New Member with a new gun

[glockdave]

Hello everyone,

I am a big BHP fan and have acquired a gun made in 1979 from what I have researched. It is a nickel finished pistol but it doesn't look the same as my silver chrome HP since it doesn't have the gold trigger. Any information from the experts here would be appreciated. I would like to know if the pistol is a factory finish, which I'm pretty sure it is.

Attachments:

[ToddSig]

Hey Glockdave, and welcome to the High Power Collectors fourm. Nice Hi Power. Sometimes it is hard to get a good image of chromed Hi Power, as the color and color tone is not always accurate.

With that in mind, as well as the 1979 date you researched, I am guessing the Hi Power has been refinished. With few exceptions there were three chrome style factory Hi Powers. One was the high polished centennial edition which came out in 1978, but that edition has a unique serial number and other identifying markings. Another is the Silver Chrome version which is a silver hard chrome finish, gold trigger, black beer can rear sight, hard chrome front sight, black mag release and black slide stop and safety. Grips would also be the Pachmayr signature grips, but they are often changed. I believe first year of production for the Silver Chrome was 1981. So your example is too early. The third style is the Nickel version, with gold trigger and nickel sights, slide stop and safety. First year was around 1980, and ran until about 1985. Yours as a 1979 is close, but you dont have the gold trigger or nickel sights, slide stop and safety. I am guessing on the safety and slide stop, as the post ends appear black or dark on my screen.

From your image you have a black beer can sight, trigger, safety and slide stop. With these finishing differences I am guessing a refinish. Additional images could be helpful. You might wish to check with the Browning historian, and they may be able to tell you the model and original factory finish. Although since Covid, they have been slow to respond.

[tnorris]

I would like to see sharp photos of the roll marks on the left side and serial numbers to better tell if it has been refinished.

Looking at the trigger, it appears to me to be a replacement (it has shoulders) - perhaps a C&S Wide Combat Trigger.

Cheers,

Tim

*A not so sharp photo of my '81 SilverChrome for visual comparison.

[forester]

Welcome to the forum. Great pistol