KBI Hi Power??

[InnerVision]

I ran across one of these at a pawn shop. Never heard of KBI. I was only aware of FN and Charles daly making the browning hi powers. The fit and finish looked really good on it. They are asking $275 for it. Is that a good price? Is it a good gun?

 

[swabjocky]

KBI is an importer, out of Harrisburg PA. They import FEG Hi Power Clones, among others.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

These days KBI=Charles Daly. I don't think the KBI marked Hungarian produced HPs are coming in anymore. Charles Daly is importing the parts and assembling and finishing the guns in the US. BUT the CD isn't a direct copy of the HP. Looks like it but it's not.

The KBIs are great. Model should be PJK-9HP. If you see 9M anywhere on the model number, it's the same as the CD. Excellent copy of the FN right down to the crappy fixed sights of 40 years ago. I have one. Finish is nearly, but not quite as good as my dad's late '80s produced high gloss blued Browning. Accuracy and reliability is equal.........after you get used to the sights. Also, the sights use an older rear dovetail dimension. I'm told Sig P-series sights fit.

The price you specify: I've been out of the market for a while, but I bought mine in '94 for $250. I've seen them sporadically at gun shows for that but never less. I'd say if the gun is pristine, and waving cash under the guy's nose doesn't get him lower, then $275 is OK. BTW, these guns came with 2 13 round mags. If that's not what you're getting use it to beat him down. It's a pawn shop, so he probably paid an insultingly low price for it. Start off with $175 and work up from there.

 

[jon_in_wv]

If it is a PJK-9HP. Buy it. I paid 225 for mine years ago. Super accurate and reliable. Nice finish. Replaced the rear sight with a SIG rear sight. Asesome carry gun.

 

[Rex B]

SouthPaw, your statements above seem contradictory. I have the CD version, and understood it to be a virtual copy of the FN original.
so what is different, besides the sights?

 

[SouthpawShootr]

What do you find contradictory?

Apparently with the CDs and FEG 9Ms there is a difference in the barrel lugs (3 vs 2). Also, a difference in the slide stop. This would preclude the use of drop-in aftermarket barrels and extended (as well as original) slide stops which I seem to be seeing all over the place at gunshows. I have found CDs to be overpriced for the most part, so I don't have one to compare with a genuine Browning or FN or the FEG PJK-9HP that I have.

I'm not saying the CD isn't a good gun, but some people might not be happy if they planned to use it as a base gun for a project, then found out there were differences.

 

[oldgold]

I've got aa Browning Practical and a FEG sitting on the desk next to me. Just for giggles I swapped the barrels and slides around. The only difference I can see is the take down/slide lock lever. Browning won't fit the FEG due to slide cuts being different. Don't know about the CD guns but FEG should take most Browning parts.

FEG shoots about as well as two other highpowers I have, but not near as good as the Pratical. I gave $250 for mine about two years ago. I feel it's a good buy for $275, better if you can get it for less.

goldy

 

[bluetopper]

FEG made/makes (?) two models of the HP, one is like the original and single-action and the other double-action. I don't know the letter designations to tell the difference.

 

[SouthpawShootr]

Heck of alot more than 2 models.

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/feg_p9r_0.jpg
FEG P9R

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/feg_p9m_2.jpg
FEG P9M

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/feg_fp9.jpg
FEG FP9




FEG PJK-9HP (hard to find a good picture of these for some reason). The above are not mine, I got these pics from here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=168337&highlight=feg+pjk-9hp

I'm not even going to go into the PP/PPK clones that FEG makes.

 

[bannockburn]

A friend of mine has a used FEG PJK-P9P two tone model (blued slide and brushed chrome frame), that's very comparable overall, to a Browning Hi-Power. The polishing and bluing on the slide are first rate, as are the high visibility sights. Trigger pull was a little stiff and heavy, but removal of the mag saferty helped improve things measurably. I think he paid around $275 to $300 last year.

 

[jon_in_wv]

My PJK-9HP has georgeous bluing. Better than most guns I've seen. The only problems I've had are the right side grip screw is in the wrong location preventing the use of aftermarket grips and the round hammer bit my hand something terrible. I replaced the hammer with a browning part. I also changed the safety to a Browning Ambi safety. The hole in the FEG frame is slightly smaller and I had to reduce the safety a little to get it to fit. Otherwise it works perfectly. I would buy another in a second.