copy firearms question

[Dimis]

with ruger adding into the pleathora of 1911's on the market and a recent copy of SWAT magazine covering a novak customized browning I put 2 and 2 together and came up with a question

since the patent or copyright or whatever has expired and allowed SOOO many companies to make there own 1911 why isnt this done with the HiPower or other firearms from yesteryear that are highly reguarded by the gun comunity?

I know a few companies have tried to make "knockoffs" but im talking about a true copy that is of good quality not just a novelty piece

 

[Remllez]

Money,Money,Money!

 

[Dimis]

I dont buy that im sure after seeing the novak HP that those types of guns could sell just like all the custom and semi custom 1911s

If it were about the cha-ching factor nobody would venture out into anything

 

[kozak6]

The 1911 is absurdly popular, and 2011 is the centennial.

The Hi-Power is not, and there's too much competition. The 1911 is pretty much "the" platform for .45 acp, but how many full sized hi-cap 9mm's are there?

Also, heavy steel frames and hammer fired single actions are unfashionable these days, with the 1911 being the exception rather than the rule.

 

[Hunterdad]

There are a couple companies that make a Hi-Power copy

 

[dogtown tom]

kozak6 The 1911 is absurdly popular, and 2011 is the centennial.

The Hi-Power is not,....

Seriously?
If you mean in the US, well yeah. Globally? HP wins.

The Hi Power has been cloned, copied, licensed and unlicensed since the 1960's:

FEG
Charles Daly
Mauser
Luger
FM (Fabrica Militar) licensed and unlicensed versions
Indian Ordnance Factories
Kareen

And these are just the ones imported into the US.

 

[9mmepiphany]

why isnt this done with the HiPower or other firearms from yesteryear that are highly reguarded by the gun comunity?

While the FN P35 had been adopted by many countries their really isn't the commercial market for it that there is for the 1911.

It comes with an inherently poor trigger pull (level actuated and magazine safety), doesn't have the capacity that it's competitors offer (only 13), has limited aftermarket offerings, and isn't as rugged as follow-on models...the closest being the CZ 75

It also doesn't hold up in competition (slide too light) and hasn't been competitive since the days of apartheid when South Africa and Rhodesia were limited in the guns available to them to shoot in competition

 

[BCRider]

It's also likely related to the simple fact that the 1911 was the US service handgun for so many years covering two wars and numerous police actions.

The HP may well be seen in the same light by other countries that employed that gun and that still allow private ownership of handguns. But with big majority of THR membership being US based the focus on the 1911 should not come as a surprise.

 

[CraigC]

I just don't see a market for it. That and while Colt quality has fluctuated over the years, the Brownings are probably still very good guns. I say probably because I haven't handled a HiPower in many years. I'd like to have one but it's not something I'm really itching for. Rather shoot a 1911.

 

[Old Fuff]

The Browning Hi-Power is in many ways an excelent pistol, but in the United States the supply of available guns (made by FN as well as others) is enough to supply our domestic market. Consequently those that might be interested in tooling up to make a clone, really aren't. They don't see enough sales to justify the costs of going into production.

Also most of those that are interested in owning a Hi-Power want the "real thing," not a copy.

 

[sharkmandan]

Let me type my ruminations here. Just my 2¢ worth, but I think it is not a simple answer.
I believe it has more to do with the size of the gun buying markets in the U.S., vs. the markets in other countries. My guess here, is the U.S. sells more guns to American citizens and lawful residents, than all other countries, combined. Add to that, the popularity of the 9mm in the U.S. peaked within a couple of years of the major police departments here adopting the 9mm, like NYPD and LAPD, and then dwindled, nearly as fast, plus Americans tend towards "traditionalism". Great example is Harley-Davidson. The only major advancement they have made in engine design (the Revolution V-Rod), has a following, but not the huge following the traditional OHV 45° V-Twin has. I digress to make this analogy. This is similar to that of the 9mm, vs. the .45ACP. The 9mm has a dedicated following, but most of those who prefer the 9mm, also prefer the more modern design of the DA, or Safe Action weapons, kind of leaving the John Browning designs out in the cold, with fans of the 9mm. You don't see oodles and oodles of 1911's in 9mm being sold, either. 9mm users prefer the more modern design, and higher capacity of these newer high tech weapons. But, for the most part, Americans tend to like iconic traditional things.
Then there are those, like me, who respect new technology, but are not willing to compromise the safety of my family, on a lesser caliber, like the 9mm. So, I prefer big caliber guns, with modern designs, like the XD and Glock. But, being a fan of Jeff Cooper, I like major caliber weapons. .45ACP, 10mm, and .40S&W, are my top picks, but I am also beginning to become impressed with the performance results of the 9mm on steroids, also known as the .357Sig.
Maybe it's just a matter of time to accept new things, in the American market. But, I still contend that we sell more guns in the civilian American market, than all other countries' (civilian markets) combined. From there it is simply a matter of cartridge popularity. When my department decided to switch to the 9mm, from the .38 Spcl, I wanted to carry my Hi Power, but they would not accept any single action semi auto. Instead, I opted for the Glock 17, and came to appreciate the design, if not the caliber.