Browning Hi Power Help/Thoughts...

[cundiff5535]

Hey fellas, I am in the market for a Browning High Power. I am new to HP's and see these things ranging from 450-1500+... I am sure there is damn good reason for it but, I dont know what it is.

Additionally, I have seen some FN Brownings that are also cheap and some that are sky high... I had a recent convo about a FN BHP and when I questioned the finish, they guy told me it was 90% which is great? 90% in my book is horse ****... I guess I am missing something with this as well...

Lastly, I see that there are a few models and variants... MKI,MKII,MKIII, Practical, etc... What are the main differences in these, what is preferred? Looking for some general thoughts here on the models and variants...

I have been offered a MKII on trade for a G35 but, I have not clue where this model stack up in the grand scheme of things... if its a 450 dollar pistol, I do not want to trade it... if its a 550-700 I will.

Just looking for some direction and input on this stuff! All help and info will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Bobby C

[Chaos47]

Blued ones in good condition or rare ones are the ones that demand a premium.

The BHP has been made for many years, by many countries, for many countries militaries and for export and commercial sales.
That creates a lot of differences and variations.

For example did you know there are Nazi marked BHP? They took over the factory at a point and then later Americans liberated it. Because of that there are "liberation" pistols, made with leftover Nazi marked parts but no serial numbers that were reportedly given/sold to American GI's.

The point I am trying to makes is that's just one interesting thing of many in the BHP's illustrious history.

Cheap(er) ones are going to be any of the following:
Surplus (generally pretty worn, there was a lot of Israeli issued ones imported in the past couple years)
Epoxy coated (Black paint)
Boat Anchors
Clones
Copies


MK2 have larger ambidextrous safety switches
Practicals are silver in color or silver frames with blue slides
Renaissance have scroll engraving
More about the variants can be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Hi-Power#Variants

Personally I have a FM yes M, that's no typo: Fabricaciones Militares made Argentinian Copy FM90. I put a Wolff Performance Spring Pak in it, removed the magazine disconnect, and polished the internals. While it does not have the fit and finish of a blued FN, it is still a good pistol and very enjoyable.

[Varg Vikernes]

Get one of the HPs from this guy:

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?IncludeSellers=2621012

[Chaos47]

Get one of the HPs from this guy:

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx...ellers=2621012

Those look to be FN made Israeli surplus like the ones I mentioned. (Some still have the Star of David on the frame) But in this case they have been refinished. Who knows how worn out the internals and the barrel are.

Those were going for 200-300 a year ago.. is a parkerizing job worth 2-300 more?

[morrcarr67]

I too have an FM-90. I will also agree on the fit and finish. That does not mean I don't like it or that it's a bad gun. The only thing I've done to it is remove the magazine safety.




While John M Browning did design the P-35 aka The Browning High Power (BHP). The company that bears his name does not make the BHP. All BHP are made by FN; Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal, for Browning. They also make them for military and police forces around the world. In fact the P-35 is the number one pistol sold in the world. And, as big as JMB other famous design; the 1911, here in the US the BHP is twice that in other counties.

Over the years there have been many surplus and new BHP's imported to this country from many different countries.

The surplus ones have been from paperweights to excellent shooters.

I personally prefer the Mk II version of this great design; the FM-90 is based on the Mk II.

If the gun you've been offered is in good shape and made in Belgium or Portugal (which is parts made in Belgium and assembled in Portugal) I would jump on the deal in a heart beat.

Keeps us up to date on what happens.

Jesse

[cundiff5535]

Good stuff here... looking forward to learning more!

[zfields]

Get one of the HPs from this guy:

http://www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx...ellers=2621012

I got one of the Israeli surplus ones a while back.

Saying it was a doorstop would be an overstatement. Be sure you can inspect it before you commit.

[El Toro]

Buy a 1980+ Browning made in Belgium. Should be around $1000 in excellent condition. Very tight and accurate shooter. If you have to have a historical military Browning look for an Inglais Canadian one. Made during and after the war for UK forces.

[Turbinator]

I got one of the Israeli surplus ones a while back.

Saying it was a doorstop would be an overstatement. Be sure you can inspect it before you commit.

Was it just ugly, or was it essentially nonfunctional?

Turby

[TireMan]

Blued versions are hard to beat.

If I had any recommendations, it would be get the adjustable tangent rear sight.

[nikki#2]

If you have to have a historical military Browning look for an Inglais Canadian one. Made during and after the war for UK forces.

When the Germans overran Belgium in WWII, several of the FN engineers, etc, fled to Canada, taking the specs and blue prints for the FN Hi Power.
It was manufactured by the John Ingles Company, who produced Mk1 and Mk2 versions. The Inglis MkI has tangent sights and slotted for shoulder stock.

[nikki#2]

Blued versions are hard to beat.

If I had any recommendations, it would be get the adjustable tangent rear sight.

I like the blued, adjustable sight version as well.

[jyo]

EVERYBODY should have at least one Hi Power! My favorite shooter is a late production FN marked MK111 with the factory installed SFS system in matte finish.

[zfields]

Was it just ugly, or was it essentially nonfunctional?

Turby

Nonfunctional.

Barrel bushing / barrel were shot to hell.

[CALI-gula]

Browning Hi-Powers have been in production for so long, in countries having gone through so many changes, they are almost like Lugers in variation, source, markings, configuration, and even caliber.

Besides some of my Belgium Hi-Powers and a few of my Tangent-sight examples, the highlight of my Hi-Power cache is that I have 6 of the original Hi-Powers that were imported in the late 1970s up until the mid 1980s, chambered by the factory in .30-Luger, which is estimated only some 600 to 800 entered the US. 4 of those that I have are marked as "FN" manufacture.

At this point, the one Hi-Power SEMI-CLONE I would like to get is the FEG Model GKK Hungarian-made, chambered in .45ACP.

But the most unique examples of all my Hi-Powers would be that 2 of my 6 chambered in .30-Luger are consecutive serial numbered, photos below. I had them up for sale once here on Calguns, but pulled them as I no longer have any interest in selling them:













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