FN Browning High Power for $500?

[JAG2955]

I found it in a local pawn shop. It appears to be hardly fired, with an ambidextrious safety. Comes with 2 mags. One or two small scratches, otherwise very deep bluing. Wooden grips of some type. Non-adjustable sights.

9mm. Duh. <--edited
It is marked made in France, assembled in Portugal.

Buy, or no?

 

[HorseSoldier]

It's a pretty competitive price for a used High Power, I guess. Where I live, pawnshop prices on used High Powers usually run around $450 unless condition or extras warrant higher or lower price.

The slide should say made in Belgium, assembled in Portugal. If it actually says Made in France . . . that'd raise some questions in my mind.

 

[hksw]

Oh the days when FN stopped stamping them FN and CDNN blew them out for $300/ea. I kick myself everytime I think how I let then slipped by.

 

[Wags]

It is marked made in France, assembled in Portugal.

How about Made in Belgium, assembled in Portugal. Sounds like a great deal.

 

[Shear_stress]

Oh the days when FN stopped stamping them FN and CDNN blew them out for $300/ea. I kick myself everytime I think how I let then slipped by

Lowest I ever saw CDNN sell those FNs for was $400. They still have the .40 S&W Hi-Powers with the SFS for $440. Glory days ain't quite over yet.

To address the original post, $500 is a good deal for a Hi-Power.

 

[Texas Colt]

Yep, sounds like a pretty good deal. You'll not regret it. The Hi Power is the king of 9's.

 

[ArmsAkimber]

I managed to score an FN Hi-Power two weeks ago, for $460, NIB. Sorry to say, there aren't any more.

Just shot it this past weekend. As the French knight said in Monty Python's Holy Grail, "It's-a verrrry niiiice."

I'm thinking of calling it "Zoot."

 

[WOODROW]

I found one marked FN Belgium browning on one side and S.A.S./HP stamped on the other side of the slide. It has about 90% dark blue finish, plastic grips, 3 dot sights,ambi safties,2 13 rnd mags and comes in the original black box with the fancy gold FN on the lid. The gun dealer wants $375.00 for it. Price is GREAT, I'm just not sure about what the S.A.S./HP is all about. ANY IDEAS? Woodrow

 

[FNH]

I know the British SAS used HPs before the Sigs they currently use, but I doubt any have made it over here. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can comment. For $375 I would buy it in a heartbeat.

 

[jeff-10]

Aren't Hi-powers still imported in one form or another?

 

[nero45acp]

Browning marked Hi-Powers are still being made/offered.


http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/category.asp?value=007B


nero

 

[WOODROW]

WELL I BOUGHT IT. COST ME A GRAND TOTAL OF $371.00 AFTER TAX. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A FILTHY WEAPON. TOOK OVER 3 HOURS TO GET IT CLEANED UP. IT HAS A BLACK FINISH INSTEAD OF BLUE, ABOUT 90% FINISH NOW THAT ALL THE SURFACE RUST IS GONE. THE SIGHTS ARE NOT DOTS BUT MORE LIKE UPRIGHT WHITE POSTS AND ARE BOTH DOVETAILED. THE SLIDE SAYS MADE IN BELGIUM IMPORTED BY FNMI, COLUMBI SC, USA. ON THE OTHER IS STAMPED HP-SAS Cal 9x19. ALL THE PAPERWORK INCLUDING THE WARRANTY SHEET IS WITH IT. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL WEAPON. IF ANYONE CAN TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT THE MARKINGS IT WOULD BE GREAT. THANKS IN ADVANCE, WOODROW

 

[Angus Podgorney]

It is one of the FN rollmarked guns imported by FNMI (FN Manufacturing Incorporated?) of South Carolina. These are the guns that they stopped importing and were blown out on by CDNN Investments.

Browning refers to the gun as the MKIIIs with the s signifying the firing pin safety. FN referred to the gun as either the MK3s or the HP-SA for single action and I suppose the last s is to designate the firing pin safety.

What are the two letters, after the first three numbers in the Serial#? That will tell you when it was manufactured.

Enjoy!

 

[WOODROW]

The letters are MZ. Thanks for the information and I HAVE enjoyed shooting it so far. I just need to find a few mnore mags for it. I guess I will order a few from CDNN. THANKS AGAIN! Woodrow.

 

[Gustav]

A great deal on a great pistol IMHO a definate keeper.
With proper care your grandkids will be able to use this someday.
Its a proven design with decades of use by well over 50 countries armies it was designed and built mostly by John M Browning himself and was among his last designs before passing away IIRC in 1926 the GP-35 or P-35 was what emerged from his work.
When was the last time so many countries agreed on any one thing over such a long period of time?
You scored big time these were THE original high capacity 9mm and are just as good today as ever.
Slimmer than most new designs and almost as light as most new wonder nines only with a steel frame not polymer or aluminum a good solid dependable design.
Mec-Gar makes many of the magazines for these both in 13 and 21 round capacity.
Two thumbs up!

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I have 2 high powers. One I bought new in 1976 for $351. out the door - a lot of money in those days. Shot it too many times to talk about and back then I didn't spend much time cleaning it. Never missed a lick.

Got my secone one at a pawn shop for $401. out the door. Made in Belgium, assembled in Portugal - I think it's a mark11 or maybe 111. I like the baked on enamel finish - won't rust (it's a two tone), shoots like a Browning should. Come to think of it I've never had a single problem with all the Browning's that I've owned. I carry it cocked and locked like they should be. Probably the best 9mm pistol ever made. Not a plastic part on her.

 

[bannockburn]

My first Hi-Power I purchased at a gun show in '79. Beautiful gun, with a bright blue finish, ring hammer, and original pouch, made in 1966; price $300. Unfortunately beauty was only skin deep as the trigger pull was off the scale at around 14 lbs., the safety required a plastic mallet to put on and off, and the end result being group sizes that needed a yardstick to measure at 25 feet. Had no trouble selling it-in fact I made a decent profit on it. My next Hi-Power had to be vastly improved in several areas before I would go that route again. Fast forward to June '85; new Mark III came out with matte finish, fantastic trigger,( 4.5 lbs. ), ambi safety that worked like a charm, and high visibility sights that were right on. Drove down the next day to a gun shop/distributor and picked one up for $311.95, ( yeah, I kept the receipt ). I think the price they sold it to me for was at dealer cost; I didn't say a word. I just put the cash down and got out there as fast as I could, before they could "discover" their pricing faux pas. Have been a Browning fan ever since. One of the most accurate pistols I have ever shot, and one of the most reliable. The only thing that I noticed on mine is that there is no "Assembled in Portugal" stamp on the slide; only "Made in Belgium". Just makes it all the more special.

 

[Mr White]

My first gun was an Argentinian Hi Power. Its been reliable and fun to shoot for the past 13 years. Still have it. Probably won't ever get rid of it. Not as nice fit & finish as the FNs but it'll shoot with them all day long. I guess I'll just have to be happy that I have a Hi Power and not be too upset that it isn't an FN.

 

[martyu]

What about my Hi-Power?

I have a 9mm Hi-Power marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMESE DE GUERRE
and HERSTAL BELGIQUE and BROWNINGS PATENT DEPOSE on the Safety Side of the slide.The opposite side has a (4) digit serial number on the slide and the same one on the frame. CAL.9m/mP. is stamped on the barrrel snd shows in the ejection port. There are a number other stamped symbols and characters which I suppose are proof and inspection marks. Condition: Bluing good with only wear on the corners.

Can anyone tell me anything about this Hi-Power? I have a case of Federal 124gr+P+ HyroShok cartridges but don't know if it is a safe practice to shoot them in this gun.

 

[highrider]

Picked up this Browning .40S&W new a couple of months ago. Great gun. I have about 400 flawless rounds through it and it shoots better than me. The only negative is that I was getting hammer bite with the Signature Pachmyr grips that came on it. I found a pair of older factory plastic grips and that took care of the problem. I think you are really going to enjoy your new toy.

The mess on the front of the barrel in this pic is on the picture, not the gun.