Need Info on FN Hi-Power

[telecaster1981]

Just got back from putting an FN Hi-Power on layaway at a local gun shop and thought I'd see what I can find out about it. The shop owner told me it was an arsenal refurbished HP that came from the Argentine police, but it is a Fabrique Nationale...not the FM clone. It's serial number 059xx. Seems pretty low, which I guess makes sense because it also has the internal extractor, which I'm told came on the early models. Overall condition is excellent and the price is $380. Any info about what I've got would be great!

Ben

 

[axeman_g]

I dont know much about the model other then any HP is better then any other 9mm

BUT... that price may be high. If you shop around, you should be able to find a NEW FN HP for about $20 more.

 

[briansp82593]

go with that one

 

[Vonderek]

Is it stamped "POLICIA PROV. BS. AIRES-61" on the receiver?

 

[Marshall]

Price is about right for those. If it hadn't been re-manned, it could be in the $2500.00 range.

 

[telecaster1981]

Vonderek: I sure don't remember any markings like those you described...as I
recall, it just had the Fabrique Nationale information/stamp. I'll be
sure to check!

My main concern with this gun is that it will be a quality shooter. I don't care much about collector's value as I plan to shoot the snot out of it. I also know that I could probably score a new or close to new FN HP for close to the price of this one, but this one has some history to it, which is worth the difference to me.

So, does anybody have a HP of this vintage and, if so, is the quality on par with other HPs?

 

[GunNut]

You're going to love it.

I did pass on one of the police marked guns at the last gun show, they were asking $350ish, but the gun just didn't look very good.

 

[telecaster1981]

I'm quite certain I will love it! Thanks for the vote of confidence though! I've 'bout gone Hi-Power crazy lately. I'd been looking for an auto pistol to shoot IDPA with and came across a FEG PJK-9HP Hi-Power clone, and I fell in love and had to have it! Now that I have it, I want every other Hi-Power I can get my hands on! Never handled a pistol that feels any better, and I've handled a few. It's 'just right'!

 

[telecaster1981]

By the way, this HP looks superb! I've seen brand spankin' new HPs that aren't finished nearly as well!

 

[Vonderek]

I've got one as described above. It's was a great shooter for about 1,000 rounds and silly accurate. However, after a while it suddenly started to have failures to eject. I replaced the recoil spring with a Wolf's and still had the problem. I re-bent/tensioned the ejector and that seemed to solve the problem. Until I can get a new ejector the gun is relegated to safe queen status.

 

[telecaster1981]

Yeah, I'd read somewhere about early models developing FTE issues after a while. I figure I'll order the Power Custom early-style extractor and a Wolff spring to have on hand just in case! Hopefully mine will be silly accurate too! I could use a 'silly accurate' gun...but then again, I've got a ways to go before I'm silly accurate myself...I thought my FEG was not very accurate until I shot my Browning Buckmark target model next to it, and I wasn't much better with it. Oh well, gives me something to work toward!

 

[Dave Baird]

Hi friends. My first post on this Forum! Man, you guys are BIG!

I just purchased a great Buenos Aires Police HiPower myself and am very happy with it. I must say, I thought the $520 OTD I paid was good considering the condition, box and 2 matching mags. But, maybe too high? Oh well, I am pretty happy with it. I shot it and it does great. I was hitting a 5" square metal plate at 25 yards one-handed. With bi-focals, that ain't too bad!!

I will try to post some pics of it. I hope it works. Let me know what you think!









Thanks, Dave

 

[MikePGS]

Very nice pics dave. Actually i'm curious... are FN and Browning Hi-Powers the exact same, or are there differences? i thought i read somewhere that FN's are imported under the browning name, but wasn't sure.

 

[Dave Baird]

Hello Mike. I am not sure what goes on presently, with all the importation laws and such. There may even be a manufacturer here in the US that makes the FN under a different name. Look at Walther, Manhurin, Interarms, CZ, CZ-USA, and so on. I can't keep track anymore.

I do know that up until recently anyhow, FN was Belgian produced, period. These Buenos Aires Police are Belgium guns. They were simply sent to the FM plant in Argentine after they were replaced, for refurb and sales to the surplus market.

The confusion you see may have something to do with Argentina? The DGFM maker in Argentina cloned the Colt 1911 and Browning High Power for military purposes. At some point, probably in the sixties?, they dropped the DG and just went with FM. From my understanding, from this point on, the company began commercial sales as well as military. I would not hesitate to buy any DGFM-produced gun. In fact, I own a DGFM .45 Sistema and the quality is un-matched world-wide in my opinion. But, I do hesitate buying a current FM-produced gun, only because of it's "cloned" status.

So, as far as I know, and I may be wrong, FN has always been Fabrique Nationale in Belgium. FM is currently located in Argentina. Hope this helps?

Dave