Would appreciate your opinions on this FN Hi Power ( NE )

Nebraska

Old guy & long time shooter here but I'm a Hi Power virgin.

I realize it's a non matching mix master and certainly not collector piece. I'm just seeking what I'd hope to be a trouble free shooter that won't require a lot of tinkering and would like to hear your experienced opinions on this one pro & con. If mismatched parts guns HP's are often problematic by nature then I'll steer clear.

This is one of perhaps 12-15 currently listed on GB by the same reputable wholesaler.

I also realize mechanical details are few but in general....Your thoughts on it considering the asking price ?

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/584244914

Thank you.

 

I've had 3 high power style pistols, one Browning and two FEG clones. The Browning was absolutely trashed outside but had a good bore and it shot rather well. I sold it for more than i paid for it and was fine seeing it go. My feg 9mm only liked round nose ammo, and i stupidly sold that one too. The other feg was a 45 and i loved it, but the spur hammer kept biting my hand if i got lazy with it, and some guy offered me about $100 more than i had into it, so i let it go. I would love to have any of them back. The one you're looking at looks pretty nice, and not knowing what current high power prices are, I would think $400 would seem like a decent price. Others will chime in that know more about current pricing, but high powers are quality firearms, and the clones are good too.

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I would get a Mk III because I think the sights are better and I think you are more likely to get a pretty decent trigger than with the earlier guns (but certainly not guaranteed).

I further suggest you call Kerry (USMC Retired) at Mach1 Arsenal (you can contact Mach 1 through Gunbroker or you can look up their number. Mach1 is one of the big importers of BHPs, and IME, completely honest. Tell Kerry that you want a nice HP and what you're willing to spend. If he has what you're wanting at the moment (I see they have a few listed on GB) he will set you up with a good gun at a good price.

Here's an example of one of Mach1's under-$500 Mk IIIs that Kerry picked out for me. It has a fantastic trigger, shoots to POA, and has never malfunctioned. One of my very favorite handguns I've ever fired (and that's quite a few).



Good luck. The BHP is an awesome gun. Go here to get the straight story on all things Hi Power. http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/

 

That's one of the Israeli Surplus HP's that's come in to the country in the last couple years. Many of those were rode hard and put away wet.

That particular one looks OK, not great. For ~$400 I would probably risk it. But I would do so knowing it might need some parts, some adjusting, and/or a refinish. It might also be a bust. Surplus guns sometimes are.

FWIW, I got an Israeli MkII a couple years back that needs a finish, but was mechanically sound, and shoots great.

 

I'd buy it for that. I'd plan on maybe replacing some springs and possibly the extractor- no big deal, that's what SARCO is for. Obviously an old military pistol.

 

If possible, I'd save up a few more bucks and buy something in better apparent condition. For $450 - $500 plus shipping and transfer you can get a much nicer gun - certainly much nicer looking, and likely in nicer mechanical condition - if you are mildly patient.

 

The FN P-35 pistol was (is) a well designed pistol (John Browning and Dieudonne Saive) with a great track record.

I personally don't like the round, and the shape of the grips and frame put me off a bit, but the pistol is really quite noteworthy.

The Star of David on the right front trigger guard identifies it (I am told) it is an Israeli contract pistol. I have one of the surplus Israeli pistols. The finish is in the manner of the British WWII black paint finish. It's ugly as sin, and not a very fun sin. But it works quite well. I run it with standard pressure/velocity loads and round nose bullets (I load lead and FMJ for it). Haven't tried it with hollow point ammunition or 'exotic' shapes, as I have no need to do so.

It is NOT a 'mixmaster'; probably the worst thing about it - other than the finish - is a fairly heavy and long trigger pull. You decide.

The linked advertisement showed a current bid of $365; likely that will go up. I wouldn't pay any more than $375 and that was if I wanted it seriously.

Compare it to commercial Browning High Powers and decide if it seems like a good idea. And good fortune, whatever you do.

 

Look me up!

Geo, I will be working the Hastings Gun Show the first weekend in October. I'm the one in the bowler hat. Introduce yourself if you see me; I'd be happy to hear what you decided.

 

You can do a lot better from Cole's, just hit the " sellers other listings, semi auto pistols and finally high power in drop down on left. There are MkIII's on there that are matching for around $400 or lots of Mark II's in very good condition and matching. Try listing 573543001 for an example.
I have bought five Mk II & III's from CDzi and refinished two to look like new issue pistols. The enamel finish is scratched on these pistols but the metal is not dinged or scratched (except maybe sights). In any event they shoot like new...I left one with a buddy and it has turned out the lights in several Texas Boars.

 

I think I would go with what others are saying about looking somewhere else for a Hi-Power. This one, even at a sub-$400 price, just seems to like too much of mixmaster of parts and might end up costing you more than it's worth once you get done fixing it up.

I would pass on this one.

 

cdisales is a good seller, I bought 2 Mkiii Hi Powers from him a couple years back, they are both Excellent (refurbished) Israeli surplus.
I agree with others that you should be able to find one in signifigantly better condition from cdi. Send him an email through Gunbroker and tell him what you are looking for, he can probably set one aside for you.

 

I appreciate everyone's thoughts.

From those of you that feel I should look for a slightly better MKIII from them , are you put off on this one primarily because of it's cosmetics or are you truly leery of it not working properly as is due to it being non matching ?

The cosmetics or the stigma of it being a mix master end of things for me on this is of little concern. If it's the other then I'll look on.

Thanks again.

 

According to the description it IS a mixmaster:

And it's easy to tell being that the slide # is electropenciled.

 

I wouldn't mind having one of those, to avoid grinding on my transitional gun to get a decent front sight.

Of course a good deal on a used Glock 23 is a higher priority right now, and not that high of one in any case.

 

I would say I would be more put-off by the mixmaster description than the rough external appearance of the gun. Would pay more for an all original Hi-Power with less finish on it than I would for a parts gun.

 

I answered you on another board, but will repeat here.

I'd buy the pistol. You have a 3-day inspection period and some written guidance from Mr. Camp about what to look for. You've already said cosmetics aren't important to you. Everyone knows the gun isn't a collector piece, and you want a decent shooter. So I'd buy it. And shoot the ever-lovin' snot out of it. And love every minute of it.

 

I have gotten a good deal from CDI Sales four out of four times.

All of my surplus firearms have functioned well - I must be 15/15 on that one.

So yeah, I wouldn't shy away from that one.

My FEG clone has been a very good pistol and was dirt cheap.

 

Geo 57, I have purchased many pistols from Cole's including five of the Israeli imports and have been more than pleased with each. I check the photos very carefully using zoom and make sure this is the right one for me out of the many they have to offer. I am quite sure if a pistol is a total disappointment to you Cole's would make an exchange with a smile. The day of the imported Hi Power at affordable prices is quickly coming to an end because of supply and the efforts of the current Monarch to end all such imports. Buy one while you can and shoot the beans out of it.

 

Oh......and one more thought.

I bought my pistols from CDI thinking that they would be a little beat up.
TURNS OUT....Coles is a terrible photographer and the guns showed up looking WAY prettier than they did in the Gunbroker photos.
Just something to consider. He graded them excellent, the pics looked not that great, guns were actually excellent.

 

I have purchased numerous pistols from cdisales on GunBroker, including a really nice FN Hi-Power (pictured below) for $498 including shipping and FFL transfer back in December, 2012 before the Israeli surplus pistols showed up.

Without exception, I have found them all to be good deals at reasonable prices. Not steals, but worth the money - they seem to know pretty well what their listed firearms are worth. Every one has looked better than I expected. Cdisales tends to be conservative in their assessment of condition. Find a Hi-Power that you like at a price within your budget (as everyone says, you generally get what you pay for) and buy from them with confidence.

Here is a link on THR to what I consider to be one of my favorite pistol 'bargains' that I found on GunBroker. I bought this FEG Luger M80 Hi-Power from Cole Distr. back in October, 2012. http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=8965987&postcount=9


Hi-Powers are very nice pitols.