Dad just gave me his 30 year old Browning Hi-Power…I have a few questions

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Bluing is a corrosion-induced oxidation layer that helps to protect against further corrosion. However, when polishing with steel wool, you are leaving traces of the steel wool behind, as well as scraping away at some of the oxidation. If these traces of steel wool rust, it has a much easier time spreading to the metal finish of the gun. Yes, steel wool can remove rust, but it will encourage future rust unless the surface is then polished clean with another polish. Ideally you would then want to refinish it as well.
 
That's a fine gift to hand down. I'd put in the newer factory safety if it were me- it's ambidextrous and larger so you can quite easily operate it compared to the original.
 
Actually the wrong rear sight blade is in the gun. That rear sigh blade is a replacement it is not original to the gun. The rear sight likely is but not the blade that is in there.

tipoc
 
Actually the wrong rear sight blade is in the gun. That rear sigh blade is a replacement it is not original to the gun. The rear sight likely is but not the blade that is in there.

tipoc

Really? My dad carried the gun in Nicaragua. I asked him about the crappy rear sight and he said "I didn't use it, they taught us to point shoot."

For those still interested, I took my dad out to dinner tonight and the consensus seems to be that it's my gun now and that I can pretty much do what I want to it. I will NOT bling it out, but I need usable sights. In time, I'll probably send the slide to Novak to have them put decent 3-dots on there. Also, I will get the gun refinished, possibly in Melonite if I can find anybody who does that. Also, I will put the extended "Mark III" thumb safety on there. That's all I plan to do. No gold plated trigger, no pearl ivory grips, no replacement hammer…and the pachmayr grips will remain. That's how dad carried it and I think they feel great!
 
I think I'm going to file the rear sight so it is actually usable.

Any idea about what a reasonable gunsmith would charge to mill and install Novak sights…NOT including the sights themselves??

This would be a long term option that I would run by my dad first to make sure it's okay with him. But we don't have "safe queens" in my family, a gun should be shot my Dad always says, that's why this one has been passed to me. He just doesn't shoot it.

You might want to give Don Williams of "The Action works" a call to see how much he charges for this kind of work. His specialty is the BHP.

http://www.theactionworks.com/

I had him install the ambi safety on my 73C series BHP (I installed the ring hammer and the MK-III grips):

BHPnewsafety1.jpg

BHPnewsafety2.jpg
 
I'm glad your dad is ok with what you want to do with the gun. When I'm gone my three sons will divide what I haven't already given them at that time but . . . if someone proves to disrespect how the guns should be maintained? All bets are off!

Why? Heck, I don't know! All I know it that I've babied 'em and kept 'em as pristine as I can. I understand that refinishing firearms almost always ruins their value and I know that as such they will be doing a foolish thing that will ruin the piece AND cost them money when they do the NEXT foolish thing . . . which is to then try to sell it. LOL

I'd try to do a little research and see what the original rear sight was and see then if someone makes INSERTS, front and rear for that issue range of front and rear sight that will light your fire. Then, acquire both original front and rear blades PLUS your latest and greatest preferred blades, i.e.: nightsights or whatever. Frankly, nightsights in a HP would be GREAT for self defense!

BTW, this same idea could be extended to entire sight assemblies I imagine, if you wish to go to fully adjustable rear sight systems.

Install the ones you like, save the originals in your safe . . . (uh, you DO have a safe I hope) . . . and you will be good to go until you trust it to your offspring in a few generations. By then this classic firearm will REALLY be uncool! LOL

One thing I truly believe you'll come to deeply regret . . .

One day that aftermarket finish will bug the crap out of you. It will scream "refinish" and folks will wonder just how rough that thing was before someone fished it out of the ocean and buffed it out. Doing this will absolutely kill its value to any collector, and only collectors pay top dollar for any fine handgun. If I saw it with a non-factory finish in a case I promise you my eye would not rest on it more than a tenth of a second, never to return for a second look.

Its your gun though, and PLENTY of fine High Powers out there will remain if you choose to do that to yours.
 
It almost looks line the gun was dropped on the rear sight.

Mine, from my father, had been, but the notch appears much bigger than yours.

Evenso, I had the slide milled for Novak sights and it's a GREAT improvement.

I removed the mag safety, replaced the tiny flat thumb safety, put skateboard tape on the front strap and replaced the grips with good looking Cocobolo slabs. It looks, handles and shoots much better than stock.
 
Bluing "requires so much maintenance".

Wow, really? So you'd rather strip it all off? If I were your dad I'd repossess that pistol and save it from ruin. The sights are one thing, but destroying the finish because of some minor rusting and "maintenance", wow.
 
Strikefire 83,

You can see in these pics below a gun of similar vintage to yours. This is a Sport Model with the type B adjustable rear sights. Notice the width of the rear sight slot compared to yours, while the front sight is of the same type. While the rear sight in yours is a Browning type which was used on the P35 and other guns, it is either from another FN pistol, not a Hi-Power, or the blade in the sight has been replaced. The slot in the rear sight should be wide enough to allow for a good sight picture. The one on your gun does not.

bhp7.jpg

bhp6.jpg

0000 type steel wool and gun oil will work well removing small spots of rust in my experience, so long as the person doing the rubbing ain't too aggressive. A touch of cold blue will keep rust from that spot. Pitting is another matter. The pics you've provided ain't the best but I see no obvious need to reblue. Clean it up well, repair or replace the rear sight blade and you're ready to go.

tipoc
 
I take care of my guns, but my goal is NOT to keep them pristine!

With one or two exceptions, I want to put as much honest wear on my guns as I can. I couldn't care less that "collector" value might be affected.

It's more important to me to:

A) USE the gun enough that it acquires honest wear. That means I got enjoyment and increased my skill with it.

B) Impart a bit of my soul into each one so when kids/grand kids get them, they'll hold something I once held. And it was something important to me that I liked and used. A lot.

My dad had a couple guns that were NIB, but the ones that were of interest to me were the ones he used.
 
Your FN/BHP is a 71/73 pattern Sport Model with an original Type A...commonly called "Beer Can", rear sight. Interestingly, that particular rear sight was also used on the FN/Browning Model 1955/71 .380acp pistol. At some point evidently your pistol was dropped/struck, bending the rear flat portion of the sight elevation lever (PO57343) downward slightly. Apparently, the spring steel cylindrical "Beer Can" rear notch was damaged as well. Instead of installing the correct replacement part (PO57342), someone used the very similar spring steel cylindrical rear notch from a Browning BLR rifle...that notch is much narrower.

You can simply replace PO57343 and especially PO57342 which will return your Sport Model back to original trim. I would point out that the correct original OEM rear notch is relatively narrow and shallow for quick work...but precise for target work. The opposing screws used to adjust windage are known to loosen with use...LockTite will hold them in place once you've zeroed the sights though.

FWIW, if you're interested; the DOM of your pistol can be determined through the serial number. If it's a "C" range...'71-'77, the 2 digits before the "C" will be the year your pistol was manufactured. If it's a late '77...or later into the '80s, the serial number will begin with 245 followed by 2 letters. The 2 letters are a date code...RN would be '79 while PZ would be '81.

Hope that helps :D
 
I would not re blue it just keep the outside wiped with a light coat of oil.
sights ? not sure your options
 
sub-moa nailed it. Looks like a C series with altered/damaged "beer can" adjustable sights.
 
So here's what I want to do:
1. Replace the sights.
2. Remove bluing and put a proper preservative coating on.
3. Add the newer style thumb safety.

This is what I think you should do: Get the sites you want. Get the safety you want. Get the finish you want. It will still and always be the gun your Dad gave you.
 
Cerakote is a good option for a nice, easy to maintain finish. If you get the slide cut by Novak you would need to have the repaired area refinished anyway. After Novak and before new sights are installed would be the time to refinish your slide/gun.
 
"So my Dad just gave me his 30+ year old Browning Hi-Power"

no offense ... but you are dwelling on the wrong set of questions.

here is what you were supposed to say to your Dad ...

"Hey Dad, you know that fishing rod you've been wanting for the last 3 years - well I went out and bought it for you. And you know that cabin on the lake up in Canada that you always liked ... well I went out and bought that too. And I threw in a canoe as well. Now here's the keys to the old Ford truck and I filled it up with gas!!!".

THAT was the hint that your Dad was trying to give you :)

CA R
 
Special thanks to mic214, johnmcl, tipoc, sub-moa and BSA1 for the great substantive information. I have a lot to think about. I'm gonna mull it over during the Holidays and not make any big decisions right now. I don't have the money to do anything at the moment anyway, so there's that.

I take care of my guns, but my goal is NOT to keep them pristine!

With one or two exceptions, I want to put as much honest wear on my guns as I can. I couldn't care less that "collector" value might be affected.

It's more important to me to:

A) USE the gun enough that it acquires honest wear. That means I got enjoyment and increased my skill with it.

B) Impart a bit of my soul into each one so when kids/grand kids get them, they'll hold something I once held. And it was something important to me that I liked and used. A lot.

Basically, this is my feeling. Honestly, the Hi-Power was not a safe queen. This gun was carried in a jungle and used to defend life and limb. Whatever the original grips were, Dad took them off and threw them in the garbage because "the Pachs just felt better." As for collector value, that's not relevant because this gun will never be sold. Never as in not ever. It's a family piece. Because of that, I'm leaning towards NOT refinishing it with melonite or cerakote but changing out the sights because they're not original anyway (as y'all have so kindly pointed out) and I hate them.

Thanks for all the info and opinions. I will keep y'all posted.
 
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I would get it to where I could use it comfortably without making any huge changes to Dad's Gun.

I would get some sights on it that I could see. I don't like paying $100 for milling machine time for a fixed sight, but do not see another way out for the "beer can" adjustable which I would sure want to change.

I would likely go with a C&S safety, a big enough lever to hit, but not ambidextrous.

Melonite is a dark finish, as is Ion Bond. Either will be much more wear and corrosion resistant than bluing, but not change the appearance much.

I like Pachmayr wraparound grips on Colts, not so much on Brownings. Unfortunately you can't get the nicely rounded Navidrex micarta, I do not know what else to look at.
A razor blade will help the Pachmayrs in this application.
 
Yeah, the "beer can" sight is awful. Especially considering how, as somebody pointed out, whoever bubba'd the gun for my dad when he left the military put a freaking RIFLE SIGHT on the back rear. Novak 3-dots are going on this gun, that much is certain. Everything else is up in the air.

I'm right handed, so I agree, no ambi safety for me.

As for the coating I'm thinking of just learning to live with the bluing. Is it the ideal coating? Not in my opinion. But this isn't a carry gun or even frankly a "grab first" home defense weapon so it doesn't need to be 100% rust or corrosion proof.
 
Here is a picture of my BHP

Sorry it's upside down, I tried fixing it, but can't. Maybe it's due to iphone?
 

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I'd refrain from 3-Dot sights. You just need the Dit on the front sight.

Didn't you discover the busy Glock sights affect your ability to shoot accurately?
 
^Yes, very true, but that's Glock's "white line valley" rear sight…for some reason I shoot fine with 3-dots. But if Novack makes a white front black rear I'll probably do that instead of 3-dots.
 
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