Interesting Custom 1950s High Power
Jun 13, 2021 13:21:42 GMT -5
Mister Coffee, rock185, and 1 more like this
Post by ToddSig on Jun 13, 2021 13:21:42 GMT -5
The only addition I look for are Hi Powers that are a little different. Last week on Gunbroker spotted a customized FN High Power that had a S&W revolver style rear sight, bobbed ring hammer and a custom paddle safety. It also had been refinished with some form of hard chrome to the frame, matte slide rounds and polished flats. I prefer Browning marked Hi Powers, as well as post internal extractors, but this one looked interesting and caught my attention. I am a sucker for the S&W style sights, bidding was light, won the auction at $826+ (FYI, Gunbroker is now charging sales tax for most states).
Picked it up earlier today and extremely pleased. The GB images had what appeared to be some form of black over-spray on the silver/hard chrome frame. Turns out it was a reflection in many images from the black slide (that might have hurt bidding). For ID'ing it had a serial # of 40230 and the *D, Controller of the proof mark of Rene Marchal, 1951-1968, on barrel, frame and slide, and with the internal extractor and thumbprint, I dated it from 1951 to about 1960.
Upon inspection, the barrel and slide stop are production marked 1st quarter of 1952. It also has a German import mark from Silesia on the trigger guard (a German sporting goods company who imported a lot of weapons for the commercial market). According to Vanderlinden, Germany imported a lot of High Powers from FN in the 1950s, usually with serial numbers between 28,000 and 60,000. This example is 40,230 marked on slide, barrel and frame. It has a US import mark on the bottom of the grip from GPGI of Harrisburg, PA (need to contact them as they are still listed as an FFL importer). The hammer has an added O.P. which could be a previous owner or the gunsmith who customized it.
When I thought the frame had black overspray, I was thinking of a refinish, keeping it the same with black slide and hard chrome frame, but for now I am going to keep as it is. Dry firing seems fine, snap caps eject with the internal extractor, all parts seem original, including the magazine, grips are probably navidrex (GB said Spegel), trigger is nice at around 5 1/2#s, ordered some new springs and pins just to be sure. I have a Garthwaite trigger that came out of another gun so might add that.
Not sure when I will get to the range, but so far I could not be more pleased.
Some images
Picked it up earlier today and extremely pleased. The GB images had what appeared to be some form of black over-spray on the silver/hard chrome frame. Turns out it was a reflection in many images from the black slide (that might have hurt bidding). For ID'ing it had a serial # of 40230 and the *D, Controller of the proof mark of Rene Marchal, 1951-1968, on barrel, frame and slide, and with the internal extractor and thumbprint, I dated it from 1951 to about 1960.
Upon inspection, the barrel and slide stop are production marked 1st quarter of 1952. It also has a German import mark from Silesia on the trigger guard (a German sporting goods company who imported a lot of weapons for the commercial market). According to Vanderlinden, Germany imported a lot of High Powers from FN in the 1950s, usually with serial numbers between 28,000 and 60,000. This example is 40,230 marked on slide, barrel and frame. It has a US import mark on the bottom of the grip from GPGI of Harrisburg, PA (need to contact them as they are still listed as an FFL importer). The hammer has an added O.P. which could be a previous owner or the gunsmith who customized it.
When I thought the frame had black overspray, I was thinking of a refinish, keeping it the same with black slide and hard chrome frame, but for now I am going to keep as it is. Dry firing seems fine, snap caps eject with the internal extractor, all parts seem original, including the magazine, grips are probably navidrex (GB said Spegel), trigger is nice at around 5 1/2#s, ordered some new springs and pins just to be sure. I have a Garthwaite trigger that came out of another gun so might add that.
Not sure when I will get to the range, but so far I could not be more pleased.
Some images
