Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Hi-Power

Colt Super
I recently came across a beautiful, older Browning Hi-Power - probably 30 - 40 years old (no, the idiot{me} didn't jot down the serial number). The price is good, but I'm suspicious that it has been re-finished.

Is there any way to positively tell??

How would refinishiing affect the value??

God Bless America and...
NEVER Forget WACO
NEVER, EVER Forget 911
0

Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • Colt Super
    Is there any after market part or someway to put a flashlight on a browning(clone)hi-power ?

    eagleeyesports@yahoo.com
    http://www.picturetrail.com/eagleeyewoodworking
    0
  • Rembrandt
    Look for pitting, scratches, or nicks that may have been blued over, edges should be crisp and defined, not rounded off....and lettering should be even and same depth as similar units of that era. Look at wear on the sides of the magazine, is it consistant with wear on the rest of the gun? Check for worn internal parts.
    0
  • p3skyking
    Positively, yes, a chemical analysis and a chronospectrograph. Also an electron microscope might detect residue of bluing in tiny pit cravasses.

    Then again, a 10X loupe and a good nose can do about the same. But it's not absolutely positive.

    Look for pitting. If the pitted areas are blue-it's been reblued (at least touched up). Smell for the phosphoric acid used in cleaning. Check the internals and under the grips for the original color. Springs that should be bright metal but are not. Rounded edges that should be straight.

    It just takes a good eye. Best I can tell you.

    A man who starts imagining that others think good because he does is simply out of his mind
    It behooves one to be wary when among strangers and not to trust too much L'Amour
    0
  • Der Gebirgsjager
    And anyway.....are you buying it as a "collector" or a "shooter"? If as a shooter, and the price is right, it will shoot just as well refinished. And, again, if you can't tell by close examination it must be a pretty good job![:D](maybe I did it!)
    0
  • Warbirds
    You're going to shoot the gun anyway so just buy it and move on with your life. I don't have any 9mm brass for you though, how much and what gun dealer?

    A COWARD DIES A THOUSAND DEATHS A HERO DIES JUST ONCE.
    0
  • Colt Super
    Not a dealer... a friend.

    God Bless America and...
    NEVER Forget WACO
    NEVER, EVER Forget 911
    0
  • Warbirds
    So how much is it?

    A COWARD DIES A THOUSAND DEATHS A HERO DIES JUST ONCE.
    0
  • Colt Super
    $40.00 and one of my Children. I was thinking about giving him you.

    God Bless America and...
    NEVER Forget WACO
    NEVER, EVER Forget 911
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity