Mossyrock
Member
I tried. I really, really tried. I went to my local gun pusher and told him what I wanted. For a small shop, this guy has a pretty amazing inventory. After I told him what I was looking for, he dug around in the safe behind the counter and produced a brand-new, in the box FN MkIII Hi-Power. He asked me what I planned on doing with it, and I told him that, eventually, I would send it off to Ted Yost or Don Williams to be worked over.
"Ah...", he said. "Then you don't want this gun."
More than a bit confused, I replied, "I don't?"
"Nope. You want THIS Hi-Power."
With that, he once again reached into the safe and produced a late-model, gray Browning HP box. "Here, take a look at this. Ignore the box; it doesn't match the gun."
I opened the box and very suddenly agreed with him. I DIDN'T want a MkIII FN Hi-Power...not anymore. The box I opened held a T-series blued Belgian Hi-Power that had been tweaked just a bit. It still had the old, rowel hammer and red-interior checkered walnut grips. Thoughtfully, someone had removed the magazine disconnect, and the trigger was pretty darn good. What REALLY got my attention was that someone had installed a new set of sights. The front was a dovetailed Novak, and the rear was from a GI 1911, with the sight notch opened up. While the finish wasn't pristine, it was very, very good for a gun that was almost as old as I am.
When I had recovered the ability to form a coherent thought, I asked him how much he wanted for it, prepared for the worst. "I'll tell you what..." (I HATE it when gun dealers start a sentence like that...you can almost SEE the other shoe dropping) "I will sell you that old Browning for the same price as that CDNN Hi-Power, plus $50. We'll call that a 'finders fee'."
I can't swear to it, but I am SURE my credit card left a vapor trail from my wallet to the counter.
So, I am now the owner of a T-series Belgian Hi-Power. ANOTHER T-series Belgian Hi-Power. It would seem that I have come around full circle. The first centerfire pistol I ever bought with my own money was a very used, beat up T-series over 20 years ago. I truly wish I still owned that old pistol.
I have already replaced the rear sight with a retro rear sight from Yost-Bonitz, and have built up the front sight with JB weld to act as a fit-dummy. Once I get the sights dialed in, I will replace the dummy front with a Trijicon Novak of the correct height. I think Don Williams at The Action Works will be getting some business after the first of the year.
Once I get the sight issue figured out, I will post some photos.
Merry Christmas to me! Life is GOOD!
"Ah...", he said. "Then you don't want this gun."
More than a bit confused, I replied, "I don't?"
"Nope. You want THIS Hi-Power."
With that, he once again reached into the safe and produced a late-model, gray Browning HP box. "Here, take a look at this. Ignore the box; it doesn't match the gun."
I opened the box and very suddenly agreed with him. I DIDN'T want a MkIII FN Hi-Power...not anymore. The box I opened held a T-series blued Belgian Hi-Power that had been tweaked just a bit. It still had the old, rowel hammer and red-interior checkered walnut grips. Thoughtfully, someone had removed the magazine disconnect, and the trigger was pretty darn good. What REALLY got my attention was that someone had installed a new set of sights. The front was a dovetailed Novak, and the rear was from a GI 1911, with the sight notch opened up. While the finish wasn't pristine, it was very, very good for a gun that was almost as old as I am.
When I had recovered the ability to form a coherent thought, I asked him how much he wanted for it, prepared for the worst. "I'll tell you what..." (I HATE it when gun dealers start a sentence like that...you can almost SEE the other shoe dropping) "I will sell you that old Browning for the same price as that CDNN Hi-Power, plus $50. We'll call that a 'finders fee'."
I can't swear to it, but I am SURE my credit card left a vapor trail from my wallet to the counter.
So, I am now the owner of a T-series Belgian Hi-Power. ANOTHER T-series Belgian Hi-Power. It would seem that I have come around full circle. The first centerfire pistol I ever bought with my own money was a very used, beat up T-series over 20 years ago. I truly wish I still owned that old pistol.
I have already replaced the rear sight with a retro rear sight from Yost-Bonitz, and have built up the front sight with JB weld to act as a fit-dummy. Once I get the sights dialed in, I will replace the dummy front with a Trijicon Novak of the correct height. I think Don Williams at The Action Works will be getting some business after the first of the year.
Once I get the sight issue figured out, I will post some photos.
Merry Christmas to me! Life is GOOD!
