Over the past few years I've bought several LEO trade in handguns from AIM Surplus. All of them have been SIGs. I received an email last night that they have some FN alloy framed Hi-Powers in stock. I've always wanted to buy a Hi-Power, but there have always been other priorities. Supposed to be in excellent shape mechanically, but will have finish wear. $800.

I've always had pretty good luck with my SIG LEO trade ins from AIM, so we'll see how these turn out.

It will be a keeper, but wanted to know if it was a decent price. Pics when I get it.

AIM Alloy Hi-Power

Those are relatively hard to find.

I checked out the site. I've never seen an alloy framed HiPower. Interesting, but not worth blowing $800+ when I have an SA 35. But I must say, much cheaper than what FN HiPowers are going for in the gun shops these days. So if you are collecting, I wouldn't wait.

Was finally able to get my hands on the FN Hi Power. I knew going into it that as a LEO trade in it obviously would have some wear. It needs cleaning. I am surprised with the amount of wear at the front of the trigger guard. It must've been rubbing quite a bit on whatever holster it was carried in. There's a definite recess where aluminum was rubbed away. Imported through B&T out of Tampa. Grips are pretty beat up, but that's an easy fix.

It is a triple serial number, so that's a plus.

I'll have to decide if I should get it refinished. That would obviously effect the collect-ability, but it would make it look nicer. Not sure yet.

That's not in bad shape!
How does the barrel look?

I picked up one a few years back- Israeli import, I forget who I got it from. MAN! The barrel was all sorts of gunked up! Soaked it in Kroil, a few passes in the ultrasonic, and it's almost clean.

I'm debating on if I'm sending it off to Cylinder & Side, Yost or someone else for a little work. I tossed VZ Grips on it, grabbed 2 different holsters, a few extra mags. It shoots pretty well as it is, but I gotta do something about those tiny sights!

If I were planning to shoot it, and if it were sufficiently tight/undamaged, I'd go the custom route.

I'd probably have the frame chromed or re-anodized, and then sand and rust blue the steel parts myself.

Add some nice grips, and it could be a classic beauty.

It's a beauty as it is, keep it original. If you want custom buy a new SA35 and have at it. These are only original once.

The serial number prefix on your pistol: 215RN- "215" is FN's code for the standard military High Power. "RN" is the date code. R = 7 and N = 9. The pistol was produced in 1979.

I have a copy of R. Blake Stevens' book The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol and it is remarkable how very little information there is about the alloy frame High Power in this otherwise fairly detailed book.

"In 1973, FN's proud original name Fabrique Nationale
d'Armes de Guerre, literally the "National
Manufactory of Weapons of War,'' gave way to Fabrique
Nationale Herstal, a name more in keeping
with the Society's increasingly diversified interests.
The two standard models of the High Power pistol
had meanwhile been christened with new names,
and the fixed sight Vigilante and the tangent sight
Capitan were both available with or without lanyard
ring, and either in a blued finish or phosphate-and-lacquer,
making a total of eight standard models.
Slides, still machined from bar stock and now beginning
to reflect the new shortened maker's legend,
were fitted with a distinctive new muzzle bushing
which afforded more protection to the hitherto
vulnerable crown on the muzzle end of the barrel.
At this time FN also perfected and introduced
Monsieur Saive's lightweight alloy frame for the High
Power, which had been waiting in the wings since
the early fifties. It was offered in a black anodized
finish as an option on the Vigilante model, primarily
to police forces, where the saving of 200 grams, or
twenty-two percent of the 900-gram weight of the
standard pistol with steel frame, provided an important
consideration."

The lack of detail on this interesting variant of the High Power is especially puzzling, since Stevens' book contains quite a bit of information on the development of the Inglis Lightweight High Power.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
The serial number prefix on your pistol: 215RN- "215" is FN's code for the standard military High Power. "RN" is the date code. R = 7 and N = 9. The pistol was produced in 1979.

The lack of detail on this interesting variant of the High Power is especially puzzling, since Stevens' book contains quite a bit of information on the development of the Inglis Lightweight High Power.

Thanks for the info, Para! I'll now need to stock up on mags. The gun only came with 1. As with many on this forum, I like to stack my mags deep!

The barrel is in great shape. No fouling in the rifling. If I had to guess, I'd say carried a lot, but shot very little. $800 was a little on the high side, but I'll forget about the price after a few months!

719 grams for the gun & empty mag.

Glad to hear that its in good shape!

Keep an eye on the Classified Section! I got a handful at a good price.


Greg is always a good guy to do business with!

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/6920007584