the original box and cleaning rod. When I received mine, it seemed new, unissued to me.

 

[GRIZZLYBEAR]

Perhaps its one of the Austrian Rural Police Hi-Powers that were imported in the mid-1990s. I bought one of those out of a "Shotgun News" ad. The price was great and for a bit more one could obtain "select" grade. I paid a small amount extra for the better grade pistol. These were said by the ad to be immediate post-war FN production. Came with the original box and cleaning rod. When I received mine, it seemed new, unissued to me.


I think you hit the nail on the head.

In my researching of the BPH I figured it was manufactured in 1946 by the following logic. FN began serializing the HP when they started the commercial production after WWII at serial number "1", and Browning began importation of the HP in 1954 with approximate s/n 70,000. Assuming continuous production during the period of 1946 to 1954. Guessamating roughly 8,700 HP's made per year. With a serial number of 65XX it would have had a 1946 birthdate.

That leaves the other question of the SS65XX stamped on the slide under the ejection port.

 

[george minze]

Steve Camp is a member here I think, send him a message, he is probably the most knowledgeable person alive on the Browning High Power. [email protected]

 

[rags]

Grizzly, PM sent...

rags

 

[2152hq]

There was a change in the slide manufacture process just after WW2 to elliminate the firing pin bushing. I think it 1947 but could be wrong on the exact year. Somewhere in there. Guns made after the date did not have the bushing. Easily seen by looking at the breechface.
I'd also guess that FN wasn't one to just throw out older parts either. So the older version slide might show up on slightly newer pistols.

Will be interesting to hear what the age of yours is and perhaps what the markings are.

 

[Walter Rego]

I also have one of the Austrian Gendarmerie P35's like the one shown by bmcgilvray. I had estimated it's manufacture date as the early 1950's, but was surprised when I bought a copy of Anthony Vanderlinden's new book FN Browning Pistols, Side Arms that Shaped World History. (An outstanding book by the way). There is a chart on page 86 that identifies the post WWII date codes that are marked internally and on parts like the barrel. They are single digit codes and changing the font style or in the case of guns made from 1961-67 reversing the numerals allows the period from 1946-67 to be coded. They can even be narrowed down to the trimester of manufacture for that year. For example, a 2 that looks like it is sitting inside of 3 sides of a box or square would be Jan-March 1952. If the stamp looked like an L with a 2 above it it would be April-June '52. A 2 with an upside down U around it would Jul-Sept. '52. And a 2 with an upside down L around it would be Oct-Dec. '52. What I am describing are the 2 or 4 sides of a box with the numeral inside, easy to mistake for a poorly struck numeral within a square with one or two sides missing if that makes sense. Guns made from 68-77 used a diamond instead of a square around the numeral, and after that the serial numbers allowed more positive ID of the manufacture date. My gun ended up being a birthday gun !

 

[charlie sherrill]

I have owned several nice HP's, the last one being a "T" series. For some reason whenever I show them to someone they show me a real nice S&W and I go home without my HP. I got a nickel 58 for the last one. I plan on getting another when the opportunity arises. I love shooting them but I just can't seem to hang onto one. Jr. has a real nice one marked with the dirty birds but he won't let me shoot it.

 

[mkk41]

FWIW , here's my wartime FN HP. As the war went south for the Germans , so did finish on weapons. Early occupation guns were just as nice as pre-war , but demand called for shortcuts. They were still good shooters.