My brother purchased this one earlier this year so it's just been sitting around.
I said, "Hey, lets go shoot this thing."

Maybe this following weekend.

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

I now have three, they’re addictive.

1992 Practical (two tone) Portuguese built
1972 C Series Belgian built
1970-1 T Series Belgian built

And one “pretender”
Springfield SA-35

The BHP has one of the best feels of any of the single action steel 9mm single action autos. I had an original T series back in the 70s but foolishly traded it off. After many years I replaced it with an unfired 1967 T series. But this year I traded for a new Springfield SA35 and for a shooter it is very nice with a decent nice and trigger pull.

If you want to shoot a cheap (but well made) totally non collectible Hi Power I recommend the Girsans. I bought the detective special for $419. It’s nice and if I wear it out, unlikely, who cares? Beautiful gun you have there.

+++ The Girsan clone. Mine has been great!

I have an FN Hi-Power Israeli police surplus and in my case it's a situation of "never meet your heroes" I guess. I'd heard and read so much about how amazing the platform was for decades but overall the pistol has been a little disappointing. The trigger is frankly terrible, even after removing the mag safety. The safety initially was essentially useless (it had the short lever and was very stiff, hence the justification for Israeli carry I guess), and the new longer one I fitted is still mushy. The recoil/muzzle jump is objectively more than it should be on a steel-framed 9mm, and I'm not super fond of the square-dot sights. It feels good in the hand if you shoot strong-hand only, but it's so slim forward of the magwell that it's actually too small for me to comfortably get a good off-hand grip on the gun. However, I shoot it well and I keep it for range visitors who want to try it out. I hope you love yours... let us know what you think after you shoot it.

I love the look and feel of the Hi-Power. Unfortunately I am more accurate with other pistols. The trigger could be better especially if one is used to 1911's. Always wanted to send mine to Don Williams for a work-over just never got around to it.

The High Power (not "Hi-Power") is a soft-shooting pistol. Avoid +P ammunition, strictly.

Looks like I was wrong either way
https://youtube.com/shorts/Lhd...?si=Y1sszacvU0mnAwuf

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
The High Power (not "Hi-Power") is a soft-shooting pistol. Avoid +P ammunition, strictly.

Will do, thanks.
Now all I need is to be able to see that front sight.
/looks around for some white crayon to rub on the front sight/
These early models were not made for older model gents.
After decades of wearing contacts, I've switched to glasses and now I understand what many have been talking about.
This has to be the worst front sight I have encountered.

Or I haven't shot enough old military weapons.

I’ve never fired a real one but shot a Girsan recently and was going to get one of those but just bought one of the Belgian made surplus ones from Classic Firearms. I got to hold it and look it over and it looks to be in decent shape but didn’t have time to finish the FL background check so I filled out the paperwork and get to pick it up Saturday when I get home. Unfortunately it came with the hogue wrap around rubber grips so I ordered sone wood ones they will meet me at home. I can’t wait to get it to the range next week.

This is a Hi-Power.

The FN High Power was introduced in 2022.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Hi-Power

https://www.browning.com/suppo...hi-power-pistol.html

https://fnamerica.com/pistols/fn-high-power-series/

quote:

Originally posted by Surfgun:
The FN High Power was introduced in 2022.

You're wrong.

In R. Blake Stevens' book The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol, not one single time in the entire reference is the pistol referred to as "Hi-Power".

Fabrique Nationale referred to the original Browning design as the Grande Puissance or the "GP" which translates to "Great Power" or, more commonly, "High Power". This was then followed by the final version which became the High Power- the Grand Rendement, which translates to "High Performance" or "High Efficiency".

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Surfgun:
The FN High Power was introduced in 2022.

You're wrong.

A little company called Browning says you may be wrong about the P-35.
https://www.browning.com/produ...firearms/custom.html

I don't care about some marketing bullshit by Browning USA, which is not the originator of this pistol.

If you can't look at the pistol the OP is displaying and see that it's a vintage High Power manufactured by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium, and never touched by Browning Arms, you really should refrain from attempting to lecture people about the Browning/Saive design.

It is simply not possible to take anyone seriously who claims that "The FN High Power was introduced in 2022."

I very well know what it is.
I have two near identical examples in my collection.

Feel free to ignore multiple sources on the P-35. We shall agree to just call it a P-35 to avoid offending your sensibilities of going against American Nomenclature that has been established for decades. Not just by company adverts but used by name in court rooms across the country causing by affect a legal status in case law.

Or we can get all prissy about it and refer to it as the “Grande Puissance” as the Belgians called it (per the 12th revised edition (1983) of Small Arms of the World; Walter H.B. Smith 1901-1959 1st edition (1943) and his son Joseph E. Smith 1921-1976)?

What a fantastic looking handgun. Used not abused.

P-35 is a Belgian military designation. "GP" (Grande Puissance) translates to "High Power". It is literally FN's original name for the pistol. Browning USA calling it the "Hi-Power" is nothing but marketing.

Oh, you've got two of them? If that's supposed to impress me, then you'll need to be more impressed by the number of them I own.

Seriously, when you try to tell us that the High Power was introduced three years ago (and not even talking about the same pistol), I feel silly even discussing the matter with you.

The statement is made on a wiki page. You better go on there and set them straight! And make sure you say it as condescendingly as you can muster!

Oh, Wikipedia. They ace everything. Everyone knows that.

Look, you're simply wrong. Normally, I would have said "Sorry, you're mistaken" but when you try to tell us the High Power was introduced in 2022, I feel no obligation to be gentle. That's damn silly.