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Post by applepi on Jun 6, 2022 10:06:02 GMT -5
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Post by ToddSig on Jun 7, 2022 8:55:03 GMT -5
Welcome to HPC applepi. Great looking Hi Power. My best guess from what I can make out from you images is a Belgian pre war contract officers pistols. The H mark in a circle is an Belgian Arsenal mark, and of course the typical FN proof marks as well. I cant tell if the inspectors makr is a * over and B or * over an E, in either case those inspectors worked from 1927-1959 and 1924-1959. I am not sure why there is not a serial number on the slide. Usually there is one, so I would like to see more proof marks to mark sure frame and slide match. Is there one on the barrel, non port side and does it match the frame serial number. Tangent sight looks like a type 1, would like to see an image of the top leaf, is it full marked or only about 2/3 of the way.
RE value, check on gunborker past sales for early hi powers.
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Post by Bob Reed on Jun 7, 2022 23:25:04 GMT -5
Hello, applepi. That's an interesting High Power you have.
I started a new thread for you here in our general FN HP section. The other section is specifically for FN High Powers that have Third Reich markings and were produced under German control of the FN Factory during WW II.
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Post by applepi on Jun 10, 2022 14:29:35 GMT -5
I don't know how to upload pictures from my phone to the thread. I have to load the pictures to cloud and then down to my computer, then from there I can post pictures. If someone knows how to load pictures directly from my android, please let me know. I have lots of stuff like holsters and stocks. This set of pictures show all the markings I could see. My phone camera is hard to focus, so there's a mark on the bottom of the barrel that is not included because I thought you wouldn't be able to read it anyway. ![]() Thanks for taking the time to help me. -Apple    |
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Post by applepi on Jun 10, 2022 16:43:03 GMT -5
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Post by applepi on Jun 10, 2022 16:44:22 GMT -5
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Post by applepi on Jun 10, 2022 16:45:15 GMT -5
Last pic.  |
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Post by applepi on Jun 10, 2022 16:48:44 GMT -5
I have what looks like a reproduction flat wood stock, that I just took out of its case. Inside the case is a letter dated 4 OCT 1979. It is my Dads petition to the ATF to remove the pre-war High-Powers from the National Firearms Act. They granted his petition in this letter, so I guess he was responsible for getting that done?! Pretty cool.   |
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Post by ToddSig on Jun 12, 2022 8:53:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the additional images, although I cant tell you much more than what I already have. ATF letter is pretty cool to have.
The barrel has the squared off cam slot (rather than the earlier round cam). This change was done in 1938, somewhere around serial #36000 (according to Stevens). With the squared off cam and your 36356 serial number, it could be from 1938. Tangent sight is the type 1, which was used on High Powers with pistol stocks.
I am still not sure why the slide does not have a serial number. The pre war High Powers I have seen, have serial number on barrel, slide and frame. Perhaps an oversight? Cant tell if it is a replacement or not, but it appears correct. Perhaps someone else can comment on this.
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Post by alias on Jun 14, 2022 20:36:28 GMT -5
The proof marks on the frame and barrel are nice and deep but that slide though… seems to be period correct but somehow well worn when compare to the rest of the gun and missing the serial number. 🤔
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Post by Bob Reed on Jun 14, 2022 22:08:14 GMT -5
The proof marks on the frame and barrel are nice and deep but that slide though… seems to be period correct but somehow well worn when compare to the rest of the gun and missing the serial number. 🤔 I agree, it's odd... |
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Post by applepi on Jun 23, 2022 22:52:02 GMT -5
I feel like the slide is excessively worn, but it seems impossible to me that there's so much material worn away that it's now below the serial number. If it was some kind of holster wear I think it would have worn both sides more evenly. Also the wear would likely be less intense as you got closer to the slide lock pin. The other thing that puzzles me about the slide wear is the knurling is still sharp as well as the checkering on the sight. The whole thing is bizarre. If something was wrong with the original slide and it failed quality control, don't you think they would have stamped the replacement slide with the serial number? I'm at a loss. Please let me know if you have a theory.
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Post by CXM on Jun 24, 2022 7:51:27 GMT -5
Given the age of the frame, it seems most likely the original slide was damaged in some way and an armorer somewhere, somewhen took two un-serviceable guns and made one serviceable pistol. Armorers regularly strip usable parts from damaged guns to supplement their issued parts stocks. Back 10 years or so ago when Gary Cole was importing truck loads of Izzy surplus HPs we saw a number of combat damaged HPs in the mix... Doubtless there are other explanations for the slide but this one seems to me to be the most likely. Occam's razor. FWIW Chuck I feel like the slide is excessively worn, but it seems impossible to me that there's so much material worn away that it's now below the serial number. If it was some kind of holster wear I think it would have worn both sides more evenly. Also the wear would likely be less intense as you got closer to the slide lock pin. The other thing that puzzles me about the slide wear is the knurling is still sharp as well as the checkering on the sight. The whole thing is bizarre. If something was wrong with the original slide and it failed quality control, don't you think they would have stamped the replacement slide with the serial number? I'm at a loss. Please let me know if you have a theory. |
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Post by Bob Reed on Jun 24, 2022 18:30:01 GMT -5
I agree with Chuck, the slide has been replaced.
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Post by ToddSig on Jun 25, 2022 8:59:44 GMT -5
I too agree with Chuck and Bob on the slide being replaced. I think Chuck's scenario, given it was a Belgian contract High Power makes the most sense.
Vanderlinden's book notes some High Powers without serial numbers, but they were post war, and the pistol overall had no serial numbers (on slide, barrel or frame), and he gives little detail on these non-serialized High Powers. Perhaps in the new edition.
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