Browing Hi Power

ripcord810 · 06-30-2012, 03:35 PM

After telling a neighbor about my luger and all the information I had found on this site he asked if any one might be able to tell him a little about a gun his father-n-law had given him a few yrs back. He as told his father-n-law took it off a german prisoner and sent home. He also has the paperwork dated 1944 to go along with it. He is wondering a value due to being chromed? All the numbers match and bore looks good as well.

alanint · 06-30-2012, 03:59 PM

It is an early Hi Power, but I don't see any Waffenamps on it. Are there any German acceptance markings? Even if there are no marks, it would not have been unusual for a german to have been carrying an ALL Belgian pistol, as they captured the plant in full production and thousands were distributed to the German army before they started producing their own at the plant.
Value as pictured $750, give or take.

ripcord810 · 06-30-2012, 04:32 PM

On the left side right above the triger is a swastika with wings? Thats the only markings we could find.

tharpo · 06-30-2012, 04:36 PM

Serial number 25080b. The "b" suffix would put it 1944 production.

lew1 · 06-30-2012, 05:14 PM

As mentioned the serial number places it as a late WWII German Hi Power.

Sadly, the value is probably $400 to $500 since it would be classified as a low grade shooter due to the fact that it was chromed. (The chrome work was not done by the Germans.)

padredan · 06-30-2012, 06:03 PM

the chrome job has greatly reduced the value of this fine bhp, but none the less thanks for posting it.

padredan · 06-30-2012, 06:12 PM

there's a couple of my bhp's i decided to pinto up a bit. Seemed like the thing to do at the time.

jonnyc · 06-30-2012, 06:30 PM

Nice pistol with some personal history, but definitely in the $400 ballpark.

sheepherder · 06-30-2012, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnyc

...definitely in the $400 ballpark.

+ 1

Back in the late 70's, a LGS had a Hi-Power that a serviceman had brought back from Viet Nam...It had deep engraving on the slide; nothing personal, just the usual acorns, leaves, etc...The vet told the owner he had it done in Thailand...A shame, as the rest of it was excellent...IIRC, it went unsold for months...Finally got taken to a regional show in Ohio and traded for something...

rhuff · 07-01-2012, 01:59 PM

It is a shame that this old Hi Power got chrome plated, but that was very common with bring back weapons many years ago. The chrome shops really "leaned on" the buffers when preparing the steel for the chroming vats, sometime to remove pits and flaws. They came out shiny, and all were happy. Now, many, many years later, we lament the chroming, but that was the trend.

Olle · 07-01-2012, 03:35 PM

Doesn't look like a very heavy polish on this one though, I'd say that it can be stripped and reblued with good result. It would still be a refinished gun, but it would look much better.

sheepherder · 07-01-2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by padredan

there's a couple of my bhp's i decided to pinto up a bit. Seemed like the thing to do at the time.

Dan - Can you recall if you had any problems with chrome (or nickel, whichever it is) buildup on the rails or any other part??? If so, how did you remedy the problem...

It was back in the 80's, but I had a couple Colt autos nickle plated, and I had to use valve grinding compound/rubbing compound/polishing compound on the rails specifically, just to get the slide to, er, slide...

Vlim · 07-01-2012, 04:19 PM

I like Browning Hi-Powers, you find the strangest markings on them

alvin · 07-01-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlim

i like browning hi-powers, you find the strangest markings on them

??? !!!! ??????

What's this???

lew1 · 07-01-2012, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlim

I like Browning Hi-Powers, you find the strangest markings on them

A FEG manufactured Hi Power ??

Vlim · 07-01-2012, 05:38 PM

Correct. In the late 1980s Mauser ran out of ideas and decided to market FEG's HP copy under their own name. Brought to market as the 'Mauser model 80 SA', 'SA' standing for 'Single Action'. Few were made, as FN appears to have complained about it.

CJS57 · 07-01-2012, 05:44 PM

Oddly enough, after war chromed or nickeled German Army weapons have developed a small following and they do sell at the prices mentioned!

padredan · 07-02-2012, 05:33 AM

When the bhp was all nickle it worked just fine, it is a 1969 manf. i won in a card game while in asia, who knows when it was nickled. never had a problem with it. when i decided to switch it to a blued upper i did have to fit it an lap it in till it was smooth an worked right. Same thing when i found a blue bhp to put the nickle upper on, but they both shoot and fuction great. but the original nickle bhp always worked well when i got it somewhere around 1971.

Douglas Jr. · 07-02-2012, 09:49 AM

I like the HP35. Here is mine wartime rig, also from the "b block", just a couple of thousand guns before yours. I enjoy the rough look of it...
I also own a "T series" made around 1963-64.

Douglas.

Douglas Jr. · 07-02-2012, 09:57 AM

And here is my T-series.
According to Vanderlinden's book, "FN Browning Pistols", it was the last series made with the "old" quality standards made famous by this Belgium gunmaker.

Douglas

06-30-2012, 03:35 PM	#1
ripcord810 User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 139 Thanks: 146 Thanked 23 Times in 16 Posts	Browing Hi Power After telling a neighbor about my luger and all the information I had found on this site he asked if any one might be able to tell him a little about a gun his father-n-law had given him a few yrs back. He as told his father-n-law took it off a german prisoner and sent home. He also has the paperwork dated 1944 to go along with it. He is wondering a value due to being chromed? All the numbers match and bore looks good as well. Attached Thumbnails

06-30-2012, 03:59 PM	#2
alanint User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Marco Island, Florida Posts: 4,867 Thanks: 1,685 Thanked 1,916 Times in 1,192 Posts	It is an early Hi Power, but I don't see any Waffenamps on it. Are there any German acceptance markings? Even if there are no marks, it would not have been unusual for a german to have been carrying an ALL Belgian pistol, as they captured the plant in full production and thousands were distributed to the German army before they started producing their own at the plant. Value as pictured $750, give or take. Last edited by alanint; 06-30-2012 at 06:45 PM.

06-30-2012, 05:14 PM	#5
lew1 Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,108 Thanks: 82 Thanked 204 Times in 112 Posts	As mentioned the serial number places it as a late WWII German Hi Power. Sadly, the value is probably $400 to $500 since it would be classified as a low grade shooter due to the fact that it was chromed. (The chrome work was not done by the Germans.) __________________ charlie

06-30-2012, 06:03 PM	#6
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	the chrome job has greatly reduced the value of this fine bhp, but none the less thanks for posting it. __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

06-30-2012, 06:12 PM	#7
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	there's a couple of my bhp's i decided to pinto up a bit. Seemed like the thing to do at the time. Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

06-30-2012, 04:32 PM	#3
ripcord810 User Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 139 Thanks: 146 Thanked 23 Times in 16 Posts	On the left side right above the triger is a swastika with wings? Thats the only markings we could find.

06-30-2012, 04:36 PM	#4
tharpo Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West Coast, USA Posts: 537 Thanks: 116 Thanked 376 Times in 154 Posts	Serial number 25080b. The "b" suffix would put it 1944 production.

06-30-2012, 06:30 PM	#8
jonnyc User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 425 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 34 Posts	Nice pistol with some personal history, but definitely in the $400 ballpark.

07-01-2012, 01:59 PM	#10
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,272 Thanks: 2,692 Thanked 959 Times in 705 Posts	It is a shame that this old Hi Power got chrome plated, but that was very common with bring back weapons many years ago. The chrome shops really "leaned on" the buffers when preparing the steel for the chroming vats, sometime to remove pits and flaws. They came out shiny, and all were happy. Now, many, many years later, we lament the chroming, but that was the trend.

07-01-2012, 03:35 PM	#11
Olle User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,149 Thanks: 159 Thanked 663 Times in 318 Posts	Doesn't look like a very heavy polish on this one though, I'd say that it can be stripped and reblued with good result. It would still be a refinished gun, but it would look much better.

07-01-2012, 04:19 PM	#13
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,045 Thanks: 1,034 Thanked 3,943 Times in 1,196 Posts	I like Browning Hi-Powers, you find the strangest markings on them Attached Thumbnails

07-01-2012, 05:38 PM	#16
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,045 Thanks: 1,034 Thanked 3,943 Times in 1,196 Posts	Correct. In the late 1980s Mauser ran out of ideas and decided to market FEG's HP copy under their own name. Brought to market as the 'Mauser model 80 SA', 'SA' standing for 'Single Action'. Few were made, as FN appears to have complained about it.

07-01-2012, 05:44 PM	#17
CJS57 User Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 224 Thanks: 0 Thanked 81 Times in 41 Posts	Oddly enough, after war chromed or nickeled German Army weapons have developed a small following and they do sell at the prices mentioned!

07-02-2012, 05:33 AM	#18
padredan User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: louisiana Now, but from the Rebublic of Texas Posts: 937 Thanks: 429 Thanked 316 Times in 182 Posts	When the bhp was all nickle it worked just fine, it is a 1969 manf. i won in a card game while in asia, who knows when it was nickled. never had a problem with it. when i decided to switch it to a blued upper i did have to fit it an lap it in till it was smooth an worked right. Same thing when i found a blue bhp to put the nickle upper on, but they both shoot and fuction great. but the original nickle bhp always worked well when i got it somewhere around 1971. Attached Thumbnails __________________ In this world nothing is free, except the grace of God

07-02-2012, 09:49 AM	#19
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	I like the HP35. Here is mine wartime rig, also from the "b block", just a couple of thousand guns before yours. I enjoy the rough look of it... I also own a "T series" made around 1963-64. Douglas. Attached Thumbnails

07-02-2012, 09:57 AM	#20
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	And here is my T-series. According to Vanderlinden's book, "FN Browning Pistols", it was the last series made with the "old" quality standards made famous by this Belgium gunmaker. Douglas Attached Thumbnails