Post by ToddSig on Nov 12, 2022 9:28:48 GMT -5
Rock Island's upcoming December auction has several interesting High Power offerings.
Link to Rock Island, www.rockislandauction.com/
Rock Island has a 17.5% buyers premium, 3.5% credit card premium and a 1% charge if using their online platform, plus any applicable sales tax.
Below are three of the more interesting High Powers being offered. Rock Island has about a dozen in the December sale.
Lot 1370: Belgian Military Trials FN "Grand Rendement"/High-Power Pistol
Extremely Rare, Serial Number 812 Belgian Military Trials Fabrique Nationale "Grand Rendement"/High-Power Semi-Automatic Pistol with Early Oval Ejection Port
Auction Date: December 10, 2022
Estimated Price: $14,000 - $22,500
Extremely Rare, Serial Number 812 Belgian Military Trials Fabrique Nationale "Grand Rendement"/High-Power Semi-Automatic Pistol with Early Oval Ejection Port
The evolution of the Browning High-Power pistol truly began in 1921, with a request from the French government for a pistol to replace their plethora of World War I pistols and revolvers. By 1923 John Browning had filed a patent for a high capacity pistol chambered in 9mm, which at the time was being referred to as the "Grand Rendement" or "High Efficiency". Results were promising through the French trials even with the weight restriction being constantly lowered. By 1929 the pistol almost completely resembled the High-Power we all know and in 1933 an order was placed by the Belgian military for 1,000 pistols, this example being one of them. These early "High-Efficiency/Power" pistols still display the iconic oval ejection port that was a carry-over from the development of the Grand Rendement. During the Belgian military trials, some users noted that they would prefer a different trajectory for the ejected casings, a change that could be made by changing the shape of the ejection port. Thus, the ejection port was changed to a more squared shape shortly after standard production began. This pistol has the standard two-line Fabrique Nationale address and Browning's patent mark on the left of the slide. The left of the frame and slide are marked with standard Belgian proofs as well as circled "H" military parts acceptance proofs and a "crown/PH" within an oval military acceptance proof on the frame just above the trigger. A similar set of proofs are visible on the barrel. It is fitted with a blade front sight, tangent rear sight graduated to 500 meters, serrated ring hammer, serrated slide stop and thumb safety, and a pair of checkered walnut grips.
Lot 405: Sultanate of Muscat & Oman Contract FN Hi Power Pistol
Scarce Documented Sultanate of Muscat & Oman Contract Fabrique Nationale High Power Semi-Automatic Pistol with Letter and Factory Box
Estimated Price: $3,000.00 - $4,250.00
Scarce Documented Sultanate of Muscat & Oman Contract Fabrique Nationale High Power Semi-Automatic Pistol with Letter and Factory Box
Manufactured circa 1966. Matching serial numbers on the right side of the barrel, rear tangent sight, slide, and shoulder stock slotted frame, with the crossed swords and jambiya seal of the Sultanate of Oman on the right side of the slide. According to an included letter from the Browning Collectors Association, this pistol was part of an unknown (likely limited) quantity manufactured for the second contract of Omani pistols. It is not known how many were actually delivered to Oman. Includes a factory box hand numbered to the gun.
Lot 3415: WWII German Occupation Commercial Production FN High-Power
Very Rare World War II German Occupation Commercial Production Fabrique Nationale High-Power Semi-Automatic Pistol Slotted for Shoulder Stock
Estimated Price: $4,500.00 - $6,500.00
Very Rare World War II German Occupation Commercial Production Fabrique Nationale High-Power Semi-Automatic Pistol Slotted for Shoulder Stock
Manufactured during the German occupation of Belgium during World War II, this is a very rare example of a commercial production FN High-Power pistol that is slotted for a shoulder stock and fitted with fixed sights. A similar example is pictured and described on p. 301 of "FN Browning Pistols: Side-Arms that Shaped the World" by Vanderlinden. He states that these pistols were produced sporadically throughout that standard military production but do not bear the standard "WaA140" Waffenamt acceptance proofs, but rather "eagle/N" commercial proofs. The book states that only between five and eight percent of the High-Power pistols produced during the war were commercially proofed, and out of those, even less were manufactured with back straps slotted for a shoulder stock like this example. The left side of the slide has the standard three-line FN/Browning markings, "stacked" serial numbers and "eagle/N" proofs on the barrel, slide, and frame, with those on the barrel and frame being shortened to "557b". It is fitted with fixed blade and notch sights, checkered walnut grips, and a slotted back strap.
Link to Rock Island, www.rockislandauction.com/
Rock Island has a 17.5% buyers premium, 3.5% credit card premium and a 1% charge if using their online platform, plus any applicable sales tax.
Below are three of the more interesting High Powers being offered. Rock Island has about a dozen in the December sale.
Lot 1370: Belgian Military Trials FN "Grand Rendement"/High-Power Pistol
Extremely Rare, Serial Number 812 Belgian Military Trials Fabrique Nationale "Grand Rendement"/High-Power Semi-Automatic Pistol with Early Oval Ejection Port
Auction Date: December 10, 2022
Estimated Price: $14,000 - $22,500
Extremely Rare, Serial Number 812 Belgian Military Trials Fabrique Nationale "Grand Rendement"/High-Power Semi-Automatic Pistol with Early Oval Ejection Port
The evolution of the Browning High-Power pistol truly began in 1921, with a request from the French government for a pistol to replace their plethora of World War I pistols and revolvers. By 1923 John Browning had filed a patent for a high capacity pistol chambered in 9mm, which at the time was being referred to as the "Grand Rendement" or "High Efficiency". Results were promising through the French trials even with the weight restriction being constantly lowered. By 1929 the pistol almost completely resembled the High-Power we all know and in 1933 an order was placed by the Belgian military for 1,000 pistols, this example being one of them. These early "High-Efficiency/Power" pistols still display the iconic oval ejection port that was a carry-over from the development of the Grand Rendement. During the Belgian military trials, some users noted that they would prefer a different trajectory for the ejected casings, a change that could be made by changing the shape of the ejection port. Thus, the ejection port was changed to a more squared shape shortly after standard production began. This pistol has the standard two-line Fabrique Nationale address and Browning's patent mark on the left of the slide. The left of the frame and slide are marked with standard Belgian proofs as well as circled "H" military parts acceptance proofs and a "crown/PH" within an oval military acceptance proof on the frame just above the trigger. A similar set of proofs are visible on the barrel. It is fitted with a blade front sight, tangent rear sight graduated to 500 meters, serrated ring hammer, serrated slide stop and thumb safety, and a pair of checkered walnut grips.
Lot 405: Sultanate of Muscat & Oman Contract FN Hi Power Pistol
Scarce Documented Sultanate of Muscat & Oman Contract Fabrique Nationale High Power Semi-Automatic Pistol with Letter and Factory Box
Estimated Price: $3,000.00 - $4,250.00
Scarce Documented Sultanate of Muscat & Oman Contract Fabrique Nationale High Power Semi-Automatic Pistol with Letter and Factory Box
Manufactured circa 1966. Matching serial numbers on the right side of the barrel, rear tangent sight, slide, and shoulder stock slotted frame, with the crossed swords and jambiya seal of the Sultanate of Oman on the right side of the slide. According to an included letter from the Browning Collectors Association, this pistol was part of an unknown (likely limited) quantity manufactured for the second contract of Omani pistols. It is not known how many were actually delivered to Oman. Includes a factory box hand numbered to the gun.
Lot 3415: WWII German Occupation Commercial Production FN High-Power
Very Rare World War II German Occupation Commercial Production Fabrique Nationale High-Power Semi-Automatic Pistol Slotted for Shoulder Stock
Estimated Price: $4,500.00 - $6,500.00
Very Rare World War II German Occupation Commercial Production Fabrique Nationale High-Power Semi-Automatic Pistol Slotted for Shoulder Stock
Manufactured during the German occupation of Belgium during World War II, this is a very rare example of a commercial production FN High-Power pistol that is slotted for a shoulder stock and fitted with fixed sights. A similar example is pictured and described on p. 301 of "FN Browning Pistols: Side-Arms that Shaped the World" by Vanderlinden. He states that these pistols were produced sporadically throughout that standard military production but do not bear the standard "WaA140" Waffenamt acceptance proofs, but rather "eagle/N" commercial proofs. The book states that only between five and eight percent of the High-Power pistols produced during the war were commercially proofed, and out of those, even less were manufactured with back straps slotted for a shoulder stock like this example. The left side of the slide has the standard three-line FN/Browning markings, "stacked" serial numbers and "eagle/N" proofs on the barrel, slide, and frame, with those on the barrel and frame being shortened to "557b". It is fitted with fixed blade and notch sights, checkered walnut grips, and a slotted back strap.
