Tell me about my Hi Power...

[Aahzz]

I have a rather beat-up Hi Power that I picked up a couple years back for a song...and am wondering a bit about it's origins. It was made in Argentina. Most of the Argentinian Hi Powers I've heard of have been referred to as "FM"s. Mine is marked F.N. Browning, Armscorp, Silver Spring MD, Made in Argentina. Is it the same thing as an FM, or is it something different? No matter what its history mat be, it's a fantastic shooter, and I love it to death...am just somewhat curious about it.

 

[BHPshooter]

Interesting... I've never heard of one with those markings. Of course, I'm no expert. Hopefully someone with more "collector's knowledge" will show up and lend a helping hand.

Those BHPs seem to all be sweet shooters, regardless of make or markings, don't they?

Wes

 

[Walt Sherrill]

If I remember correctly, the early Argentine-made guns were true Hi-Powers, made under license. That's probably what you've got. The ones, available nowadays, while still true to the standards, etc., are no longer made under license.

 

[Vitamin G]

I believe (and not through any research, just what I picked up here and there) that FN supplied hi-powers to the Argentines for police forces for some period of time before FM's were produced.
The other possibility that comes to mind was that perhaps it was made on FN equipment, in Argentina.

 

[Aahzz]

Interesting....I thought I had an anomaly! I picked it up as a beater, to maybe try some home gunsmithing - it's got a painted-on finish over some pitting, but it shoots so fantastically well that I think I'm going to have it hard chromed and keep it