Browning Hi Power
Ran across a Belgium stainless Hi Power today.Only one I have ever seen. Can any one tell me any info on this Hi power and value.
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I have a Browning Hi Power made in Belgium stamped with the Buenos Aires Police logo on top of slide and Policia Prov. BS Aires - 61 on the frame. Serial Number is 0636X on barrel, slide and frame and it has internal extractor with round hammer. Wood grips with thick brown laquered finish and painted red on the inside. About 70% dull blue finish with one original mag. I would like to know when it was made and if it is worth anything more than an old shooter. Has excellent bore. Thanks. 0 -
It's not stainless. Browning called the finish. "Nickel/Silver Chrome". Made in limited numbers, in the 80's. Much sought after, by collectors now. Should have a Gold trigger, and checkered Walnut grips.
If it's truly excellent condition, (no wear or handling marks). With "Made in Belgium", legend. Might be worth a couple of grand.0 -
quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
It's not stainless. Browning called the finish. "Nickel/Silver Chrome". Made in limited numbers, in the 80's. Much sought after, by collectors now. Should have a Gold trigger, and checkered Walnut grips.
If it's truly excellent condition, (no wear or handling marks). With "Made in Belgium", legend. Might be worth a couple of grand.
Rufe is right on..
Steve Camp was a well respected Hi-Power researcher/collector.. Always been a goto source for info.. He says they were never made in stainless..Most emphatically,I might add[:D]
______________________________Stainless Steel Hi Powers
...do not exist if you are speaking of those made by Fabrique Nationale, the original manufacturer of the design. This holds true whether the pistols are sold under either the FN or Browning logo. None of them are stainless...not a single one.
That does not mean that some may not have appeared to have been of stainless-steel construction. Some Hi Powers imported by Browning Arms have sported both electroless-nickle or hard chrome finishes, either of which may be confused with stainless. Electroless-nickle tends to have a slightly yellowish hue to it while hard-chrome does not. It is either white-colored or sometimes appears a very pale light blue.
Several years ago, a company called Baford Arms did produce stainless steel Hi Power style pistols but they have long since gone out of business and there is currently a company in Florida producing both slides and frames of stainless construction. Some aftermarket Hi Power parts have been manufactured in stainless but FN has not manufactured any stainless-steel Hi Powers.
On some auction sites, FN and/or Browning-marked Hi Powers are being advertised as being of stainless steel construction when they simply are not.
Such Hi Powers can indeed be very fine handguns and either electroless-nickle or hard chrome does enhance corrosion-resistance but the pistols are not stainless steel.
Best.
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http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/stainless_steel_hi_powers.htm
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/index.html0 -
Interesting subject. I'm surprised there aren't more with cnc stuff everywhere.
https://books.google.com/books?id=6UwcigaretteAAQBAJ&pg=PA93&lpg=PA93&dq=Model+35+Firepower+baford+arms&source=bl&ots=xo_NoTXelE&sig=ZoxnRdsZDroE0VApeXQ91J-73jI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiVwduq2ZjZAhUK82MKHaX1CzwQ6AEIPzAD#v=onepage&q=Model 35 Firepower baford arms&f=false0 -
This gun has a stainless trigger and has the Made in Belgium on the receiver. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by hunter.b
This gun has a stainless trigger and has the Made in Belgium on the receiver.
"FN Browning Pistols", by Vanderlinden. Is the primary reference on Hi-Powers. There was a number of different Hi Powers made, with various nickel and chrome finishes. He does note, that the "Silver-Chrome" H-P has a gold trigger. Yours might be one of the other versions they made?0 -
Your trigger isn't "stainless," either. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Bill DeShivs
Your trigger isn't "stainless," either.
I agree-unless it's after market..0 -
WE HAVE TWO CHROME GUNS AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT FINISH WITH THE GOLD TRIGGER. DRILLED THE INSIDE OF THE RECEIVER AND IT IS STAINLESS. I WAS TOLD A COMPANY IN TENN MADE SOME BUT SURELY THEY COULDNT HAVE BROWNING ON THE GUN. ALSO TOLD LEW HORTON'S FIRST GUNS WERE A HI POWER STAINLESS UNTILL THERE WAS A BROWNING LAW SUITE.HOPE TO HEAR FROM BROWNING SOON ON THE SERIAL NUMBERS.IF IT IS A FAKE THEY FOOLED ME . I HAVE 12 DATING FROM THE 30'S.BEST HANDGUN EVER MADE. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by hunter.b
WE HAVE TWO CHROME GUNS AND THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT FINISH WITH THE GOLD TRIGGER. DRILLED THE INSIDE OF THE RECEIVER AND IT IS STAINLESS. I WAS TOLD A COMPANY IN TENN MADE SOME BUT SURELY THEY COULDNT HAVE BROWNING ON THE GUN. ALSO TOLD LEW HORTON'S FIRST GUNS WERE A HI POWER STAINLESS UNTILL THERE WAS A BROWNING LAW SUITE.HOPE TO HEAR FROM BROWNING SOON ON THE SERIAL NUMBERS.IF IT IS A FAKE THEY FOOLED ME . I HAVE 12 DATING FROM THE 30'S.BEST HANDGUN EVER MADE.
Being that you have a number of H-P's. Use a magnet, to see if the one's you believe to be stainless. Have different reaction to the magnet, than the conventional steel H-P's. Stainless steel is actually a alloy, of carbon steel plus chrome and nickel. Depending on the amounts of chrome and nickel, the magnet should have a different pull weigh. Than conventional steel.0 -
You drilled the inside of the receiver, and it's stainless?
How do you know it's stainless? Carbon steel and stainless look the same.
Browning made no stainless High Powers.0
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