My dad's Browning HP (pics)

[Lightsped]

I was going through the safe tonight and found my dad's Browning HP. I'd like to learn more about this gun. Any High Power fans here? Is this particular specimen any good?

Note: the gun is clean. My camera and flash make all the lent and dust show up....

 

[Rob1035]

Check out board member/moderator Stephen Camp's website:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/

 

[Sistema1927]

Belgian Brownings are wonderful. One identical to yours was the weapon that I used, not once but twice, to defend my life in the 1970's. I sold mine to pay for grad school in the 80's, and kick myself whenever I remember that stupid move.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Your dad has good taste. I have 2 h/p and have never had a single problem. Come to think of it, of all the Brownings I own I've only had 1 failure to extract on an A5. My son was using it duck hunting and I warned him about wd40 as I told him it would gum up. It did. Honestely Brownings and his designs work and rarely jam or break.

 

[Gordon]

Early "red grip" 'T' series. worth $600-700 currently and heading north. Considered the nicest finished BHP by some . I don't like the style of adj sights on ones that have them, but you are lucky to have the decent fixed ones on that beautiful classic.

 

[Gustav]

Yes, Its a keeper those are some of the ones that are only getting harder to find.
Nothing like deep old bluing on a classic pistol with walnut grips.

 

[denfoote]

It looks to me to be a Herstal MK-I.

You can tell the date of manufacture by the serial number.

• 1976-1997 In 1975 Browning standardized its serial number identification which it followed until 1998. 1. Hi-Power Type 2W5=40 S&W
  245=9mm
  2. Date of Manufacture
  is a two digit code Z=1
  Y=2
  X=3
  W=4
  V=5
  T=6
  R=7
  P=8
  N=9
  M=0
  3. Serial Number
  beginning with 01001
  at the start of each year.

For example.
My High Power has "245PTXXXX" for the serial number, which translates to 9mm made in 1986.

 

[nwilliams]

That gun sucks you don't want! You are better off giving it to me so I can dispose of it properly, don't worry I'll cover the shipping


In all seriousness that's a fine looking HP and should make a good shooter, HP's are timeless and personally my favorite handgun of all time.

Enjoy it!

 

[usmcgrunt]

Thanks for the info Denfoote!

Grunt Out!

 

[10-Ring]

I wasn't sure about the BHP until I took mine to the range...it became an instant favorite! The one you have is a beaut!

 

[Autolycus]

Very nice. I have been looking at the HiPowers as of late. Anyone got a good source for them?

 

[bannockburn]

Yeah, but sometimes beauty is only skin deep. I had a HP, ring hammer, made in 1966; like new, complete with pouch and manual. This gun had the worst trigger pull of any gun I've ever tried; we estimated it to be around 14 pounds. The slide to frame fit was loose, as was the barrel to slide fit; those tiny sights were next to useless; and the safety was anything but, as it almost required a mallet to push it on and off. Add to this minute of country mile accuracy and it wasn't difficult to decide that this was a looker, not a shooter.
Then in '85, I saw an article on the new and improved HP, complete with a better trigger pull, high visibilty sights, wide ambi safety, and a matte finish that you really weren't going to worry about keeping it looking nice and pretty. Went out and picked one up and I've been back in the HP fan club ever since.

 

[AtticusThraxx]

As a father, my first question is"Does your Dad know your in his safe and handling his weapons". With all due respect.

 

[Lightsped]

Yes, he knows. The safe is actually mine, bought with my money.

Whats with the red magazine well on our BHP?

 

[tuckerdog1]

Lightsped, I was just drooling over your S&W 27 on the revolver forum. Now this. Please, keep digging in that safe & sharing.

Very nice firearms your dad collected.

Tuckerdog1

 

[AtticusThraxx]

In that case....sweet!

 

[Charles S]

Very, very nice.

Great gun!

 

[denfoote]

Thanks for the info Denfoote!

Yer very welcome.

Whats with the red magazine well on our BHP?

That is the back side of your grips.
Take them off and you will see!!

 

[Lightsped]

Yeah, I figured the red was the back side of the grips, but why go to the trouble to paint the back side of wooden grips red? Is there a purpose to this?

 

[Gordon]

Like I posted early on it identifies a T series. Supposedly the reason it was done was to seal off the wood so you would not have the dreaded 'saltwood' effect of Browning shotguns of that period.

 

[marty1]

I've had/have berettas, glocks S&W but the one I will never sell is my BHP. It has "class" which the others don't. My wife says I love the BHP more than her-mmmmmmmmmmmm