Need Info on Browning Hi Power potential purchase

[lonewolf1981]

I’m looking to purchase my first Hi Power from my local forum listings and I’ve come across a few that I’m looking into, one is a mid 70s model with Tangent sights (asking $1300 obo). The other is the one I’m really confused about since I can’t find any info about it. It just has “FN Herstel” and “Made in Belgium” on the left side of the slide, and “HP SAs Cal. 9*19” on the right. It doesn’t have “assembled in Portugal” but it does have an Import mark in it. They’re asking $800 for this one. I haven’t contacted either seller yet, but is there any significant difference between the two? Could the second one be a police trade-in? Are the Tangent sights actually usable? Any info is appreciated, thank you.

 

[1KPerDay]

A lot depends on condition. The second one was made by FN, in Herstal, Belgium, and is technically not a Browning. It may be a surplus pistol but it's difficult to know for sure without more info. At those prices they better be in stellar shape, IMO. AIM was recently selling surplus Israeli police FN HPs for $450. They weren't anywhere close to new, of course.

 

[Tallball]

If you want a very nice one for your collection, it's going to be expensive.

If you just want one to shoot, there are clones and surplus ones that will shoot as well (or very nearly as well) for a lot less money.

 

[dogtown tom]

....mid 70s model with Tangent sights (asking $1300 obo).
“FN Herstel” and “Made in Belgium” on the left side of the slide, and “HP SAs Cal. 9*19” on the right. It doesn’t have “assembled in Portugal” but it does have an Import mark in it. They’re asking $800 for this one.

Both are genuine FN Hi Powers....the first imported by Browning Arms, the second by FNUSA or FNMI I would guess. (there are others who imported used HP's as well)

I haven’t contacted either seller yet, but is there any significant difference between the two?

For a collector, the tangent sighted models are more desirable as less were made.
For a shooter, the fixed sighted are faaaar more practical.

Could the second one be a police trade-in?

It could be......who imported it?
Mach1, Coles and others imported quite a few used Israeli HP's several years ago.

Are the Tangent sights actually usable?

They work fine as sights, but unless you intend to get a shoulder stock they are a bit antiquated.
The tangent sights were the original design which was intended to be used with a detachable stock/holster. (think PDW )

If you intend to shoot, just get an HP with standard sights.

 

[dogtown tom]

A lot depends on condition. The second one was made by FN, in Herstal, Belgium, and is technically not a Browning...

They were BOTH made by FN. Browning Arms has never manufactured a single Hi Power. They are merely an importer of FN Hi Powers.

 

[lonewolf1981]

The second Hi Power is an FNMI import. I would use either as a shooter (as I have no safe queens) and actually was thinking about getting that stock as well. Thanks for the clarification dogtown tom.

 

[243winxb]

R 182. FN Model P-35 Hi-Power. Serial # 81324a. 9mm Luger caliber semi auto pistol made in Belgium. 4½” barrel with a very good bore. Made during the German occupation in WWII and marked with the WaA140 Waffenamt. Grip frame not slotted. Detachable magazine. The original wartime finish on the metal is in good condition with several areas of fine rust on both the slide and frame. The wooden grips are in fair condition with some wear. Numbers match. Action works fine. Includes a reproduction holster and an extra magazine. (C&R) Additional Photo: One Sold For 1,300.00

R 100. Browning Model Hi-Power. Serial # 72C51339. 9mm Luger caliber semi auto pistol made in Belgium in 1972. 4 5/8” barrel with an excellent bore. 17 round detachable magazine. The original polished blue finish on the metal is in fair to good condition with wear spots, fine scratches, and edge wear on both the slide and frame. The checkered walnut grips are in very good condition with only slight wear. Millet blade front sight and adjustable rear sight installed. Action works fine. Sold For 725.00

http://www.horstauction.com/gunsale18april

R 212. FN – TGI Model Hi-Power. Serial # 245PR11564. 9mm Luger caliber semi auto pistol. 4 5/8” barrel with an excellent bore. Made in Belgium in 1987. 13 round detachable magazine. The OD Green finish on the metal is in excellent condition with only slight wear on some of the edges of the slide. The small parts are finished in black and are in excellent condition. The black plastic grips are in very good condition with slight wear. Fixed 3 dot sights. Ambidextrous safety. Lanyard loop. Action works OK. Sold For 425.00

http://highpowercollectors.proboards.com/thread/201/copies-browning-high-power

 

[1KPerDay]

They were BOTH made by FN. Browning Arms has never manufactured a single Hi Power. They are merely an importer of FN Hi Powers.

Yes, but the OP was asking about Brownings ostensibly.

 

[Sovblocgunfan]

$1300 is full list and then some, where I live, for the first HP. The second, if in best condition, may be about right.

 

[243winxb]

Browning serial numbers from the NRA Museum .

 

[dogtown tom]

Yes, but the OP was asking about Brownings ostensibly.

Both are "Browning Hi Power" pistols.

 

[1KPerDay]

Both are "Browning Hi Power" pistols.

Disagree. My FN hi power is not a browning.

A Remington Model 11 is not a Browning Auto 5.

 

[WVsig]

I’m looking to purchase my first Hi Power from my local forum listings and I’ve come across a few that I’m looking into, one is a mid 70s model with Tangent sights (asking $1300 obo). The other is the one I’m really confused about since I can’t find any info about it. It just has “FN Herstel” and “Made in Belgium” on the left side of the slide, and “HP SAs Cal. 9*19” on the right. It doesn’t have “assembled in Portugal” but it does have an Import mark in it. They’re asking $800 for this one. I haven’t contacted either seller yet, but is there any significant difference between the two? Could the second one be a police trade-in? Are the Tangent sights actually usable? Any info is appreciated, thank you.

The first gun is a commercial tangent gun. If it has a C in the serial number it would be a gun made around 1969 to 1977. These dates are not and fast. They are approximate dates. Now if it does not have C in the serial number but a 2 digit date code then the gun is an 80s or even 90s Tangent. The Tangents did not always come with a stock cut in the frame. You need to be careful with stock cut guns. If they are not old enough to be grandfathered and if you are not using the original stock you are in danger of running afoul of the NFA. People generally pay a premium for the tangent guns even though they are not great everyday shooter nor are they really rare. They are no more
"rare" than a BHP Practical. I would say $1300 is an OK price not a good price but you are not getting killed on that pistol.

The other gun is a non US import gun. It was not originally produced by FN for the US/North American market. This is why is has a FN roll mark vs a Browning Rollmark. There are some exceptions to this rule for guns which were imported by FN USA. These will normally show a Columbia SC or Fredericksburg VA location in the rollmark. If it does not show either of these locations it is most likely a secondary import pistol and has a secondary import mark somewhere on the gun. Some are very visible like Mach 1, PW Arms or CAI but others like Coles are discreetly done. Either way I would say that gun depending on condition is on the high side by about $200. It is possible it is a surplus gun.

Disagree. My FN hi power is not a browning.
A Remington Model 11 is not a Browning Auto 5.

All Browning Hi/High Powers are Brownings by definition. They were named after him by FN to honor the “le Maitre” and to capitalize on the marketing power of the name Browning. It is universally accepted that what we know as the P35 or Browning Hi/High Power is a Browning even if it has a FN rollmark. FN rollmarked guns are referred to a Browning High Powers and Browning rollmarked guns are referred to as Browning Hi-Powers. This was to avoid confusion in the US/North American market which already had a rifle known as the Browning High Power. The term "Hi Power" was adopted in the 1950s. The funny part about that is that the gun is more a Saive's design vs Browning's design but that is a discussion for another thread.

 

[1KPerDay]

Okeedoke...

 

[I6turbo]

Go here and read up, decide what you want based upon what's important to you. This is reliable info.
https://hipowersandhandguns.com/HiPowerComments.html

Also, there are a few members here like WVSig can provide great insight based upon a good bit of experience with the Hi Power.