Question about Browning Hi Power

[boomstik45]

Hey Guys/Gals,


I recently acquired a Browning Hi Power, but I am not familiar with this particular gun all that much, so I'm confused about which "version." I have.

It's a 9mm with wood (walnut) grips, and here is what it says on each side:

On the left side of the slide, it says "Fabrique Nationale Herstal Belgique"

On the right side of the slide, it says "C.A.I Georgia VT", below that it says FN <Herstal>, and below that, MDL. HI-POWER 9x19mm, below THAT, "Made in Belgium".


I realize this has to mean that it was imported by Century Arms International (hopefully not assembled by them in any way!), but is this a lesser valued version? Also, I don't know if it's a Mark I, Mark II, and so on....

A little help/advice, please? Thanks!

 

[jrod]

If I remember correctly, the Belgian made are sought after.

 

[FL-NC]

I'm familiar with the pistol from a military standpoint, not so much from that of a collector. I believe the ones from Portugal are the less desired in value, but they are all nice old warhorses.

 

[Sistema1927]

Pictures needed if you want more info.

 

[groundhog34]

Belgium made HPs are the most desirable and valuable as collector items.

 

[danez71]

On Brownings site you can date it pretty well with the serial number. (I think the 1st 5 or 6 digits?)

 

[dogmush]

We will need pics of the gun and all markings to really narrow it down, but that sounds like an FN Hi-Power, as opposed to a Browning commercial one. Same gun, made in the same factory, but it probably wasn't imported here for commercial sales from the factory. It probably did some time oversea, ended up a surplus gun, and was bought and imported by Century.

Exactly where it went, and what contract it was for takes a fair amount of research.

 

[1KPerDay]

It is an FN pistol, either MKII or MKIII. Is the front sight dovetailed in or is it part of the slide?

 

[johnnydollar]

As others have said, pics are just about a must. As a general rule, early H-Ps have a small, military style safety on the left side only and small, military style sights front and rear; MKII H-Ps have larger, ambi-safeties and a dove-tailed rear sight, with both sights being larger than earlier models; and MKIII H-Ps have the larger, ambi-safety of the MKII, with the sights dove-tailed both front and rear.

 

[iagbarrb]

Belgian HPs are very nice guns.
Picture or serial number might be important to see what you have.

 

[Gun Master]

Yes, and let's not forget the FEG models.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Without pictures, tell us about:

Extractor: internal or external.

Hammer: Rounded or spurred.

Ambidextrous safety?

Lanyard loop?

Front sight as noted above.


There're some starters as well as serial number.

And yes, all things being equal, Belgian draws more money than Portuguese for no particularly good reason other than national continuity.


Todd.

 

[barnbwt]

FEG forgery? They're out there...

 

[bainter1212]

Aren't they all made in Belgium, with some of them merely assembled in Portugal????

 

[WVsig]

You have a surplus FN Hi Power that was imported by CAI. It is a mostly likely a British or Isreali trade in. It seems like after 2014 you saw more and more of the CAI Hi Powers start to come in vs Coles distribution, PW Arms and Mach 1 importations.

Coles AKA CDI sales on GB does the best job of hiding the import mark. Most of the time you can not find it. CAI does the worst IMHO.

Now the gun might be one of many versions of the BHP. The serial number or pics of the gun will help narrow it down.

First does it have and internal or external extractor. I am going to bet external. Without pictures I am guessing but I would bet it's an MKII or MKIII.

MKII will have a extended or hog nose bushing on the front of the slide. A raised rib on the top of the slide. Rear sight will be dovetailed but the from will be soldered on. It should have a spurred hammer.

Also the magwell should be smooth no line serrations. Should also have an ambi safety. The last 2 statements will vary from pistol to pistol or contract to contract but generally hold true.

If it is an MKIII it will have front and rear dovetails. No rib or hog nose bushing on the slide. Most of the time there are serrations on the bottom of the magwell. There are some forged frames MKIIIs which do not have the serrations.

If the gun has a small half moon front sight and small single sided thumb safety I need more info to tell you what you have.

 

[MIL-DOT]

Aren't they all made in Belgium, with some of them merely assembled in Portugal????

Hi-power variants have been made all over the world.....................
Is the finish blued, or parkerized, or look like a baked-on, black emnamel coating? if the wood grips are original, I'm guessing it's blued (or what's left of it), so it's probably not a later MKII or MKIII version.
As mentioned above, some pics and/or the ser.# would be helpful.

 

[WVsig]

Aren't they all made in Belgium, with some of them merely assembled in Portugal????

Yes even before they were marked that way. The Portugal rollmark was put in place after assembly actually moved to Portugal. Lots of misinformation about the origin of the rollmark and where FN and Browning marked Hi Powers are actually made.

Sorry Mildot you are incorrect about the origin and markings of Hi Powers. FN rollmarked guns never say Portugal even though that is where they are assembled and have been for 30 + years right next to the Browning marked Hi Powers which say assembled in Portugal.

IIRC the rollmark appeared in 1989 but the plant where they are assembled was finished in 1971-1972.

 

[dogtown tom]

bainter1212 Aren't they all made in Belgium, with some of them merely assembled in Portugal????

ALL FN/Browning Hi Powers are made in Belgium.....all of them.
Since the '80's the HP's imported into the USA by Browning Arms will have "Made in Belgium Assembled in Portugal" rollmarked on the slide.

 

[Sistema1927]

This should clear up any of the Belgium/Portugal questions:

http://hipowers-handguns.blogspot.com/2009/06/portugese-hi-powers.html

(That is from the late great Steve Camp, someone who probably forgot more about Hi-Powers than most of us will ever learn.)

 

[WVsig]

Sistemia1927 with all due respect to the late Mr Camp his info from a historical perspective was not always complete or accurate. He is a great source for "Shooters" info on the BHP but some of his historical notes and comments do not take into account the complexity or lack of consistency in FNs production of the BHP. IMHO

In that article he does not address when assembly moved to Portugal nor does he address the time frame or origin of the "assembled in Portugal rollmark. Which again IIRC the pant was up and running under FN supervision by 1971-1972 and the rollmark appears in 1989.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

If you want additional information about the Hi-Power (either FN or Browning), you can join the FNH Forum, here: http://fnforum.net/forums/fn-hi-power/

There are member on that forum that are among some of the more authoritative HP experts around. THR does pretty well in that regard, too.

I have an older T-series. Great gun.

 

[Quentin]

OP, as you can see we need more input from you! If you want to narrow down which model you have. As far as the mechanical condition and shootability of these surplus HPs, it's usually quite good. Most often there are cosmetic blemishes but the pistol itself is sound. Of course check it out before shooting, as you would any firearm - especially a used one.

 

[WVsig]

In terms of function do the seat click test to check sear and safety engagement.

Unload the gun.
Cock the hammer.
Put the safety on.
Pull the trigger.
With the safety on or off but without pulling the trigger put pressure on the hammer spur and pull the hammer back.
If something is amiss you will see seat movement and there maybe an audible click.

 

[Sistema1927]

WVsig,

You validated the point that the discussion over Belgium vs. Portugal is a non-starter. If the Portugal plant was up and running in 71-72, but the "Assembled in Portugal" rollmark didn't appear until 1989, then there are lots of HPs that were assembled in Portugal that are not so marked.

Not to mention that FN doesn't use this rollmark except on Brownings meant for US consumption. I have no doubt that my FN MkIII was assembled in Portugal, just like any Browning made that year, but it isn't so marked.

Much ado about nothing.