New "CDNN" FN Hi Power

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deezulsmoke

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Feb 9, 2004
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Just got this. Great deal from CDNN. Here are some pics. I have replaced the recoil spring with a Wolff 18.5 # and the hammer spring with a 28#. Also changed the FP spring. Polished (very lightly!) the hammer and sear with a ceramic stone. Trigger pull is now about 5 lbs. down from what must have been 8-9 lbs. Also took out the mag disconnect. Very happy with it so far. Great overall pistol. This is my first HP, other than the Indian Inglis clone that I got before this one. There is no comparison to the fit and finish of the FN to the Indian. Also sporting the CDNN cocobolo grips. For $30.00, they are really nice. Have a palm swell/thumb "rest" that seems to fit my hand better than the stock flat panels. Also added some skate tape to the front and back straps. I know it does not look the best, but it sure works.

Deez.

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Looks great! I just picked my CDNN Hi-Power up this morning - now I need to order those grips.....

Tom
 
That is a beautiful gun. The black matte finish looks a lot better than I would have expected.

Other than the chopped hammer, are there any differences between the two types of SA High Powers CDNN offers? I notice that one is listed as a "Mk III" and the other is not.
 
Beautiful.

Nice pistol, sir - - I can see how you're proud of it.

I must ask, though - - Being of the, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" school myself, what was your reason for installing the non-standard springs? Was there some malfunction with the factory springs?

No, I do NOT question your removal of the magazine disconnect. I do the same thing.

As CDNN doesn't list gun stuff on their web site, may I ask the price of this nice new FNHP?

I can't see the magazine floorplate in any of your illustrations. What kind of mag came with it? Was there a spare mag included? Do they ship the pistol in the standard gray plastic box, or something else? I ask because I've seen FN marked HPs in Browning boxes within the past year.

Nice stocks, too. What kind came installed? Were they the terrible black plastic thumb rest types?

Hope it shoots as nicely as it looks.

I notice that you have at least two of Mr. Camp's excellent reference books on the HP. Do you have his Hi Power Disassembly work? Simple, clear, beautifully illustrated, and well worth the price.
Best,
Johnny
 
"Nice pistol, sir - - I can see how you're proud of it.

I must ask, though - - Being of the, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" school myself, what was your reason for installing the non-standard springs? Was there some malfunction with the factory springs?"

I installed the 18.5# at the recommendation of Mr. Camp and what I have read. I shot the pistol with the standard springs and it worked fine. The hammer spring was replaced to reduce the trigger pull.

"No, I do NOT question your removal of the magazine disconnect. I do the same thing."

"As CDNN doesn't list gun stuff on their web site, may I ask the price of this nice new FNHP?"

You have to download the catalog. The price was $399.00 plus shipping and FFL. They may be out of them, as when I got mine, they were running out.

"I can't see the magazine floorplate in any of your illustrations. What kind of mag came with it? Was there a spare mag included? Do they ship the pistol in the standard gray plastic box, or something else? I ask because I've seen FN marked HPs in Browning boxes within the past year."

Plastic grips. It comes with a FN 10 round mag and a KRD hi-cap. The one that I got will hold 15 rounds. There was no mag in the pistol when I took the pics. :banghead:

"Nice stocks, too. What kind came installed? Were they the terrible black plastic thumb rest types?"

No, flat plastic.

"Hope it shoots as nicely as it looks."

It does!

"I notice that you have at least two of Mr. Camp's excellent reference books on the HP. Do you have his Hi Power Disassembly work? Simple, clear, beautifully illustrated, and well worth the price."

Nope, just the "Shooters Guide". Great work Steve!

Best,

Deez.
 
Nice HP and I like those grips. Maybe I'll repalce my BHP grips with those. I've already replaced my recoil spring with a Wolff 18.5 lb and installed a shock buff. How hard is it to change the other springs and remove the mag disconnect? With FN Hi-Power down, I don't know of any place with instructions to do this.
 
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The hammer spring is not really easy, but it is not that bad either.

To pull out the disconnect:

Mag out, unloaded etc. Take the slide and barrel off of the frame.
Drive the trigger pin out from the right side to the left. Put some tape around the pin and use a brass drift. Using a bench block really helps with this. Be careful. They are really in there and takes a pretty good whack to get it out.
With the pin out, take the trigger group by lifting it up and tilting it out from the bottom, through the trigger guard.
Then using a smaller puch, drive the disconeect pin out of the trigger with it out of the gun. Don't do this in the gun, it will stress the trigger.
This will allow the diconnect and spring to come out of the trigger. Store for futuer restoration.
Reverse the process.

Hammer spring.
Field strip the gun.
Look at the rear of the hammer area below where the serrations would be. You will see the sear pin. Drive the sear pin out from right to left. This will allow the sear to pop out. Then take the sear leaf spring out.
Rotate the ejector down 90 degrees. If you have an ambi safety, drive the roll pin out of the right safety lever and then remove. Wiggle the left safety, lifting it away from the frame like you would a 1911 safety. There is a "nipple" on the safety shaft that must come through the slot in the ejector. Just wiggle, it will align and come out.
Take the safety out, then remove the hammer, spring rod and spring.
You have to compress the spring, then screw the retention cap down until you clear the pin that holds the cap on. Drop the pin out, then unscrew the retention cap. Be careful, it is under pretty good pressure.
Install the new spring. I can't tell you the best way to compress the spring. I used some help, a bench vise and some patience to get the cap screwed back in. Then replace the retention pin and unscrew the cap until you get it snug against the pin.
Install the hammer/rod/spring back into the pistol.
Install the sear spring.
You will have to hold the hammer back, compress the sear spring and push down on the sear, all at the same time to get sear pin back in. Install the safety first as you will need to lever the hammer back. Be sure to comress the detent pin on the safety when reinstalling the left side.
With the safety back in, try using a clothes pin to hold the sear pin to the frame and hold the hammer cocked back.
Install the sear pin.

Reverse from there.

To install the firing pin spring.
Take the slide off. If a MKIII, then you must compress the sear lever in the slide to get the firing pin to move. Just insert a punch or whatever into the firing pin hole to push the firing pin in past the retainer, then slide the retainer out of the way and remove the pin.

Hope that helps.

Deez.
 
Thanks Deez. That helps. Did you need a vice or just normal tools and a bench block?
 
Normal tools. You can "fake" a bench block by drilling a 1/4 inch hole in a wood block. I would also suggest taking the grips off before starting on the pins.

Deez.
 
That is a beautiful gun. The black matte finish looks a lot better than I would have expected.

I have one waiting for me at my transfer dealer. He said it was the nicest pistol I've ordered. Unfortunately, he's out of town all this week so I have to wait another week to pick it up.

I also got the extra Cocobolo grips. I thought they looked nice in the pics someone else posted so I sprung the extra cash for them. I'm especially glad I did so if the gun comes with plastic grips as standard.
 
Hey Dezelsmoke,

How about a pic of that Indian Hi Power. I'm just curious and I've just started to see the references to these and I'd never heard of them before.
 
deezul- Excellent pics! I also got mine from CDNN, and after getting the mag safety out, I am very impressed with the trigger, and how this pistol handles. I got the wood grips too, the gun feels great, the grips are very...uh, grippy. I wish I had gotten one years ago!

Good luck with yours!
 
That is a beautiful gun. The black matte finish looks a lot better than I would have expected.

I used to hear that the difference between the FNs and the Brownings were "fit and finish". I received a CDNN FN about one month ago that I can't find any appreciable difference between it and my Browning Mk III.

Both do wear the best looking matte finish I've seen in a while.

--
Mike
 
Just got two more of the FN matte MKIIIs from CDNN today. One for me and one for my father. If you are still interested in one, give them a call.

Deez.
 
They still have some left. I called today and ordered another one for me and one for my father. I did not ask, but the ones that they have left are just like the pics. Matte/Teflon finish with black plastic grips. I ordered two more sets of the cocobolo grips for $30.00. And 2 of the KRD 17 round mags. I am sleeping in the dog hous tonight! Good thing I have internet out here. I would call tomorrow. There is no telling how much longer they will last at that price and they are beauties!.

Deez.
 
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