Value of Browning Hi-Power

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marksman13

marksman13

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Can anybody give me an approximate value on a Browning Hi-Power? It is a bright blued Mark III made in 1989. It has the "Made in Belgium, Assembled in Portugal" roll mark. It is in very good condition with only light handling marks. It has the original grips as well as a set of VZ slim grips. It also has a set of Meprolight night sights (not yet installed) and three 13 round magazines (one MecGar and two Brownings). I'm thinking with the extras that $1000.00 is about right, but I'll readily admit that I could be wrong. Hi-Power prices are all over the map. Any help is greatly appreciated. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1394335413.577572.jpg
 
If you can get $1000 more power to you... pun intended!

Honestly the sights are not installed and the grips are worth about $40 to the right buyer on a used pistol they are a throw in not a point of value.

I think your number is much closer to $650 to $700 depending on where you sell it.
 
I could install the sights in a matter of minutes. Just haven't gotten around to it. At $650, I'd just keep it.
 
Sure I would keep it too. I think that people way over pay for BHPs these days. There are tons of surplus BHPs which can be had for under $500s. My estimate does not mean you cannot get more but IMHO you are not getting $1000 for that gun unless you rip someone off.

I mean add it up...

Used MKIII $600
Sights $100 take 25% off because they are on New on a used gun.... $75
VZ grips $75 take 50% of because they are on a used gun.... $56.25
Extra mag no real value here.
Total $712.50

So I stand by my $650 to $700 depending on where you sell it give or take. You might find sucker on gunbroker but here in the classifieds it will be tough to get a lot higher. Not trying to be a jerk but giving you reasonable valuation IMHO.
 
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$1k seems awfully high to me also. I've currently got 5 of them and the last one I bought was a slightly used MK III with the plastic grips and painted finish, rather than blued. That was $450 in a store here 2 or 3 years ago.

I would think around $700 would be what it might sell for around here, to get more than that it would need to be the adjustable sight model.
 
Brand new BHP is $1000 retail here. Would be hard to sell a used one at the same price. Used show up at 650 to 800.
 
Local pricing does make a difference and Im not a price follower.

Having said that, IMO maybe $800

Its got a nice finish and has the extras..... but BNIB is under $1000 (not a lot but still under a $1k)
 
No way that's $1000...

The Portuguese models really aren't worth much of anything. With the extras, I think $800 is max, but probably less. For me, the value is about $600 to $650. Other than the mags, the extras have no value to me personally.
 
Like I said, I could easily be wrong. It was on the shelf at $795.00 without the extras. I didn't pay close to that, so I'm still alright. The grips were $85.00 and the mags cost me about $40.00 each and the sights were $100.00. That's where I got my value.
 
Like I said, I could easily be wrong. It was on the shelf at $795.00 without the extras. I didn't pay close to that, so I'm still alright. The grips were $85.00 and the mags cost me about $40.00 each and the sights were $100.00. That's where I got my value.
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You'll never get back out of a gun what you put into it by upgrading or swapping parts.

For the most part, all those parts when added to a used gun get you a used gun of the same value. Occasionally the parts might even hurt the value if someone doesn't dig your choices (ie, just personally I do like your grips better, but I LOATHE night sights and if I were to buy a gun with them I'd be looking at replacement costs to put them back to regular).

If you still have original parts, you're usually better off putting the gun back to original condition, selling it as is, and then selling the upgrade parts separately.
 
The grips have no value to me, nor do the night sights. I wouldn't use either. What you paid isn't the issue. All that matters is the value to the buyer.

I honestly have so many HP mags that I wouldn't want to pay for the extras either.
 
I disagree to an extent, mgmorden. I've always gotten at least 65% of original value for any add ons when selling a gun. I think it's all about finding the right buyer. Besides, this post wasn't about trying to sell the gun. I was just curious what it was actually worth. If I did anything with it, it would be a trade as it's much easier to get more value in a trade than a cash sale.
 
The gun is more desirable with the original grips and sights. Sell the aftermarket stuff separately. If it's in nice condition, you should get in the $750-800 range for it.
 
Value? If I were looking to buy that pistol: maximum of $650. If I were looking to sell it: $800.

So ... between $650 and $800 would be my value.
 
Well as a collectible, it is a common type of Hi-Power, less than 20 years old that you can still find almost anywhere. Many collectors also look down on the "Assembled in Portugal" stamp. For $795 or less, I can pick up a lot of Hi-Powers with more collectible value.

As a shooter, it is a MkIIIS - so it has that going for it. The blue finish is pretty; but not very practical. For $795 though I can buy a NIB Hi-Power that has the improved frame and improved slide stop.

For me to be interested in a blued 1989 BHP, the price would have to be lower - especially with Cole's selling the same year BHP for $500 or less.
 
Can someone post a link to one of the Cole hi powers? I cannot find them for sale and they sound like a bargain.
 
marksman, that is a nice gun and I am always on the look out for a clean Hi Power myself. But, I have to admit you're doing better than me in recovering the value of extras and add-ons. I am a died-in-the-wool long time FN/BHP fan, but if I had come across the one you pictured, with the extras, would not be interested at $1000.00. That being said, IMHO if you decided to sell yours at some point, and advertised long enough, in enough places, someone would likely come along and pay that kind of money for your pistol...
 
For me to be interested in a blued 1989 BHP, the price would have to be lower - especially with Cole's selling the same year BHP for $500 or less.
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Coles HPs are Israeli surplus guns. They are all matte black painted finishes or they are parkerized refinished and IMHO not done well.

Coles guns are a great value for a shooter but they are not good looking BHPs. The OPs BHP is much nicer.

This is a $479 Coles FN HP.

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And again, I'm not saying my gun is worth that. I was just throwing out a figure I THOUGHT was reasonable. I'll probably keep this one forever once I install the night sights, it will probably get carried a good bit. It shoots well enough to carry, but this trigger has been a pain in the butt to get used to.
 
Coles guns are a great value for a shooter but they are not good looking BHPs. The OPs BHP is much nicer.
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True; but from my perspective, a blued finish isn't great for a shooter since it will wear fast and offer so-so protection. The Cole's finish looks ugly as hell; but it will hold up better to use. That's not even speculation as I have some of the twins of those Cole BHPs.

As a collectible, it is a pretty finish on a gun that is still common and non-collectible right now.

I'd still ask more for a nice polished blue MkIII if I were selling myself; but you do kind of fall into a weird niche where you are overpriced for a practical shooter and don't have much collectible value yet.
 
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