Yes, some of the "Browning Hi Powers" will have the Utah address for Browning, the importer. They were not made there. The Inglis Hi Powers were in fact made in Canada by FN personnel who escaped the Germans and reverse engineered the Hi Power pistol there.

Best.

Stephen,
Thanks for the great info!!

CDA

BHP is a all time classic in many people's eye, and i think at a time, over 60 countries use the BHP as a military sidearm, i love my BHP MKIII, and it has never failed for any reason regardless the ammo used, As Mr Camp would say, if you want to shoot a lots +P loads, then a MKIII BHP will hold in better shape long term than the earlier ones, aslo the Nazi build BHPs are not as well made, so maybe avoid that if you going to shoot the pistol a lot, trust me, with a BHP in hand, you will want to shoot it a lot, i know.

At one time the BHP was my issue weapon, as a result I developed a certain fondness for them.

Personally, I do NOT like them. I have owned two of them for many years. I found the safety sucked (way too small), the hammer would bite the skin between your thumb & index finger, that the muzzel flip was much more pronounced than in any Sig I own, and the grip was too squarish with the original Browning wood grips.

Mine were very accutate and that is why I held on to them for as long as I did. Plus I never had any mechanical problem with either one.

It always seemed to be a 1911 "want-to-be" but not a 1911 for sure. Not even close. There are a zillion folks who love them.

So as I started out saying, its a very personal choice as to handing charactoristics.

quote:

Personally, I do NOT like them.

Personally, I do NOT like them.

Well there you go... some say Pa-tay-toe, some say Pa-tot-toe.

But yes, not every gun will be a fit. That's why we have some many different configurations.

This thread has inspired me to try to track down one of the Mk. III BHPs or one of the FN HP-SAs. Get em' while you can.

My Dad has a 1960's HP and I have a 1993 HP, I believe it is a Mark III. The older one is more accurate, but bites my hand every time. Mine is also easier to shoot faster, it has less muzzle flip than Dad's. Don't know why but it does. I can't shoot my sig, or any other pistol as fast and still hit the target. You just have to learn how to hold 'em. BUY IT NOW!!

I almost forgot, Novak's sells them worked over or stock. Absolutely the most beautiful semi ever created.

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

+1

I have an FNHP, absolutely the creme de creme. Wonderful gun. Never fails and is superbly accurate.Bill

quote:

the safety sucked (way too small), the hammer would bite the skin between your thumb & index finger,

MKIII BHPs have very useful ambi safety levers.
''The Hammer Bite '' is an also pretty easy to fix issue.

quote:

It always seemed to be a 1911 "want-to-be" but not a 1911 for sure.

Sure it is not a 1911. But sure it is not a 1911 '' want-to-be '' pistol. Other than the classic Browning type barrel lugs, magazine catch lever and firing pin retaining method, they are almost completely different pistols.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lupus,

Like them, but they don't like me with my "bury my hand under the grip tang" type grip. Still have them, but [refer the CZ75 for competition and carry.

In 63 I bought a BHP, a Colt Python, and a Randall #14 knife. Paid more for the knife than either of the guns. Still got em all. The BHP was (is) my preferred carry gun for the last 45 years or so, except for the time when I had to use a 45, then it was a Colt Commander or more lately a 220, then a 220 SAO.
I have acquired several other BHPs over that time, including the Charles Daly clone-which is a pretty good HP!
Two of my BHPs have been worked over by Novaks, one is an FN that was done by C&S, the others are a couple of SFS guns, and a couple of FN guns in 9 and 40.
I still carry a BHP daily for work, with a S&W 940 as a BUG, one can feed the 940 from a BHP mag if needed. When I get into crowds or a possible gun grab scenario, I just put the BHP on half cock with the safety on-let some gun grabber try to figure that one out before he gets peforated with the 940. BTW, I carry the 940 in an offside pocket holster, and train with each hand with each gun, something one can do as one gets older and a little weaker-but smarter. IMHO, the BHP is still one of the stars-and besides it is blue steel and nice wood.

Jungle, that is one suberb display of Hi Powers you have there!!

I have had a BHP (1980 vintage) since the mid 80's and love it. I shoots where I naturally point, and it fits my hands very well. It has always been reliable till the Barrel Lug failed in the frame. I have since found out that this is a issue on some of the early ones if you shoot a lot. I had over 7000 rounds through mine, w/ no +P loads. Browning currently has the gun to give me a repair quote. The early ones are forged frames and are weaker than the cast ones (current). So if you want a shooter go for the MRKIII model. If you plan on shooting +P loads I would recommend getting the 40 cal and use one of the conversion barrels to 9mm. This will give you a heavier frame and slide vs the std 9mm model.

As for as tuning one, if you shoot a lot between cleaning you need to remove the clip safety to have a clean trigger. I was shooting 1000 rounds a week this summer. After 200-250 rounds the trigger felt like there was sand in it, removing the clip safety eliminated this. I also did some polish work on the sear and trigger linkage. This gave me a very crisp 4.5# trigger. I originally left the clip safety in place and polished all the contact areas. The eliminated the gritty feel, but if I shot more than 200 rounds at a time the gritty trigger returned. So I removed the clip safety, problem fixed.

As far as hammer bye, It all depends on how you grip the gun. I have small hands and never had the problem.

As for the Safety lever, BHP went larger on the MRKIII's. The early ones can be fitted with the newer safety very easly.

quote:

Originally posted by Stephen A. Camp:
Yes, some of the "Browning Hi Powers" will have the Utah address for Browning, the importer. They were not made there. The Inglis Hi Powers were in fact made in Canada by FN personnel who escaped the Germans and reverse engineered the Hi Power pistol there.

Best.

Correct and some of these may have Chinese markings on them as they were made for the Chinese Nationalist fighting Mao and company. These same guns are still issued to Canadian forces members and are serving in Afghanistan. The biggest issue has been old mags.

Some folks say this is where John Browning corrected the design errors in the 1911: no barrel bushing, no grip safety, VERY different trigger linkage, etc.

The older/Classic BHPs have blocky wood grips and a very small safety. The newer ones have slimmer plastic grips (or can be fitted with slim after-market wood grips, like Spegels) and a larger, ambi safety.

Between the slim grip and the way the slide tapers toward the front, the BHP is one of the most hide-able, IWB double-stack 9mm's. Most more-modern guns are much more blocky and thus less hide-able (IMHO).

If you are put off by cocked-and-locked carry, the newer FN-made guns (which are available at quite a bargain price) have the "Safety Fast System" (SFS) safety, which eliminates some of the safety issues associated with the traditional 1911/BHP safety set-up. Here's Mr. Camp on the subject:
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/What%20Do%20You%20Kn...20on%20the%20BHP.htm
Here's a quick description of its operation: "A round is chambered and the pistol is cocked. The hammer is pushed forward with a thumb and the ambidextrous thumb safety engages. When the safety is disengaged, the hammer automatically springs into the cocked position for a single-action press of the trigger. There is no longer and heavier double-action shot to contend with. Trigger pull is consistent from first shot to last".
The "system" can be bought (from C&S) as an aftermarket retrofit for most BHPs.

I'm keeping an eye out for a Mk III also.

FWIW Vector still had some of these. (They may be taking some liberty referring to them as collectors though):

BRP245--"Captain" Model Browning Pistol
$899.00
This Browning, Hi-Power style, 9mm pistol is a collectors item! Produced in the 90's, it is a new weapon that comes in the original Browning case with (2) 15rd magazines and owner's manual. Made by FN for Browning, the "Captain" model has the tangent sight and a slot in the pistol grip strap for a fixed stock. Beautiful blued finish. We don't have the stocks. $15 shipping and insurance charge (not overnight delivery).

OOOOOOOHHHHHH!

That's a beauty, very tempting but importing it to here would add an easy $700 onto the price tag.