Browning Hi Power help......

[pmclaine]

Looking at a Browning Hi Power.

Serial number 79642a

Blued steel - The marks look like they have not been buffed but I question if this gun would have come from the factory in shiny blue. The finish is 90 percent or more.

Its a Belgium product.

It has waffenamt stamps. Im assuming this was made during occupation by the Nazi's.

The front sight is a standard post. The rear is a driftable notch but I note the notch is almost circular in its manufacture. The top inside tips almost close over the top of front sight when you look down the slide.

It has a thumb cut on the right side of the slide.

The extractor is evidenced as an oval mounted flush into the cocking serrations.

The hammer is a ring.

It has off white Franzite grips with a condor of sorts on it. I assume they are newer purchase because there is a Franzite catalog with the pistol.

Serial numbers on slide, frame and magazine match.

I don't see any import marks.

There is a brand new in the wrap set of wood Browning grips with receipt and letter from Browning dated 1960.

Any idea what a good price would be for the described pistol. Likely I wont be able to get pictures.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Can you post picture? The early Brownings were pretty much works of art. Was it Nazi Marked? If it was made under occupation, I believe it would have a swastika and eagle. If pre-war or early post-war, then shiny blue definitely!

And even during the war years, early guns during the 'heyday' of occupation (the happy times)... may well have been very highly-finished. Germans didn't worry about 'war finish' until they started losing. And Speer took over the somewhat hopeless Todt Organization and streamlined everything.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[pmclaine]

Can't get a picture right now.

It is marked with eagles and swazi.

My research indicates it is later war which has me surprised by the level of finish. It's not a great blue but it's not "last ditch"either.

Im thinking to offer $450.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

That would be a great price for any Hi Power that wasn't made by people who use their toes in lieu of a bench vice. Those are out there, too.

Tangent site? Slotted for stock?

Again... if you can get it for that, it's a steal just as a shooter!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[NukeMMC]

I only have an early FEG clone but with a C&S hammer and wide trigger and removing the magazine disconnect have made mine a real joy to shoot. I would compare the trigger now to one of my NM 1911s. I would say under $500 is a good price. If yours is an occupation gun, it should be quite a decent shooter. Jim Garthwaite would be a great gunsmith to make it into whatever you want.

 

[jbell]

I want a full meal deal Nighthawk custom Hi Power so damn bad...

Sorry carry on gentleman.

 

[steve123]

Ha, I always wanted a full dust covered and heavy non profiled front slide Highpower, you know like a 2011. Oh and a 2 lb trigger pull. Oh and perfect fit between slide and frame, and, and, and.

My Dad gave me a new Browning when I was in my early 20's. That was in the early 80's. Screw major power factor and give me high capacity, showed those 45 guys a thing or two, lol. Of note is my Highpower rarely malfunctioned.

I'm in a weird mood tonight so...

Yeah, get it or one if possible.

 

[Quarter Horse]

I bought my HiPower in '67. I've followed their value for about ten years on no reserve internet auctions. If it is not a reblue, your number would be less than half of what they generally bring. I have not seen one sell that was a Nazi marked reblue but that is irrelevant at your number or even a couple of hundred more.

A consideration is that if you were a Nazi officer you could most likely get FN build you a P35 in any level of finish you wanted.

 

[pmclaine]

That would be a great price for any Hi Power that wasn't made by people who use their toes in lieu of a bench vice. Those are out there, too.

Tangent site? Slotted for stock?

Again... if you can get it for that, it's a steal just as a shooter!

Cheers,

Sirhr

No tangent, no stock cut.

Thinking it may be a reblue which kills value some.

See some others from same serial blocks on GB in $500 range but they are war finish with BTDT.

Its been a tough money summer, one OT and no extra shifts being a hang around with the kids dad. Not to mention the MARSOC .45 and S&W 952 I bought were not cheap buys.

Ill offer what I can afford if they don't take it, it wasn't meant to be mine.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Well????

 

[pmclaine]

Im not chasing it hard. If its meant to be mine it will be.

When asked the other day what I would pay I offered $400. He came back with that was better than the $375 someone else offered.

I should be going after the in the box 98% S&W Combat Master .22 he has.

A summer watching kids, no extra shifts has killed my gun account.

 

[pmclaine]

Well its mine if I want it.

Neat piece of bad history.

Possibly sabotaged heat treat, might be reblued and likely not as accurate as when built for commercial sales or the good guys.

Two cases of .308 FGMM or a Nazi High Power......which do I want..........

 

[FatBoy]

So, you gonna keep us in suspense?

 

[pmclaine]

I don't think I can pass it up. Probably pick it up after the next pay check.

 

[pmclaine]

Couple quick pictures while stopped at the range. More detailed ones to follow......

 

[xringr]

Hell yea I knew you would get it!! I've had mine for 10 years and never have regretted buying it.never had a failure to also.or jam with all sorts of ammo.very accurate also.

 

[pmclaine]

The High Power's little brother fell in my lap today.....

FN Model 1922 with WaA103 acceptance codes.

Didn't want it but boss kept haranguing me asking what I would pay and he took what I would pay.

Hoping I can trade it to my local honey hole towards the purchase of a Smith and Wesson M39.

Need to update this with some good pictures.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Are those real ivories on that Hi Power? If they are.... I am sporting a tremendous woody right now.

Great buy!

The 1922's are great guns. But have no collector following for some reason I can't fathom.

If you want a 39.... I'll keep my eye out. One of my best friends owns the Smith-Wesson forum. He finds amazing ones all the time.

I'd still like a 52. One of the most amazing Smith-Wesson guns ever.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[pmclaine]

Are those real ivories on that Hi Power? If they are.... I am sporting a tremendous woody right now.

Great buy!

The 1922's are great guns. But have no collector following for some reason I can't fathom.

If you want a 39.... I'll keep my eye out. One of my best friends owns the Smith-Wesson forum. He finds amazing ones all the time.

I'd still like a 52. One of the most amazing Smith-Wesson guns ever.

Cheers,

Sirhr

Just prior to driving my son to soccer I was at the extremely messy work bench getting some updated pics I will post tonight.

The Franzite grips are not Ivory. They are some sort of BS plastic almost translucent in appearance. I kind of wonder if they glow should I put them under a light and charge them up. I could see that being the rage in the 60's.

In the buy the gun came with a brand new in the wrap set of walnut commercial grips. Neat thing it also included the correspondence between the Browning distributor and the buyer and it was this polite, genteel, back and forth unlike the current crude business dealings we experience today. The correspondence was dated 1960 or so.

I fitted the grips on to my gun just a few moments ago. They were not a factory drop in fit. I had to use an exacto to shave the dovetail of the grip to properly fit the cut out in the frame. Not a big deal but I was in a hurry to get to my kids practice. The gun looks fantastic now in wood. Im imagining the need to fit the grips was the reason the original owner never installed them. Included in the paperwork was the Franzite catalog he probably ordered the plastic grips from.

The M1922 is a neat gun for its occupied build history. Thing is it looks like you need to lop off about two inches of barrel to make it aesthetically pleasing. It reminds me a lot of the Colt 1903, a gun which I do lust for, which is no big surprise considering its got JMB DNA all over it.

Im really not interested in the gun or the caliber and I have a few things in the safe already I don't ever shoot, they just add weight to keep the box in place. The prices on the M1922s range from $300 or so up to $700. I have no capture papers, accouterments or reason to think this pistol is on the high end of pricing. If it nets me more than $200 in value on a trade for something I want it was a good buy.

You have offered me M39 seeking services in the past. I think I have a PM from you saved with contact info. I appreciate much your help in all things of interest to manly men as you prove to be the manliest among men. If he has something on hand shipping/running it through my magical honey hole FFL dealer would be an easy transfer.

I have a Model 52, and a Custom Shop 952 and it seems only fitting I complete the ménage a trois with a nice Model 39.

Im a member at the S&W site but only visit infrequently, awesome guns over there.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

I have my buddy from Smith Wesson looking and I think he will find one at Tulsa in a couple of weeks. So we'll find you one.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[pmclaine]

The pistol came with the old Hunter holster and all the paperwork, ephemera in the photo....



Looking better in wood



Its little Nazi brother