Value of Browning HP

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welldoya

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I need opinions on the value of a Browning High Power 9mm, bought new in 1988, the last year they made them in Belgium (not assembled in Portugal).
Original grease still on it with manual just like it came from the factory.
I checked Gunbroker but didn't see any NIB. Thanks.

GEDC0086.gif
 
Its worth no more or no less than someone else is willing to pay for it. This is a very nice gun and the fact that its NIB will only help you. I think since its a mid 80s version its not old enough for someone to pay premium for and whoever would buy it will plan to shoot it. Kind of like a '88 Ferrari. Still awesome but not like the value of a '50-'60s.

I think its worth around $1000 to $1200. Thats just my opinion though. I could be way off in left field. Whatever the opposite of an expert is, thats me.
 
Thanks for the reply.
Like a lot of people in this economy, I've thought of thinning the herd and just keeping the guns I actually use. It's cool having this one but I've got two other 9mms (a CZ 75 and a Glock 19) so it doesn't make sense to shoot this one at this point in time. I mean, it's sat on the shelf for 21 years.
Just thought I would get some opinions on value to see if it's worth considering selling it.
I've got a few others I will sell first and see how it goes from there.
 
I've had a few HP's and no doubt it's very nice. I think 1-1.2 K is quite a bit optomistic, but the right person might give 700 for it. After saying that, I really miss my HP and if you might be interested in some quality trades, give me a hollar. Thanks.
 
Your price seems optimistic. I bought a new one in 1988 just like it with adjustable sights for $480.00
 
I never said anything about a price. I'm asking for opinions on prices.
And I paid $388 for this one in 1988. I also bought a brand new S&W Model 17 in 1975 for $145. And a new Savage 24 in 1970 for $40 and a new Plymouth Roadrunner in 1969 for $2600 but since I don't know anybody who has a time machine I'll have to go with today's value.
 
Probably around $750-850. Maybe a little more than a current new one is going for since it's a "Belgian" one. I had two BHPs, a Belgian and an "assembled in Portugal" one and there was no difference in the workmanship. In fact I sold the Belgian one and kept the other. It's not like Portugal is some 3rd world country.

On second thought, maybe not as much or at a premium to a new pistol, since it won't come with a warranty.
 
BE CERTIAN that you set a high enough reserve price and here is the lesson I learned; since Jan. I sold a Browning HP on Gunbroker, the sale went ok the winning bid was at 800 a fair price for that gun. A week later the buyer defaulted. EXPLITIVES DELETED I relisted the gun and it sold to be what turned out to be a broker buying for a customer. I ended up getting 500.
"You can't be stupid. I am stupid! you must be someone else"
 
That HP is, in my opinion, the greatest and best handgun in the whole wide world. It's priceless by my measure.
For American dollars, you should take not a penny less than $1200, and really more than that. I have NEVER seen a NIB HiPower like yours. This from a guy who at one time had five HPs, and now has two.
Steve
 
These guns are going for every bit of $900 dollars now and are pretty hard to find. Add tax and or shipping and thats how I came up with a grand. Added a few hundred bucks for nostalgia. Kids born in '88 are now 21 years old and can buy guns. I once paid a bundle for a '72 Marlin 39A in new condition just because I wanted one and thought it would be cool to have it in my birth year.

There are folks out there that will pay a good amount for it. Just have to find them.
 
My local gun store has a NIB BHP "assembled in Portugal", and they want $1049. I rarely see any new production HP's anymore period. Keep in mind my local gun store has good prices overall.

That being said, last year I purchased a new condition Belgian made BHP, made in 1982, with a Browning soft case, for $500.

Like westtx28 said, you will find someone willing to pay close to or more than $1000 for yours.
 
Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like if I sell it, like anything else, I just need to find the right buyer.
I've got a few others I'm going to try to sell first. I'm not starving or anything, just doesn't make sense to have so many guns that are not being used so I figured I would thin the herd.
 
FN started assembling HPs in Portugal in the 50s after a very bitter stike that could not be resolved.

Browning started putting the inscription "assembled in Portugal" on its guns sometime in the 80s. The FN HPs which were manufactured and assembled in exactly the same facilities as the Brownings, never did bear the rollmark "assembled in portugal" even though they were.

Browning added this roll mark to their guns to comply with a brief tarrif requirement from the usg. If you query Browning Customer Service, they cannot tell you why the inscription is added or when it started.

Record keeping at FN is an art rather than a science.

If you think that some Browning HPs were assembled in Belgium, you have to go back to 53 and 54 when the BHP was introduced.
 
I just paid $650 for an ANIB 1991 BHP and considered it a very fair price. "Assembled in Portugal" is irrelevant to me.
 
jaysouth's post is very interesting. I had no idea that was the case. Compliance on tariff regulations from the govt makes a lot of since though. I have two HPs both of which are fairly new so I never really questioned nor thought about the timeframe of the "assembled in Portugal" rollmark.
 
The BHP IMHO is a true classic and deservedly so.

NIB like yours should command a price of $1200.00 easily.
 
The "assembled in Portugal" rollmark came around in 1988. The same time I bought this gun.
At the time these guns were normally going for around $450 or so.
I went into a gunshop and noticed they had a BHP priced at $600. I asked them what's so special about it. The guy pulled out a letter from Browning that he had just received that stated all BHPs shipped from here on out will be assembled in Portugal.
Now, whether that meant they used to be assembled in Belgium or they've always been assembled in Portugal and we are just now putting it on the barrels, I don't know.
So, because gun collectors are a strange bunch that will pay more for things that are discontinued, that shop marked their "Made in Belgium" guns up $150 based on that letter.
I immediately went to a phone and called a shop across town who was running a sale on BHPs for $388 and told them to hold one for me until I could get there.
 
Collectors are strange but again I am going to go against the grain here.... this is a MKIII that is not worth much more than a current production one unless you find the perfect buyer.

There is nothing super special about this Hi-power. A T series is more valuable IMHO.
 
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