Is the Hi-Power worth having?

[Tere_Hanges]

If anyone has a surplus Hi Power with a gritty trigger, I highly recommend inspecting the sear and replacing it with a new EGW hard sear. I got one from Midway for around $30.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1004092010/egw-hard-sear-browning-hi-power

It greatly improved the trigger, very crisp and clean now. It was also super easy to do myself. I had already removed the mag disconnect and didnt notice much of an improvement if any at all. The sear on mine was heavily worn and uneven, it was pretty nasty looking.

[simonp]

[Domingo]

I got lucky with one of the hi power Israeli trade in,
Is a mark III built 1992, forge frame, no firing pin block and the star of David

[tipoc]

I got lucky with one of the hi power Israeli trade in,
Is a mark III built 1992, forge frame, no firing pin block and the star of David

pic?

[grim1U]

I've always liked the Hi Power and have owned about five over the years. I always end up selling them though because once I get serious about shooting them on a regular basis I always want to send them out for custom work. I just do not not want to be tied up in a handgun for $2000.+ in custom work plus purchase price of the gun.

One day maybe, but havng had "custom" handguns in the past it is not that big of a deal to me.

[Robotron2k84]

I got lucky with one of the hi power Israeli trade in,
Is a mark III built 1992, forge frame, no firing pin block and the star of David

The items you list that aren't on your gun, and the inclusion of a forged frame are what separate a Mk II from a Mk III. Clones follow their own rules, and your gun is Mk II design. Does it have a drain hole below the muzzle?

[Domingo]

No drain hole. From the research I've done, they were ordered without a firing pin block, the build date is 1992, it also has removable sights,
It's a FN hi power not a clone

[Tere_Hanges]

The items you list that aren't on your gun, and the inclusion of a forged frame are what separate a Mk II from a Mk III. Clones follow their own rules, and your gun is Mk II design. Does it have a drain hole below the muzzle?

I dont think the surplus ones are as straight forward when it comes to MKII vs MKIII. Im guessing they were made to the buyers specs with features and parts that were in usage during manufacture. Also they may have been rebuilt with other parts from various types.

My surplus FN made hi power is a mkIII or at least the slide is. No drainage hole and it has the dovetailed sights. But it does not have an ambi safety lever. So I dont know if the safety was switched at some time or if it never had one to begin with.

[Robotron2k84]

No drain hole. From the research I've done, they were ordered without a firing pin block, the build date is 1992, it also has removable sights,
It's a FN hi power not a clone

My conditional about clones wasn't to indicate yours is, just that the rules of thumb don't apply to non-FN guns.

The thing to remember is that FN contract serial numbers are non-related to the civilian guns. There can be overlap and you need to check with FN and not Browning for the age of the gun. Again, not saying you didn't and that it wasn't made after '88, but the features you list are all Mk II design elements, so how would it be correct to call it a Mk III? Probably more accurate to call it an Israeli Contract FN HP, as they clearly ordered them in a non-standard configuration based on the year of production.

[Tere_Hanges]

The thing to remember is that FN contract serial numbers are non-related to the civilian guns. There can be overlap and you need to check with FN and not Browning for the age of the gun.

I'm pretty confident my surplus contract FN hipower uses the same serial numbering system as commercial Brownings. It starts off "245NZ", its just too much of a coincidence for me to believe that it isnt going off the same system as Browning commercial guns.

http://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/hi-power-pistol.html

1976-1997

In 1975 Browning standardized its serial number identification which it followed until 1998.

1. Hi Power Type
2W5=40 S&W
245=9mm

2. Date of Manufacture
is a two digit code
Z=1
Y=2
X=3
W=4
V=5
T=6
R=7
P=8
N=9
M=03.

Serial Number
beginning with 01001
at the start of each year.*

Serial
Number Example:

245RT01001

This would be a 9mm Hi Power pistol, manufactured in 1976 with the serial number 01001.

[Robotron2k84]

It's possible that some guns do have a global S/N and some do not:

"4. Serial numbers and contract numbers: FN maintained serial numbers for commercial pistols, military and LE guns were typically made on order. If a customer requested it, guns were marked with contract numbers (example 1-500) instead of the standard serial number. Consequently, a low number does not necessarily indicate an early production pistol, it can be part of a contract run."

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2015/12/2/5-little-known-facts-about-the-fn-browning-high-power/

[Domingo]

[Domingo]

[IMG]http://www.calguns.net/calgun

[Domingo]

Serial
245NY#$^&@

[Tere_Hanges]

Serial
245NY#$^&@

NY is 1992. Mine is NZ 1991 and looks like yours except different grips and no star of David. Mine also doesnt have the firing pin safety. I'd say yours is a MKIII.