Charles Daly Hi-Power

DeadFlies · Mar 6, 2014

Hi all

I have the opportunity to purchase a LNIB Charles Daly Hi-Power, with box and two 13-rd magazines. It's the model with the big XS sights, bigger safety, rubber grips and ring hammer. It has also has had the mag safety removed and the guy claims the triggers is fantastic.

I've looked through gunbroker and armslist but these seem rather hard to come by and with few records of sales, a fair price is tough to pin down. Handguns are also relatively tough to find in Madison (selling handguns is a no-no for retailers in Madison), Hi-Powers of any stripe especially so.

Anyway, what's a good price for a LNIB 95% Daly Hi-Power? Should I avoid it altogether? I just bought my first 1911 a week ago and thought this HP could keep it company, being family and all.

Here's a pic of the temptress:

mgmorden · Mar 6, 2014

Charles Daly's were rebadged FEG Hi Powers if I remember right. I'd say $300 - $350.

DeadFlies · Mar 6, 2014

mgmorden said:
Charles Daly's were rebadged FEG Hi Powers if I remember right. I'd say $325 - $375.

Not exactly. The frames were from FEG but imported and finished and assembled by Dan Wesson (first 500 units) and Magnum Research did the rest. They did more than just rebadge finished pistols. That's how they can claim "Made in the USA".

larryh1108 · Mar 6, 2014

The FEG clones are nice pistols. As long as you know it's not THE Browning/FN Hi Power, you will be quite happy. $400 or less is the right ballpark.

il.bill · Mar 6, 2014

I have seen 'like new' Charles Daly Hi Powers sell for right at $500. I have also seen one in the same condition sell for $400. For $300-$350 it would almost be a steal.

If you have your heart set on it and have the money available, you might very well be happy with it as a $500 pistol - just as long as you realize that it is unlikely that you would ever get that money out of it if/when you sell it. I bought a genuine FN made Israeli surplus Hi Power in excellent condition for $498 including shipping and FFL transfer and I am extremely happy with it. That much for a Charles Daly, no matter how pretty, seems a bit expensive to me.

For $400, buy it and smile all the way home; for $300-$350. buy it and run home without looking back. FEG-produced Hi Powers of the original Browning design are very good clones, and Charles Daly put together some of the best.

DeadFlies · Mar 6, 2014

il.bill said:
I have seen 'like new' Charles Daly Hi Powers sell for right at $500. I have also seen one in the same condition sell for $400. For $300-$350 it would almost be a steal.

If you have your heart set on it and have the money available, you might very well be happy with it as a $500 pistol - just as long as you realize that it is unlikely that you would ever get that money out of it if/when you sell it. I bought a genuine FN made Israeli surplus Hi Power in excellent condition for $498 including shipping and FFL transfer and I am extremely happy with it. That much for a Charles Daly, no matter how pretty, seems a bit expensive to me.

For $400, buy it and smile all the way home; for $300-$350. buy it and run home without looking back. FEG-produced Hi Powers of the original Browning design are very good clones, and Charles Daly put together some of the best.

Thanks, bill. That's about what I figured.

I'd be buying this gun to shoot and fondle, so I'm not terribly worried about resale value. I made an offer...we'll see what happens.

Husker_Fan · Mar 6, 2014

I have one and it's a great gun. I bought mine LNIB for $375, but that was over 4 years ago. $400 would be a good deal.

They are true HP clones, and mine has been very reliable.

il.bill · Mar 7, 2014

DeadFlies said:
... I made an offer...we'll see what happens.

Good luck, and let us know. I am concerned about your lonely 1911.

DeadFlies · Mar 7, 2014

I offered $450 but he would only come down to $475.

Oh well. $450 is probably too much anyway. Now I have money to feed my 1911. Win-win.

larryh1108 · Mar 7, 2014

The condition looks really nice. I wouldn't lose a gun I liked for $25. That's a box of ammo. Now, if it didn't flip your switch that's a different story. However, don't be that guy who wishes he paid the $25 a year from now. Condition is worth extra, IMO.

19-3Ben · Mar 7, 2014

I offered $450 but he would only come down to $475.

At which point, if it were my money, it would be changing hands.

WVsig · Mar 7, 2014

Buy it.... They were blown out around $400 when Charles Daly went belly up.

As others have said it BHP clone made from mainly FEG parts. It is a true clone. The grips are Uncle Mikes which were designed by Spegel and sell for about $50 in the used market. I own a set myself and they are nice grips.

I am not a fan of the Xdot sight on the BHP but if you like them they are a plus.

$475 is not a stellar deal but it is a fair deal.

DeadFlies · Mar 7, 2014

When I started looking for a HP clone, I really wanted to spend no more than $350. This one certainly is a nice pistol but, it's more than I want right now. Maybe $475 is a fair price for somebody; just not me.

Besides, at $475 Gary Cole has sone nice FNs.

mgmorden · Mar 7, 2014

Besides, at $475 Gary Cole has sone nice FNs.

That's actually the route I took. Paid $369 for mine. It had some white paint in the grips but was otherwise in pretty good shape. The pain cleaned off fine with a dental pick and toothbrush (though I still replaced them with a nice wooden set).

Its a personal bias and just my opinion, but to me having one by the original manufacturer is a big plus. I'd take a more worn FN over a pristine FEG/CD. Others may view that differently and neither is more correct than the other, but that's just my position.

WVsig · Mar 7, 2014

The problem with most of the guns at Coles these days is that they are arsenal refinished poorly in park over the black paint that they originally had on them. These are not the choice Izzy Hi Powers that were around in the past.

They are still good shooters but to get one that does not have a spray on park job you will pay $450+.

Bartholomew Roberts · Mar 8, 2014

These are not the choice Izzy Hi Powers that were around in the past

He has two or three right now that are within 50 (serial number wise) of my AIM Israeli Hi-Power I bought back around 2004. It also had the paint over park finish though it did have meprolight sights and was selling for under $300.

WVsig · Mar 8, 2014

He has two or three right now that are within 50 (serial number wise) of my AIM Israeli Hi-Power I bought back around 2004. It also had the paint over park finish though it did have meprolight sights and was selling for under $300.

It is not a matter of serial number ranges it is a matter of condition. Many of the guns have been poorly refinished IMHO to hide their surface rust and handling wear. They are not a bad deal but they are not the deal they once were. Back then you could get a NIB FN rollmarked BHP for $399.... I should have bought 20 of them!

This is a $450 + $25 shipping plus transfer gun. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=398290142

Not bad it appears to still have the factory black paint.

This is a $350 gun....

mattk · Mar 8, 2014

I really wish id kept my CD HP. Yes I have a great Browning but the Daly is a nice gun for the money with good sights and a nice finish. I sold it Bc I didn't like the roll mark

GZOh · Mar 8, 2014

Own several FEGs and BHP (no CDs)...
FEGs are excellent shoots for the money. As everyone knows, gun prices have gone thru the roof the last couple of years...
Was able to get my FEGs (NIB) for $350 and $375... but those days are long gone.
Personally, unless you have your heart set on the CD, I'd have a real hard time paying almost $500 for that pistol unless it was NIB... but that's me.
If you're not in a hurry, keep checking around GunBroker or visit SARCO, they usually carry used FEGs (have one now for $295).

WC145 · Mar 8, 2014

I gave $350 two years ago for a CD HP as new in the box with 4 mags. It's a surprisingly nice gun, has the big dot sight, I removed the mag safety which made huge difference in the trigger pull. I got it for an IDPA gun for my boys and it has worked out very well.

DeadFlies · Mar 9, 2014

GZOh said:
Own several FEGs and BHP (no CDs)...
FEGs are excellent shoots for the money. As everyone knows, gun prices have gone thru the roof the last couple of years...
Was able to get my FEGs (NIB) for $350 and $375... but those days are long gone.
Personally, unless you have your heart set on the CD, I'd have a real hard time paying almost $500 for that pistol unless it was NIB... but that's me.
If you're not in a hurry, keep checking around GunBroker or visit SARCO, they usually carry used FEGs (have one now for $295).

And I really didn't have my heart set on it. Nice pistol, but i think the seller was in no hurry to give it up and I was in no hurry to buy.

I still want a HP but, I can wait for something more affordable.

Beautiful set of pistols, btw.

WC145 · Mar 9, 2014

DeadFlies said:
And I really didn't have my heart set on it. Nice pistol, but i think the seller was in no hurry to give it up and I was in no hurry to buy.

I still want a HP but, I can wait for something more affordable.

Beautiful set of pistols, btw.

Call these guys - http://www.dietrichgunsmithy.com - they had a very nice FEG the last couple of times I was there for $400.

Snowdog · Mar 9, 2014

I was fortunate enough to buy one from CDNN a few years ago when they were going for $299 NIB. I slapped on some cocobolo grips and thought it looked good.
However, the Uncle Mikes grips felt better, so the cocobolo grips didn't last.

My Charles Daly Hi Power had occasional issues ejecting as posted here on THR back in 2008, but eventually everything was squared away.

My Daly HP works great now and I do enjoy taking it out of the safe every now and then.

Charles Daly Hi-Power

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