Any Browning Hi Power fans on the forum?

MacEntyre said:
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Left to Right: Belgian made Israeli HP, Argentine FM HP, Argentine FMDetective, T Series Belgian HP, 1945 Inglis HP.

...I have one more that's not shown. It's a South Carolina FN HP with the factory Safety Fast System.
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Nice FM detective. I should have bought one years ago when you could find them for $400. The last one I saw on GB went for over $800.
 
Been debating selling my mkIII..bought it few yewrs ago, love how it feels, hate trigger.
 
Jabroni said:
Been debating selling my mkIII..bought it few yewrs ago, love how it feels, hate trigger.
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They have been discontinued by FN so I would keep it. Send it to a smith and get a good trigger or is you know how to break the gun down you could get a C&S hammer, sear and trigger kit and improve it yourself. If you want to sell it it is not a bad time because people are sort panic buying now because the are no longer being produced.
 
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While it is "official" that the Hi Power is discontinued, don't be surprised if they reintroduce them, even though they say they won't.

With that said, I am not getting rid of any of my Hi Powers.
 
As Mark Twain once said "The rumors of my death are much exaggerated." Browning / FN is not totally discontinuing the Hi Power, just the "foetay" abomination:p, not the 9mm as "God and JMB intended" for the pistol:D. It does look like they are down to just 2 9mm models the "Duty" type Mark III with composite grips and epoxy finish and the much nicer Standard model with wood grips and a blued finish. If you want a new one, I would get it now though as the future is guaranteed to no one.
 
Cubrock said:
With that said, I am not getting rid of any of my Hi Powers.
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You had two or three Hi Powers on yer table fer sale last weekend, Steve!
(...and not overpriced, either!)

Green Giant said:
If you want a new one, I would get it now though as the future is guaranteed to no one.
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Who wants a new one? I like vintage iron!

I have no need fer six of 'em...but right before the Sandy Hook tragedy, I found a passle o' 13 & 15 round Hi Power magazines. I figure when I get down to two or three magazines per pistol, I either hafta stop buyin' HiPowers, or find more magazines!
 
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Green Giant said:
As Mark Twain once said "The rumors of my death are much exaggerated." Browning / FN is not totally discontinuing the Hi Power, just the "foetay" abomination:p, not the 9mm as "God and JMB intended" for the pistol:D. It does look like they are down to just 2 9mm models the "Duty" type Mark III with composite grips and epoxy finish and the much nicer Standard model with wood grips and a blued finish. If you want a new one, I would get it now though as the future is guaranteed to no one.
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All models are officially discontinued by FN. What I understand from an industry expert who spoke with the head of trade shows for Browning that the tooling at FN is on its last legs and that the sales of the BHP, with contracts like the Brits sunsetting, they are not going to invest in retooling.

The last of the Browning rollmarked guns shipped sometime in the spring. There are almost none in the distribution channels but there are some NIB ones still floating around. This has been confirmed.
 
wvsig said:
All models are officially discontinued by FN. What I understand from an industry expert who spoke with the head of trade shows for Browning that the tooling at FN is on its last legs and that the sales of the BHP, with contracts like the Brits sunsetting, they are not going to invest in retooling.

The last of the Browning rollmarked guns shipped sometime in the spring. There are almost none in the distribution channels but there are some NIB ones still floating around. This has been confirmed.
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I read the same thing, posted by Denis Prisbrey, on multiple forums. With that said, I won't be surprised if they change their minds down the road and reintroduce it.
 
MacEntyre said:
You had two or three Hi Powers on yer table fer sale last weekend, Steve!
(...and not overpriced, either!)
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Those were culls from a Century order earlier this year. I have the keeper from that order at home already. Not surprisingly, Century is out of Hi Powers, but there are still a few importers with ample stock of Israeli surplus guns.

I still want a stock shooter grade gun from the 60s or 70s, preferably in the European military contact style rather than the US commercial style. I'll find the right one eventually.
 
I love, love, love those guns. Partly from a historic nostalgia given their popularity with the SAS/SBS and Delta, but the reason they went with them were because they were great and reliable guns.
 
Chuckman said:
I love, love, love those guns. Partly from a historic nostalgia given their popularity with the SAS/SBS and Delta, but the reason they went with them were because they were great and reliable guns.
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And use by the Rhodesians in the Rhodesian Bush War. They are a great companion to an FAL, either way. :)
 
cubrock said:
And use by the Rhodesians in the Rhodesian Bush War. They are a great companion to an FAL, either way. :)
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Absolutely. So many countries used them for so long. Like the venerable 1911, they are workhorses that you can ride hard and put up wet.
 
cubrock said:
I read the same thing, posted by Denis Prisbrey, on multiple forums. With that said, I won't be surprised if they change their minds down the road and reintroduce it.
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Yeah that is the source of the info. I think that is it accurate. I spoke with Karl Sokol and a few other known BHP smiths recently and they all confirmed that they have been discontinued "offically". To me its all about the tooling. If the tooling is there and can still make in spec guns if there is enough demand they will make them in special runs etc... but if they have to invest in new tooling I just don't see it happening.

Cubrock are you a dealer in Hickory?
 
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wvsig said:
Yeah that is the source of the info. I think that is it accurate. I spoke with Karl Sokol and a few other know BHP smiths recently and they all confirmed that they have been discontinued "offically". To me its all about the tooling. If the tooling is there and can still make inspect guns if there is enough demand they will make them in special runs etc... but if they have to invest in new tooling I just don't see it happening.
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I am proceeding as if they won't make any more as far as acquiring the one or two more variations I want, but they are long discontinued styles, anyway. Still, I won't be shocked if they decide to make them again. Stranger things have happened in the gun world.
 
I feel like the trigger reset on mine is about a mile long.

The gun points and presents very well, though.
 
cubrock said:
I am proceeding as if they won't make any more as far as acquiring the one or two more variations I want, but they are long discontinued styles, anyway. Still, I won't be shocked if they decide to make them again. Stranger things have happened in the gun world.
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Yeah
11B CIB said:
I feel like the trigger reset on mine is about a mile long.

The gun points and presents very well, though.
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Yes it has a longer reset than a lot of todays tactical plastic. Some smiths can mitigated it somewhat but it is not cheap.
 
gsimmons said:
Have any of the British no.2 mk1's been released or have they got the chop?
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There are a few in the collector's pipeline, but I doubt they were surplussed. I also doubt the Brits would surplus their pistols. They'd rather see them destroyed than get cold hard cash for them.

Man, it is exciting to dream about, though!
 
Don't currently own one but have in the past (WWII Canadian Inglis) and a MkIII. Collected a few over the years in Iraq where they are popular. In 03'-04' had one of Saddam Hussains personal guns with his initials in the mother of pearl grips. Did get a chance to shoot it too. Also captured in the same palace was an engraved one for his son Uday. Later in 08' had 6 BHPs in Baghdad.

Saddam's (went back 3 months later on a different rotation and it was gone, this is where I hate the no bring backs allowed for US service members)
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range day with it
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Uday's
BHP-SH-chopped_1.jpg

BHP-SH-chopped_3.jpg


former Iraqi Army FN T series
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FN_P35s.JPG



CD
 
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Saddam's gun I am pretty sure is a commercial "Renaissance" BHP. It came from the factory like that even the gold trigger. I was offered one way back but I was too poor to pick it up. Compared to what they go for today I should have gotten it. They sell for $2500 + these days when I see them. Well at least that is what people try to get for them.
 
Newest BHP in the pack. I picked up this gun off of GB. It is a 1990 forged frame MKIII. It was dirty, had rusted grips screw which were replaced at the same time I replaced the factory plastic with Navidrex slim grips.

I am going to be using it as a base gun for a custom build so I am not worried about the slight finish issues. The mag disconnect is still in tact. Overall I would rate the finish at 85-88% It came with a nickel marked Megar 13 round mag.

It passed the click test and the stock trigger is a little heavy at 7.5 lbs but it breaks clean enough. This one will be going off to Karl Sokol at Chestnut Mountain Sports in Oct for a little bit of custom work. The barrel looks to be in excellent condition. On the interior it is perfect the crown is a little dirty but it will be polished and recrowned by Mr. Sokol.

Not bad for $515 OTD shipped and transferred at my local FFL.

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I found one years ago that was sold at a police auction. I got it from the dealer that bought it . Had the serial number ran and found it was made in 1957. It's in amazing shape for it's age ,original grips with the red paint on inside. Paid $175 for it. Would not sell it for nothing. It's one of my favorite pistols. Also found some 20 round military mags for it.
 
This thread reminds me that I do not have a BHP in my collection. Last time I saw a new one at LGS it was like $1200+. Did not realize they were discontinuing. Now they will be more popular than ever and the prices will go up even higher.
 
There are still a number of them on the market that came from Israeli military/police surplus. You can find nice ones from that batch for $600 and under. I have an Israeli Mk II that shoots better than any other stock Hi Power I've owned. The only one that beats it is a custom Hi Power I picked up at a show years ago.
 
jimmyjames8 said:
Now they will be more popular than ever and the prices will go up even higher.
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I always thought they were not that popular. To sell 'em ya gotta find an old feller who likes 'em... everyone wants a Glock or a Glock Wannabe now. Nobody wants a pistol with a big honkin' hammer stickin' out the back... jus' sayin'.
 
MacEntyre said:
I always thought they were not that popular. To sell 'em ya gotta find an old feller who likes 'em... everyone wants a Glock or a Glock Wannabe now. Nobody wants a pistol with a big honkin' hammer stickin' out the back... jus' sayin'.
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ALL my guns have a big honking hammer sticking out the back. And I am not an AARP member yet. Just sayin'! :p
 
cubrock said:
There are still a number of them on the market that came from Israeli military/police surplus. You can find nice ones from that batch for $600 and under. I have an Israeli Mk II that shoots better than any other stock Hi Power I've owned. The only one that beats it is a custom Hi Power I picked up at a show years ago.
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There are a lot of Israeli surplus in the market but you have to be careful about these guns these days. They are not the best of the bunch these days. It used to be you could get a nice matching surplus BHP from guys like CDI on Gunbroker for $500. These days most of what they have left are refinished guns with missmatched slides, barrels and frames. They are good shooters but they are what they are. Prices range from $400 to $500 depending on condition. I always recommend getting the best complete matching gun with original finish you can when you are looking at CDIs guns.

There are also a ton of commercial BHPs out there. The sweet spot for these guns in 85% or better condition is $500 to $700 depending on vintage and condition. I have seen a slight bump in pricing but believe that within 6-12 months the prices will go back down.

I always thought they were not that popular. To sell 'em ya gotta find an old feller who likes 'em... everyone wants a Glock or a Glock Wannabe now. Nobody wants a pistol with a big honkin' hammer stickin' out the back... jus' sayin'.
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Yeah compared to Glocks they do not sell well but those who like them generally own more than one. A lot of them/us are also collectors as well as shooters so are willing to pay more for something that fills a whole in the collection. The used market for BHPs has always been the way to go IMHO. I am not that old but have always preferred steel & alum framed guns vs tactical plastic. That does not mean I don't own some tupperware but I prefer to shoot and own steel.
 
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I've never even shot one but have handled a couple. I really like the hard molded grips they were shipping with at one time with the thumb rest. Most people did not like them. Afraid of hammer bite on the spur hammer for sure. Maybe not so much with a commander style hammer which I like better aesthetically anyway. Can't afford a C&S beaver tail job. Used to shoot USPSA with a guy who started out with a HP as his competition gun. He used to get hammer bit.
 
jimmyjames8 said:
I've never even shot one but have handled a couple. I really like the hard molded grips they were shipping with at one time with the thumb rest. Most people did not like them. Afraid of hammer bite on the spur hammer for sure. Maybe not so much with a commander style hammer which I like better aesthetically anyway. Can't afford a C&S beaver tail job. Used to shoot USPSA with a guy who started out with a HP as his competition gun. He used to get hammer bit.
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Yeah I small mitts so no issue with hammer bite for me. The commander hammer actually puts the hammer a little closer to the frame tangs causing more biting according to Mr. Ted Yost who is one of the best BHP in the world. The best way to prevent hammer bite is the C&S no bit hammers or having the hammer modified a bit like this one.

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I just bought my first one last week so we will see if I turn out to be a fan or not. I like the way it points and am anxious to shoot it.
 
Short Fuse said:
I just bought my first one last week so we will see if I turn out to be a fan or not. I like the way it points and am anxious to shoot it.
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Nice enjoy it. What vintage did you get?
 
Here we go.........................
 

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