What are your thoughts on these? If I can find one I might be in the market.

The FN HiPower is one of the finest semi-auto pistols ever made. I've owned several over the years and currently have the fever to get another one......

CDA

Although I have never owned one, the Browning HP is a true classic, IMO. There are some beautiful examples out there.

FWIW, I have attended a class where a student put over 1800 rounds through a BHP in three days. It performed flawlessly.

NOVAK is a Gunsmith who has done some nice work on BHP's.

While I do not own one personally, my brother has one in .40 and it is one of the finest semi-autos I have shot. Recoil is negligible and the gun is very accurate.

quote:

Originally posted by cda926:
The FN HiPower is one of the finest semi-auto pistols ever made. I've owned several over the years and currently have the fever to get another one......

CDA

What is the difference in the FN and the Browning?

Fabrique Nationale produced the HiPower (GP-35),that was designed by John Browning, in Belgium.IMHO these are the finest examples of this pistol.The Browning Company made later versions of this design in the U.S.and elsewhere.

CDA

I traded mine a couple of years ago and wish that I hadn't. HPs shoot great and are as pointable as any 1911.

I have check with a couple of local gunstores and they claim they are hard to get.

I picked up one about a month ago, kinda stumbled across it by accident. It is very accurate and plesant to shoot. They are somewhat hard to find but well worth picking up if you can find a nice one at a good price.

Hello. FN has made all "Browning Hi Powers" from the beginning. Browning Arms is the American importer and while the gun bears their name, it is manufactured in Belgium.

A few years ago, FN imported some of the same models as was being sold by Browning but with the FN name. Couldn't move 'em at prices similar to the Browning-marked guns. Seems that many American gun buyers didn't recognize the FN name and wanted a "real Browning Hi Power" and not some "clone"! Thus, FN's could be had in the US at some really good prices. (Some in .40 caliber and usually the SFS system can still be found.)

Starting from the mid to late '60's, classic styled Hi Powers were the general rule. They normally had:

fixed sights
bright blue finish
"humped" feed ramp
ring hammer (until early '70's, when it was replaced with spur hammer)
checkered French walnut stocks
small single-side thumb safety

In the '80's, the classic was phased out for the Mk II. (There is no "Mk I" in the FN-made Hi Powers though I do believe that designation was used for some of the Inglis (Canadian) Hi Powers.)

It was a matte finished pistol available only in 9mm. The classic was primarily made in 9mm but some were made in 30-Luger and a smallish number of nines had aluminum-alloy frames; most were steel. (Later, some had e-nickel or hard chrome finishes but FN/Browning never offered a stainless steel Hi Power as is sometimes mistakenly reported. A company in the US (Cannot remember the name) did offer a stainless clone for a short time.)

The 9mm Mk II had a matte finish, extended ambi thumb safeties, larger fixed sights with an integral rib running the lenght of the slide, checkered nylon stocks. There was a hole under the barrel on the front of the slide, presumably to let water drain if the pistol was in a military-type scenario.

Early runs of the Mk II did not have the internal firing pin safety but later runs did.

For those interested, more here:

http://hipowers-handguns.blogspot.com/2008/10/is-there-...s-mk-i-hi-power.html

http://hipowers-handguns.blogspot.com/2008/06/browning-...-cz-75-are-they.html

http://hipowers-handguns.blogspot.com/2008/07/does-my-h...internal-firing.html

http://hipowers-handguns.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-is-d...en-mk-ii-and-mk.html

http://hipowers-handguns.blogspot.com/2008/09/mk-iii-or...hats-difference.html

Best.

quote:

Originally posted by bigash636:
I have check with a couple of local gunstores and they claim they are hard to get.

Yes, I can see how that would be, what with the pistol having been imported into this country non-stop for the last 54 years.

I had a 9mm BHP and still have a .40 BHP. It is a great pistol in all aspects except it doesn't fit my larger hands well. I find the grip to be wide enough but the distance to the trigger too short for me. I kept the .40 because it is my favorite and only .40. Both of mine have had 0 issues, ran 100%, accurate, good balance, and a nice gun. I prefer my cz75B SA, HK P7, and Colt government 1911 in 9mm over the 9mm BHP so I sold it.

I own a 9mm version and it's a wonerful pistol. The gun had classic lines and is beautiful. It also performs flawlessly and is very accurate. When I go to the range I take it sometimes as I now shoot mostly my Sig's.

When I do take it to the range I have had lots of people come over and want to look at it and hold it. Then they ask lots of questions about the gun and want to know how much they cost and where to buy one.

Great gun and you won't go wrong.

It is official!!You guys are a bad influence on me and my bank account!

I'd been watching an older FN HiPower on Auction Arms for a few weeks and this thread convinced me to dive in. "Buy It Now" is a dangerous thing!!! LOL!!

I've owned at least 6 other HPs over the years.It is nice to be back......

I have a "T" series that I'm going to be putting up for sale. Wear on the grip straps, but the rest of it is in fantastic shape. I have Pac grips, and a set of Hogues as well.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by bigash636:
I have check with a couple of local gunstores and they claim they are hard to get.

Yes, I can see how that would be, what with the pistol having been imported into this country non-stop for the last 54 years.

Finding NIB ones for a reasonable price can be a challenge, especially if you want a 9mm fixed sight model, since FN doesn't seem to be issuing new lots right now. Used ones can be found with a not too much effort, though.

Chris

quote:

Fabrique Nationale produced the HiPower (GP-35),that was designed by John Browning, in Belgium.IMHO these are the finest examples of this pistol.The Browning Company made later versions of this design in the U.S.and elsewhere.

Thanks Stephen--as noted above there are still some folks that believe Browning Hi-Powers are or were made in the US. I recommend Stephen's sites for all the low down on the Hi-Power pistol. Great information.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by bigash636:
I have check with a couple of local gunstores and they claim they are hard to get.

Yes, I can see how that would be, what with the pistol having been imported into this country non-stop for the last 54 years.

Brand new is a near impossibility. Somebody on the 1911forums explained that Browning (in utter and complete stupidity that you'd almost come to expect) buys/imports their entire year's supply one time per year. There haven't been any at distributors for months.

Good, excellent and LN condition are easily found, but you'll probably have to do it as a private sale/transfer. Around here, whenever they turn up used in local shops, they are gone within hours.

Jimmy123X, I had the same grip/trigger issue that you mentioned on my Hi-Power (and I'm also a big fan of the .40 varient). My solution was simply to switch my grips to the Hogue rubber fingergroove grips; the additional bulk (both on the sides and on the frontstrap)serves to position my hand and triggerfinger nicely-and it's an inexpensive solution to boot!

Best, Jon

Group,Pardon the ignorance of my earlier post. But,I have seen HPs w/ Utah barrel addresses and the Inglis HP was made in Canada,correct?

CDA