Hi-Power ID and value help

[txgunsuscg]

So I was in the gun shop today and a guy brought in a Hi-Power, which immediately caught my attention. It is an internal extractor, fixed sight, ring hammer model. Couple of weird things about it:

1. 4 digit serial number (no letter), frame only below the slide, but forward of anywhere I've ever seen it marked.

2. "S" marked above the left grip.

3. No other markings (other than the factory Fabrique National Browning Patent, etc). No proofs that I can find anywhere.

4. No mag safety. No big deal, I know, but the trigger appears original and has no provision for a mag safety.

Appears refinished, as the serial and "S" are slightly buffed out. Interior of the gun is rough, machining wise.

Any ideas as to year made and or value? Light pitting on the backstrap and muzzle of the gun. My best guess is that it is a post war commercial, maybe worth $400-500.

 

[KodiakBeer]

The only ones made without a mag safety (no pin in the trigger) were late war pistols made for the German army. There should be Waffenants stamped on the gun, but the external ones may have been buffed out by somebody refinishing it later.

Post war commercial guns were up to the usual high standards, so your description of a rough interior also points to a war finish pistol.

It's difficult to give a value unless you can make sure it's all original.

 

[txgunsuscg]

Kodiak, I looked specifically for the Waffenants, but no joy. According to the Blue Book, some early post-war commercials were made with wartime parts, so the rough finish is a possibility. I really have to way to verify anything without markings though, which kinda screws the guy over, I guess...

 

[KodiakBeer]

Were you able to take it apart and look on the barrel, etc?

I don't believe any post war guns were made without the mag safety.

It might very well be one of the group of Israeli's imported over the last few years. On some of those, the Waffenants were buffed out on arsenal refinishes. On one pistol, a Star of David was stamped over a Waffenant - I wish I'd seen that one on Gunbroker before it sold!

 

[txgunsuscg]

The guy said it was his dad's, and he acquired it during the 50's. I fieldstripped the entire gun. No markings other than what I described.

Would have loved to see that Israeli pistol too, a true piece of firearms irony...