I just recently purchased an Isreal surplus Hi-Power made in 1993. To the best of my knowledge it is a MKIII. I was able to remove the magazine safety with only a little bit of force. The trigger feels much better now and seems to function properly. However, I have been reading that the only way to remove a MKIII magazine safety is to take out the trigger assembly. Since I didn't do that I am a little concerned if I could have damaged the pistol. I don't know why a MKIII needs to have the trigger assembly removed in order to take out the mag safety as I was able to do it relatively easily. Any info is greatly appreciated!
Hi-Power MKIII magazine safety removal
- Thread starter Jdludd92
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lysanderxiii
Member
It is most certainly easier to do if you remove the trigger first.
I would inspect the trigger pin and trigger lever to make sure they did not get bent/damaged.
I would inspect the trigger pin and trigger lever to make sure they did not get bent/damaged.
That's what I was afraid of. I'll probably take it to a gunsmith to have it checked. I just watched how to take it out on YouTube but didn't think about which model I had till after I removed it. Thanks for your help!
1KPerDay
Member
If you were able to do it easily I wouldn't worry about it if your pistol is functioning properly. I personally couldn't get mine out without removing the trigger, and the pin was epoxied in and required a press to break it loose.
That's what I've heard about a few of them needing a press. Yeah the trigger feels a lot better and it seems to be functioning great so I'll try not to worry too much. Thanks for your help!
lysanderxiii
Member
Probably not epoxied, but staked.
Both ends of the pin are supposed to be upset with a flat punch.
This would have been my concern.
I think there is usually quite a bit of difference between "little bit of force" and "relatively easily
How did you remove the pin without removing the trigger from the frame?
So it didn't slide out like I've seen it do in some videos. I got a punch and just gave it a little tug and it popped right out. So I didn't put any force on it that I feel could gave bent or broken anything, it was just a little push with the pin. Anyway I don't know what is inside that housing so I'm not sure what I could have broken
1KPerDay
Member
I’m talking about the trigger pin. Rounded/proud of the frame on the right side. You can see it here if you want.
So I popped out the pin that is actually on the trigger, not the frame with a punch and it came out easily. I then removed the magazine safety piece (not sure what it's called, the piece that engages with the magazine). It took a little bit of a push with an awl and it came out with the spring. I then replaced the pin in the trigger. The trigger will no release the hammer without the magazine in and it feels better. Sorry for the lack of specific terms, I'm definitely not any kind of gunsmith which is why I shouldn't have done this in the first place
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Ironicaintit
Member
Well you learned something, you have a nicer trigger, and it didn't cost you a thing. Sounds like a win to me!
Mizar
Member
OP, you might want to change the trigger spring in the future - from the three coil Mk III type to the old style with two coils. The two coil spring is stronger and it will compensate for the removed magazine safety spring to help reset the trigger more positively. That is only if you have a firing pin block - some Israeli guns don't have it and are with the old style spring, so no change is needed. Also, I would remove the small trigger pin that holds the safety assembly - it must be staked well, or it will interfere the trigger movement if it walks out. Better to just leave a hole there.
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Haha yeah I hope so! So far so good! It's just too tempting sometimes to work on a beautiful gun, I just need to remind myself that I don't know how haha
Oh awesome that's great advice and thank you! I will do that. Would you say that that is something to save for a gunsmith? Or is that something I could maybe do on my own?
Mizar
Member
Well, it depends by your skills and the tools you have... It's a rather simple and straight forward process actually - you have to remove the trigger pin first, but as already explained it can be quite stubborn on the Mk III epoxy finished guns. Then you drive the little pin just in front of the pivot hole that is holding the spring and you are good to go.
I guess I will see how stubborn the pin is and if it's not too bad I will keep going! It is fun to learn these kinds of things and the gun was pretty cheap so I'm enjoying playing around with it anyway. I appreciate your advice!
Ironicaintit
Member
If you want to learn a bit more about the Hipower...
Check this out
https://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/
Check this out
https://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/
SSN Vet
Member
Your almost certainly fine... The mag. interlock can be removed either way.
On some guns the mag safety retention pin requires "encouragement" to remove and there's only so much whacking force you want to impart to the trigger housing and trigger pivot pin. So people remove the entire assembly and support it on a bench block.
If your pin came out without a major pounding, or you supported the trigger adequately, it's unlikely that you jacked it up.
On some guns the mag safety retention pin requires "encouragement" to remove and there's only so much whacking force you want to impart to the trigger housing and trigger pivot pin. So people remove the entire assembly and support it on a bench block.
If your pin came out without a major pounding, or you supported the trigger adequately, it's unlikely that you jacked it up.
SSN Vet
Member
OBTW... Israeli contract guns were (to my understanding) ordered without the FPS as their logistic system issued the same hot 9x19 rounds for their handguns as they did for the Uzi, and they felt the FPS cut in the slide weekend it to much for their hot loads.
So they are not true MK IIIs
So they are not true MK IIIs
Mizar
Member
We like to call this "an old wives tale'... The FPS cut on the slide does not weaken it in any way. Not to mention that the majority of Israeli MkIII's are with the FPS, not without it...
this is awesome! Thank you!
Oh ok awesome! I love that diagram it makes a lot more sense now that I can see what it actually looks like on the inside. Yeah the pin came out just fine, it was the magazine disconnect that took a little wiggling to get out, but I think it should be fine. Thanks for the great diagram!
That makes sense. It's been hard to find solid literature on what exactly makes MK1s-111s, and the dates they were made. It's funny how much research and history can go into a single gun! I love it though.
It seems to me that mine has the cut out out. It's hard for me to tell, but it seems like this handgun wasn't fired much at all.
WVsig
Member
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BHPs prior to the MKII often can allow you to remove the mag disconnect without removing the trigger. It is somewhere in the era of the MKII. I have two theories why it came out as easily as it did. As I stated on another forum I am willing to bet this is not the first time that part has been removed. It is also possible that this part is not original to your gun. Israeli surplus guns are where often surplus when they got them. They had guns of all ages and did not care about period correctness only function. They used what ever parts were around to get guns back in working order. It may be that the trigger is a pre MKII.
If the gung passes function and safety tests you should be fine. Enjoy
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