Value this gun

[284guy]

tac;

You need to remember that the Hi-Power was John Browning's last Masterpiece and he did know how to get things Right!

KKG

I read in a book that JMB had said that the Hi Power corrected all of the mistakes he made on the 1911. Not sure I agree, but I'm not going to argue with the most prolific gun genius in history.

 

[284guy]

Given its condition, I wouldn't give a penny over $250 and just make it your truck gun. For all intents and purposes, it's ruined.

 

[tac]

tac;

You need to remember that the Hi-Power was John Browning's last Masterpiece and he did know how to get things Right!

KKG

Yes, I wrote as much on the Wikipedia entry for the P35/Browning Hi-power/Grande Puissance.

 

[KKG]

I read in a book that JMB had said that the Hi Power corrected all of the mistakes he made on the 1911. Not sure I agree, but I'm not going to argue with the most prolific gun genius in history.

I've seen that too but in a statement "He" made "He" said many of the things, included on the Hi-Power, were things requested by the Military and Law Enforcement Agencies of European Countries. So, the Hi-Power included features "He" would Not have included.

Edit: Inspire of what I stated to tac! He really didn't like the gun. Other folks called it his "Masterpiece". He really didn't feel that way about the Pistol. Much of this information is shown in letters he wrote and were displayed at his Museum in Ogden, Utah.

 

[jdinteg]

Why not buy it and love it for what it is, rather than try and morph it into something it isn't?

The GP35 was THE very first hi-cap double-stack magazine SLP ever devised, and is a masterpiece of minimalist gun design. You can strip and assemble it and put it back together in less than 30 seconds, and it will shoot 14 rounds as fast as you can pull the trigger. One photograph of me in the 'Soldier' magazine back in 1979, taken at our Corps Day shoot, clearly shows four empties in the air beside my arm as I loose off the contents of a mag at three targets in a row. Jerry Miculek I wasn't, but I was good enough to beat everybody else so often that they banned me from competing for two years in the hope that I'd slow down enough to give them a chance.

Three years later I started up again in comps and blew them into the weeds with my 272x300 score - the nearest to me was 191...

The 'if only's' stretch from here to there and back again, but if I could only have just one handgun, that would be it.

Tac,
I'm shopping for a Hi-power as well, what would be your go to choice below $2k for one. Looking for 9mm, From the 50's to the 2000's, Browning, FN, Inglis, or the new Regent Tisas?

 

[tac]

IMO there is nothing like an original FN-made version, but bear in mind that it WON'T have all the bells and whistles you might expect of any modern pistol. They're single-action only for the first shot, have no de-cocker and the basic sights are not the best. However, they are what they are, and I shot mine, and other service issue version [British Army gotCanadian Inglis-made, Royal Air Force got FN] for almost thirty years and never got killed even once.

Inglis are rightly prized, especially in Canada, and even more so if the grip decal is still there and the Suncorite finish is good.

The FEG version is said to be good, but I've never fired one although I have handled one, and I know nothing about any of the other frawks since they were all banned here on mainland UK in 1997.

FN made-for-Chinese nationalists military models had a tangent backsight and were fitted for a shoulder stock, and the civilian version, called the Capitan, was quite popular, although you might care to check the ATF regs about having a removable butt stock version.

The example I showed you above that I get to shoot has AM Hi-Vis sights that I loathe, having night vision from my vampire ancestors means that they are superfluous AFAIAC. Sadly, the foresight has been staked and removing it would mar the odd salt-proof finish, so they stay.

 

[jdinteg]

I've had my hands on an Original FN from 1942, it seemed reasonable around $1,200. Unfortunately it needed Gunsmithing love, and had the original Nazi markings, however I passed because I want a shooter not a safe queen. My local pawn shop had the FEG, honestly it felt really crummy quality on the grips, trigger, and slide, nothing like the FN. The Regent Tisas BR9 has been my current direction if they get back in stock. But I've been trying to find a lighty used modern Inglis, FN, or Browning first. I understand you gotta pay to play, but I don't want to be worried about damaging the value of a historic piece by shooting it, so I'm avoiding them.

 

[tac]

There are NO 'modern Inglis' Browning pistols.

 

[jdinteg]

There are NO 'modern Inglis' Browning pistols.

Understood

 

[asiparks]

Don't think anyone is disputing the inherent value of the Hi Power, rather just the value of the one the OP posted.
Gunbroker has plenty of MKii's in the mid $400's, AIM surplus gets batches of MK II and 3's in mixed condition for $429 ( rough) to $499 ( minor holster wear).

I love the platform, I have C's, T's Parkerized MKII's along with custom models by Garthwaite, Yost and Williams.

 

[CLT65]

I've shot the heck out of my old Inglis, until I noticed significant wear on the locking lug recess in the slide. I've mostly retired it now, and bought an older CZ75 for a replacement shooter.

I have to admit; as much as I like the HP, I like the CZ75 even better.

 

[jdinteg]

I've shot the heck out of my old Inglis, until I noticed significant wear on the locking lug recess in the slide. I've mostly retired it now, and bought an older CZ75 for a replacement shooter.

I have to admit; as much as I like the HP, I like the CZ75 even better.

Got a cz75d, love it. But it's not a hi power.

 

[nosbocaj]

Tac,
I'm shopping for a Hi-power as well, what would be your go to choice below $2k for one. Looking for 9mm, From the 50's to the 2000's, Browning, FN, Inglis, or the new Regent Tisas?

IMO, you can't go wrong with any form of Hi Power. I absolutely love mine.

They don't seem to pop often, but FN HP-SA's or HP-SFS's are cool just for the rare factor. They're Mk. III Hi Powers with FNH roll marks. I think they were sold by CDNN back around 2003 ish. I bought mine used in 2011 and it's been flawless ever since. Only drawback is the finish is so shiny it attracts fingerprints like a mirror. But damn, if it's not gorgeous!

 

[jdinteg]

IMO, you can't go wrong with any form of Hi Power. I absolutely love mine.

They don't seem to pop often, but FN HP-SA's or HP-SFS's are cool just for the rare factor. They're Mk. III Hi Powers with FNH roll marks. I think they were sold by CDNN back around 2003 ish. I bought mine used in 2011 and it's been flawless ever since. Only drawback is the finish is so shiny it attracts fingerprints like a mirror. But damn, if it's not gorgeous!

View attachment 650312

Now that you showed me what I want, I got the tools to go find it, thank you!

 

[284guy]

This is the same finish my FN made one has, i don't think it's aftermarket.

Then yours isnt likely original either.

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

Then yours isnt likely original either.

I would disagree based on police and military issue guns being parked.

 

[tac]

Then yours isnt likely original either.

Sir, MY FN pistol had a finish like a good Smith & Wesson, not quite a Python, but not far off it. Only the military contract versions, like those issued to the British RAF, had a dulled finish - not unlike a black Parkerising, but a LOT better. Mine was EXACTLY like the example shown in #33, being made for the civilian market.

 

[CLT65]

Looking closely at the photo in the first post, do my eyes deceive me, or is that visible pitting on the front of the frame under the slide?

I can only zoom in so far with any kind of resolution, but it doesn't look good to me, looks like someone took a badly neglected gun and cerakoted it.

 

[Velzey]

You are seeing what I'm seeing. And the missing serrations on the magazine release.
These days you can get a decent recent imported one from Mach 1 Armory for under $500
Get it cerakoted and you see what we have here.

Looking closely at the photo in the first post, do my eyes deceive me, or is that visible pitting on the front of the frame under the slide?

I can only zoom in so far with any kind of resolution, but it doesn't look good to me, looks like someone took a badly neglected gun and cerakoted it.

 

[DunRanull]

Nothing else, in my opinion and experience, handles and fires like an FN BHP. The used military versions maybe not so much- but the civilians, top of the line. Not too enamored with the mini-safety OR the stock trigger but those can be changed out. Ive had a few over the years and my last and current has the mag safety removed and is otherwise bone-stock mid-1970's production.