Assistance Requested

[rennaissancemann]

I need some assistance in giving a fine old gentleman a birthday.

He is a Browning High Power, and appears to be the old commercial model with the half moon front sight.

On the left side of the slide are the following:

FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE
HERSTAL - BELGIQUE
BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE

On the right side of the slide is the number 26519. Above and below this number, on the barrel and frame respectively is the number 519 followed by what appears to be a Sheppard’s crook cartouche.

Any help in identifying the birthday of this fine old gentleman is sincerely appreciated.

Regards,

 

[1911Tuner]

Old Gent

Stephen Camp is the resident expert on Hi-Powers. If anybody can
pinpoint it, he can. If he's not on the member list here, you can find him
on Glocktalk or Pistolsmith.

Tell the old guy happy birthday for me.

Tuner

 

[robear]

You might have better luck over here: http://fnhipower.com/modules.php?name=Forums

Mr. Camp is a moderator there...

R

 

[Al Thompson]

Check upstairs............

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello, sir. You might just drop by www.fnhipower.com and then go to "Production Years." There you'll see a place to insert the serial number and hopefully the production date will come up. If not, post there in the Forum area.
There are some historian types on the HP there now and again and they'll probably have the answer.

Best and good luck.

 

[digex]

And when you find out, post it here. I have no idea why, but you've got me curious now, so it just wouldn't be right to leave me hangin'.