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Herstal FN Hi Power ???

taperloc
I am trying to get the date of mfg, for a Belgium Herstal, FN Hi Power.
What I really would like to have is a printable list of serial numbers. I have searched the web to no avail. The Serial Number on the Herstal FN is 57208. It has an internal extractor; so it had to be made prior to 1962. This pistol was sold to me as a surplus West German Border Patrol pistol. I purchased it in 1968.
I have a buyer that wants to use his C&R license to purchase this pistol. I'm trying to determine if it is legal.
Can anyone supply a link to early Herstal FN Hi Power serial numbers? Any assistance would be appreciated.

Taperloc
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • peabo
    Not an expert but, I believe the first p35's were made in 1927.
    Your s/n could have been made in the mid 30's.
    Don't know if that date makes it C&R eligible or not.



    Thanks---Peabo
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  • rufe-snow
    The post WW II High Powers, that FN made for the Germans and Austrians date to the 50's. I have never seen a list of serial numbers vis a vis dates though.
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  • Txs
    I'm no Hi Power expert, but I've always heard about the complication of dating them by serial due to FN using different serial number runs for each military contract.
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  • huffmanite
    Don't know if this will help, but I have a Herstal FN Hi-Power an uncle brought back after serving in Europe during WWII. Its serial # is 74XXX and due to its Nazi German markings, I assume pistol made during WWII years.

    Yep, finding info on dateing a FN Hi-Power is difficult. Perhaps as long as 7 years ago, I did find some useful info for dateing a FN Hi-power on the internet, but haven't been able to find that info since then.
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  • 11b6r
    Well, the records for WW II production in Belgium were somewhat disarranged by the 8th Air Force. Something about B17s and 500 lb bombs as I heard it..........
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  • dogtown tom
    quote:Originally posted by taperloc
    I am trying to get the date of mfg, for a Belgium Herstal, FN Hi Power.
    What I really would like to have is a printable list of serial numbers. I have searched the web to no avail. The Serial Number on the Herstal FN is 57208. It has an internal extractor; so it had to be made prior to 1962. This pistol was sold to me as a surplus West German Border Patrol pistol. I purchased it in 1968.
    I have a buyer that wants to use his C&R license to purchase this pistol. I'm trying to determine if it is legal.
    Can anyone supply a link to early Herstal FN Hi Power serial numbers? Any assistance would be appreciated.

    Taperloc



    There is a "Date your Gun" page at Browning. The problem is Browning Arms only knows what FN tells them and FN's record keeping isn't the best (even after WWII). The Browning website is down as I type this, but go to the "Customer Service" page and choose "Date your Gun", then Hi Power.
    OR
    You could go here http://hipowertalk.com/forum/and ask GP35 how old it is.

    quote:peabo: ...I believe the first p35's were made in 1927.
    The "35" in P35 denotes 1935.
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  • dcs shooters
    With the five digit serial number, it is a German Occupation gun.
    That's probably as close as to the date as you can get for those years.

    It is pre 1954.
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  • peabo
    quote:Originally posted by dogtown tom
    quote:Originally posted by taperloc
    I am trying to get the date of mfg, for a Belgium Herstal, FN Hi Power.
    What I really would like to have is a printable list of serial numbers. I have searched the web to no avail. The Serial Number on the Herstal FN is 57208. It has an internal extractor; so it had to be made prior to 1962. This pistol was sold to me as a surplus West German Border Patrol pistol. I purchased it in 1968.
    I have a buyer that wants to use his C&R license to purchase this pistol. I'm trying to determine if it is legal.
    Can anyone supply a link to early Herstal FN Hi Power serial numbers? Any assistance would be appreciated.

    Taperloc



    There is a "Date your Gun" page at Browning. The problem is Browning Arms only knows what FN tells them and FN's record keeping isn't the best (even after WWII). The Browning website is down as I type this, but go to the "Customer Service" page and choose "Date your Gun", then Hi Power.
    OR
    You could go here http://hipowertalk.com/forum/and ask GP35 how old it is.

    quote:peabo: ...I believe the first p35's were made in 1927.
    The "35" in P35 denotes 1935.





    I believe you are correct. I was thinking of when the colt 38 Super
    was first produced.

    I had a hi-power in sn range of 42000. Never could pin down the date, but it was believed to be a pre war commercial.


    Thanks---Peabo
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  • mark christian
    Chances are excellent that it is one of the German or Austrian police pistols that rufe-snw described early on. If the barrel had the old style lug it would be pre 1950 but we have heard nothing to indicate it is that early. The internal extractor means pre 1962 but to be pre 1958 it would need to have the old style sear. Serial numbers on these contract pistols are meaningless since the numbers ran from 00001 to the end of the order and then began right back on 00001 for the next contract.

    Pistols produced between 1958 and 1962 are a very gray area and tough to pin down as far as dating in concerned. I'd say no shipping on a C&R unless it can be absolutely established the pistol was produced prior to (today's date), 1960.
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  • dcs shooters
    Look at www.tague.at/pistolen/pages/en_fnhp.htm and see if yours is described there.
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