Gathering opinions on what to do with this Belguim made Hi-Power...

[Yinzer-Steve]

Thank you to everyone who's contributed so far! This has been very interesting to me and I really appreciate everyone's time taken to post. Here are some pictures of it as requested. Not sure why I didn't think of posting them with my original post - duh!

 

[Yinzer-Steve]

Note: as stated in previous posts, I bid and won this gun at auction (local but online, not live and there was no live preview) not for an investment but rather for a shooter, it wasn't until I got my hands on it that I was second guessing whether or not to shoot it or keep it in it's pristine condition. Mostly because it's made it this many years in this condition. We all know that if it were to become a shooter for me (or anyone else), there is no way to keep it pristine as we all know sh*t happens even to the most careful of us. Again, not saying I have some really special piece here or need anyone's 'permission' to keep it as a safe queen but just wondered what other people if they found themselves in the same or similar position. Just looking for opinions is all - not on how collectable or valuable it is as I am an experienced enough collector of over 25 years. So, I know what I have and that isn't the point of the thread. Thank you.

 

[Yinzer-Steve]

I will offer you my "uneducated" opinion since you asked for it.

WVSig - I appreciate your opinion and all the info. Very interesting. Thank you!
P.S. is that your collection of BHP's?

 

[WVsig]

View attachment 1068563 View attachment 1068564 Thank you to everyone who's contributed so far! This has been very interesting to me and I really appreciate everyone's time taken to post. Here are some pictures of it as requested. Not sure why I didn't think of posting them with my original post - duh!

That is what people refer to as a Browning High Power Vigilante. It has the older half moon fixed sights, polished blue and checkered walnut grips. This would be in contrast to a standard MKII of the time. It also sports the old style thumb safety and a spur hammer. It is basically a modern production C series.




This makes the gun somewhat more valuable. Less of the Vigilantes were made vs standard MKIIs. I edited my other response because I misspoke. The "Assembled in Portugal" rollmark on Browning guns started around 1988. At that time you will see a lot of transitional guns. One of my favorites are forged frame MKIIIs which can be found up until 1990. So the gun us a bit more collectible than the standard but still not something like a T series or satin nickel. Shooting the gun with care is not going to change its value. Throwing it into a kydex holster and doing slide lock reloads at speed will. If the OP took the gun out and shot a few hundred rounds a year cleaned it and cared for it properly the value would not change. IMHO.

 

[WVsig]

WVSig - I appreciate your opinion and all the info. Very interesting. Thank you!
P.S. is that your collection of BHP's?

That is a pic of some of my BHPs.

 

[Yinzer-Steve]

That is what people refer to as a Browning High Power Vigilante. It has the older half moon fixed sights, polished blue and checkered walnut grips. This would be in contrast to a standard MKII of the time.

I just learned something new from this. Good to know. Thank you!

 

[Yinzer-Steve]

That is a pic of some of my BHPs.

Just some...lol....very nice!

 

[WVsig]

I just learned something new from this. Good to know. Thank you!

It also sports the old style thumb safety and a spur hammer. It is basically a modern production C series.

Just some...lol....very nice!

I have the ones in the Pic and maybe another 6 theses days. Almost another 12 have come through my hands over the years. All manner of guns from T series to MKIIIs. It is hands down my favorite autoloading pistol.

This is my current favorite example: Some guy named Ted built it for me. #TRYost

 

[Yinzer-Steve]

I have the ones in the Pic and maybe another 6 theses days. Almost another 12 have come through my hands over the years. All manner of guns from T series to MKIIIs. It is hands down my favorite autoloading pistol.

This is my current favorite example: Some guy named Ted built it for me. #TRYost

That is a sweet piece!! Some guy named Ted did a very nice job! He does some nice work on 1911's as well! Thanks again for the addition info on my piece. I do not have detailed knowledge on BHP's as my focus is mainly on 1911's so any knowledge gained greatly appreciated. This thread had provided some gems for sure!

 

[WVsig]

That is a sweet piece!! Some guy named Ted did a very nice job! He does some nice work on 1911's as well! Thanks again for the addition info on my piece. I do not have detailed knowledge on BHP's as my focus is mainly on 1911's so any knowledge gained greatly appreciated. This thread had provided some gems for sure!

Yeah his 1911s are ok...

 

[Nature Boy]

@Yinzer-Steve

That’s one sweet Hi Power. If you don’t mind, would you be willing to share what you paid for it. It’s really helpful info to gage the current market.

I recently picked up this very nice T Series and paid $1,300. I have no problem shooting it.

 

[Yinzer-Steve]

@Yinzer-Steve

That’s one sweet Hi Power. If you don’t mind, would you be willing to share what you paid for it. It’s really helpful info to gage the current market.

Thank you. No I don't mind...I figured someone was going to ask eventually My winning bid was $1100 but after 10% buyers premium, 6% sales tax, and $25 FFL transfer my total cost for it was $1301. Probably on the higher end but some prior to bidding research on truegunvalue.com showed some same era models going for as much as $1500 and not in as nice condition. Although, prices on all firearms are inflated do to the current political climate. As you know I'm sure.

@Yinzer-SteveI recently picked up this very nice T Series and paid $1,300. I have no problem shooting it.

Nice!

 

[WVsig]

@Yinzer-Steve

That’s one sweet Hi Power. If you don’t mind, would you be willing to share what you paid for it. It’s really helpful info to gage the current market.

I recently picked up this very nice T Series and paid $1,300. I have no problem shooting it.

View attachment 1068615

View attachment 1068614

Thank you. No I don't mind...I figured someone was going to ask eventually My winning bid was $1100 but after 10% buyers premium, 6% sales tax, and $25 FFL transfer my total cost for it was $1301. Probably on the higher end but some prior to bidding research on truegunvalue.com showed some same era models going for as much as $1500 and not in as nice condition. Although, prices on all firearms are inflated do to the current political climate. As you know I'm sure.


Nice!

Both are fair prices in todays market. As I said BHPs are as high right now as I have ever seen them. This is the last one I picked up. It is in good shape but has a little bit of pitting under the grips from the crappy Pachs. It now wears some Naviderix slims. It is a going to be used as a base gun. Paid more than I have ever paid for a MKIII. It made my head hurt but it is what it is.

 

[Yinzer-Steve]

Both are fair prices in todays market.

Good to know.

It is a going to be used as a base gun. Paid more than I have ever paid for a MKIII. It made my head hurt but it is what it is.

Boy I know that feeling! 1911's (especially WW1 era models in decent condition) are skyrocketing!

 

[Jimbo80]

I guess those of us that prefer to collect old school are lucky it's not worse as far as high prices go. With the millions of new people in the market it was bound to happen as those folks discover classic guns and are willing to pay the Piper to get them. If it wasn't for the makers push to smaller, lighter, more ammo it would be way worse.

 

[Pure2nd]

I thinks yours is the best opinion ever. Really. I collect but I love to shoot. My dad always said a gun is a tool. But he too was guilty of having reservations on shooting some of them. I have a c model and a capitan from him. Still never fired.View attachment 1068221

I should have added that my intention to pack that thing away would be that my sons or their children would be the 1st to operate that machinery, with monetary value making no difference. The historical aspect seems more important in my wheelhouse.

 

[Nature Boy]

We've been overdue for a good Browning Hi Power thread

 

[Howland937]

Well if you guys keep buying them all, the price won't ever come down.

Varying opinions do make more interesting threads. I'm still struggling to comprehend why the original owner and/or subsequent owners didn't keep tabs on the box. Even if it became damaged, a damaged box is better than none.

When this particular BHP was made, did the factory box have a label with ser# like most others nowadays? Been awhile since I'd seen one, but was thinking they're kind of a generic looking white cardboard...

 

[tark]

Shooting this gun will do nothing to its value.

Probably true, for the reasons WVsig stated. I have a T-series made in 68 that is unfired. The original owner is a friend of mine who bought it far a carry gun, decided he didn't like the sights and safety, and stuck it in his safe, where it sat for 45 years. It was given to me as a thanks for a favor rendered. I KNOW it has never been fired, but there is no way to prove it. My claim is just that, a claim.

I will never shoot it for the following reason: Unfired or not , it IS a 99% gun. It has the faintest bit of edge wear at the front of the slide. Probably from taking it out of its case to admire., one too many times. The magazine is unmarked. The usual scratch left by the mag catch when inserting the mag in the gun, is barely visible. It hasn't worn through the bluing yet.

While maybe not in the same league as Lugers or Colt Peacemakers, it does have decent collector value. The golden rule of collecting ( well, ONE of them) is this: Each percentage point over 97% can significantly increase the value of the piece. If I run a single mag through the gun, enough to wear off 1% of the finish, I have just lost a lot of value. Not gonna happen.

 

[Jimbo80]

[QUOTE="Howland937] I'm still struggling to comprehend why the original owner and/or subsequent owners didn't keep tabs on the box. Even if it became damaged, a damaged box is better than none.
[/QUOTE]

Time was a box was just a box. Nobody used to save the boxes from shoes either.

 

[WVsig]

Well if you guys keep buying them all, the price won't ever come down.

Varying opinions do make more interesting threads. I'm still struggling to comprehend why the original owner and/or subsequent owners didn't keep tabs on the box. Even if it became damaged, a damaged box is better than none.

When this particular BHP was made, did the factory box have a label with ser# like most others nowadays? Been awhile since I'd seen one, but was thinking they're kind of a generic looking white cardboard...

In the 80s the box would have looked like this. It would have the serial number and model on the flap.



I mean really look at things like S&W revolvers. Back in the day people threw away Diamond Magna grips because they did not shoot as well as Pachs rubber grips. Boxes.... very few people kept them which is why they are now valuable. YouO are looking at it with 20/20 hindsight. Collectors are a small subset of "shooters" IMHO. Shooters are a small subset of gun owners. This is what makes a 70 year old S&W box valuable.


That said I keep my crap. In the end my heirs will reap the benefits because most of my stuff does not get sold. I like to shoot. That is why I buy them. The magwell of this gun shows wear because I slam mags into it after the slide locks back. It is worth more than a pristine T series but I don't care. If I beat it up too much I will send it back to Ted Yost and he will make it pretty again.

 

[WVsig]

We've been overdue for a good Browning Hi Power thread

You should start one. Throw this one in there.

 

[Howland937]

Boxes... very few people kept them which is why they are now valuable.

Yeah, I understand that. I guess my confusion is in the context of retaining a pistol in unfired condition, yet ditching the box. Even 35+ years ago, people would have understood the significance of "unfired in the box".
I have a buddy that has a handful of unfired BHP's, but I hadn't gawked at them in a few years. They're in his safe amongst a pile of unfired Colt 1911's and revolvers. I just remember boxes stacked on boxes (they're all in boxes)...but lots of white boxes. He's not a shooter, so his collection is almost entirely unfired stuff with a few customs mixed in. His view is entirely through the lense of financial investment.

 

[WVsig]

Yeah, I understand that. I guess my confusion is in the context of retaining a pistol in unfired condition, yet ditching the box. Even 35+ years ago, people would have understood the significance of "unfired in the box".
I have a buddy that has a handful of unfired BHP's, but I hadn't gawked at them in a few years. They're in his safe amongst a pile of unfired Colt 1911's and revolvers. I just remember boxes stacked on boxes (they're all in boxes)...but lots of white boxes. He's not a shooter, so his collection is almost entirely unfired stuff with a few customs mixed in.

He is so far from the avg gun buyer that what you saw is not applicable IMHO. That is not why 99% of people buy guns and in general they are poor investments.

 

[Howland937]

He so far from the avg gun buyer that what you saw is not applicable IMHO. That is not why 99% of people buy guns and in general they are poor investments.

Well yeah, his reasons for buying aren't the most common. I understand the reasoning behind his collection though. I'm not understanding the rationale from whoever initially made the decision to keep the aforementioned BHP that the OP acquired in unfired condition.

I understand keeping it "unfired with box" like I said. I understand keeping it "lightly used with box" or "LNIB"...but not "Unfired-no box".

To have not fired it 36 years ago based on potential future value, but not keep it in it's original, as-new condition (box, paperwork, etc...) is where it doesn't make sense to me.

People in any collecting realm have known for years that original packaging, price tags, window stickers, build sheets, sales receipts, etc enhance value.
Just seems to me that the folks I know that are so picky about retaining "mint" condition guns are also meticulous about everything else regarding said guns.