I have wanted a Hi Power in nickel finish for quite some time, and recently started looking aggressively. I found one-made in Belgium, nickel, gold trigger-beautiful gun-and it is on its way to my FFL.
In searching, I became aware of the Centennial edition, which is basically the same gun, in a presentation box, with an engraving that reads "Browning Centennial, 1878-1978". I found and bought a Shooting Times magazine on eBay:
I had talked to one of my nephews about this, and unbeknownst to me, he talked to my wife. Yesterday was my birthday, and last night at dinner with friends, I opened this:
It only took her 40 years, but she finally got me a birthday gift that I really wanted, and surprised me!
Originally posted by p08: Beautiful, now you need the Renaissance model to go with it. Oh and grea wife!
Thanks! Now you have me looking at Renaissance Brownings. This was my 60th birthday, so I suppose a big one. I don't think I'll live long enough for my wife to buy me a Renaissance. Seriously, I was not aware of them, but I'm seeing some beautiful guns. I'll have to read a little to find out more about them.
Very nice Hi Power. I’d have to lay it and the Shooting Times magazine on my coffee table for at least a week or two. Congratulations and happy birthday!
I thought this pistol was nickel, but I was showing it to someone and it looked brighter, ie. chromey. I just called Browning and a very helpful young man looked at a catalogue from 1978, which said "chromed" finish. And I just looked through the magazine article, which I hadn't actually read yet, and it also says the Centennials were chromed.
I'm thinking the non-Centennial I bought for myself is nickel, but I'll have to wait to compare the two.
"But, as luck would have it, he stood up. He caught that chunk of lead." Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock "If there's one thing this last week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it." Clarence Worley