I rescued (maybe) this 1969 C-series Hi Power from the consignment case of my LGS. As a vintage conversion, it was machined to accept a rear revolver sight, stippled on the grip straps and refinished in chrome or nickel. While the original custom work and refinish appear top tier, at some point the sights were removed and a number of holes were poorly drilled in the slide - possibly to install a full rib sight. My plan is to have the slide restored as much as possible by having the holes welded up and suitable sights installed. I'm assuming this work will require the removal of the existing finish with some type of refinish. Can anyone tell from my photos if this is chrome or nickel? (Note it's beginning to bubble near the muzzle on the left side of the slide.) Can this finish effectively be removed? If so, what method will the gunsmith likely employ? Thanks for the advice.

Update 10-23-2024: My pistol arrived at Ford's on Monday the 21st for refinishing in their brushed chrome with matte rounds. The current estimated turn around time is 3 - 6 months depending upon the complexity of the project. Since I only sent the major components (receiver, slide, barrel & controls) it won't require disassembly/reassembly which may expedite completion and return. Stay tuned.

Update 02-23-2025: My pistol is back from Ford's and reassembled. Attached are a few photos of the completed project. The turn around time was ~4 months.











With period correct replacement slide before refinishing


Completed pistol pistol after refinishing

This message has been edited. Last edited by: hjs157,

Looks like nickel to me, but that's not definite.

I bet these guys can do the work: https://microarcwelding.com/

About five years ago I had a slide with a couple pieces chipped out of the rail area.
They filled them with the micro arc welding and then even matched the stainless bead blasted finish of the slide.
Seem to recall they weren't too costly, either.

It looks like that slide was fitted with a S&W adjustable rear sight in the past. I would probably return one to the slide it that is what was there.

As someone who doesn't know the value of a C-Series Hi Power, is all this restorative work worth it, financially speaking? Are these historically significant? Seems like a lot of effort to go through.

What a shame. I am sure it can be fixed but at what cost is something else.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
. . . is all this restorative work worth it, financially speaking?

Probably not. After doing some on-line searching, I discovered fresh springs and roll pins from BHSpringSolutions will cost $50. A compatible S&W revolver sight would set me back another $50 - $75 and that doesn't address the front sight issue. While original Hi-Power pistols of this vintage are currently in demand, it is unlikely this one one would ever have value above its utility as a shooter. Once I get an estimate for the repair work, I suspect locating a correct slide with sights will be a more cost effective option.

What would possess someone to do that?

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
What would possess someone to do that?

Some people just shouldn't own guns.
Damn shame what they did to a perfectly good gun.

There's thousands of beat up BHP's that someone can muck up.

High Powers were imported for decades. A long time ago- in the period when that pistol was probably modified- High Powers were far from uncommon and were not revered in the collector sense we have now for them. They were appreciated for the fine pistols they are but if an HP got modified in the manner of the pistol we see in the photos, it wasn't a travesty, because there were lots of them.

Can't really tell from the pictures. Does it seem to have a yellowish hue or a clean silver? If yellowish - nickel. If clean silver - hard chrome.

Both hard chrome and nickel need a chemical strip.

I don't see how you could weld the holes without messing up the heat treatment of the rest of the slide. Maybe TIG and heat control paste, but even that would be doubtful Then the area would need to be machined smooth again. And nothing can be done until the plating, whatever it is, is removed.

I suspect that once upon a time it had a Bo-mar rib.

https://www.gunauction.com/buy/pictures.cfm?i=7969897


But whoever did it, did it poorly. Straight lines were not their strong suit.

I would be shopping for a used slide and go from there to complete the project.

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
I suspect that once upon a time it had a Bo-mar rib.

Almost certainly, you're correct.

Old school comp gun with that hand stippling and rib. Looks like something APW/Cogan would have done. Cogan hand stipples just like that...

apologies for the FB link but you can see Bob's work https://www.facebook.com/APWCO...eos/1432485536861257

Screw holes look torn out. They're really meant for shooting softball bullseye loads, but even then.. If you don't keep a constant watch in their tightness, the screws will strip out, tear out, wallow out, snap off, and the very heavy, very sharp rib will smash you in the face. This I learned the hard way.

Not having been clean shaven in near 30 years, I can't be sure if it's still there, but I had a three pointed scar under my nose where the corner of the rear sight hit me. It destroyed my shooting glasses and the front sight took a chunk out of my forehead. Not a fun time. I had it repaired and it started to do it a second time. The "softball" part was lost on me at the time. After that it only got puff puff loads and constant vigilance. .45, not 9mm.

Two expensive options:
https://everygunpart.com/handg...html?manufacturer=13

https://everygunpart.com/handg...-fef6jd-6iaa-00.html

PC

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
I suspect that once upon a time it had a Bo-mar rib.

Almost certainly, you're correct.

While the rib had long taken a hike, an Ace trigger shoe was still attached; further indicating the pistol had been set up for some type of competitive shooting. Given the high quality of the other custom work, the apparent amateurish nature of the rib installation is somewhat surprising. The misaligned hole above the ejection port is especially noteworthy. Assuming the mounting holes on a Bo-Mar rib were pre-drilled, perhaps a previous owner drilled and tapped an additional anchor point once the rib began to loosen with use (as highlighted by cas).

You can buy a slide for less than it would cost to fix this one.

If you wanted to use it at lowest cost, have the plating stripped, put on a S&W rear sight and a front sight to suit. Put filler screws in the empty holes and apply spray coating.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Watson:
You can buy a slide for less than it would cost to fix this one.

If you wanted to use it at lowest cost, have the plating stripped, put on a S&W rear sight and a front sight to suit. Put filler screws in the empty holes and apply spray coating.

solid advice,

or buy a bomar or similar rib and make a wad gun