High Power 88 - Howco Dist Inc ?

[wheatshocker]

I recently acquired a BHP with following stamps on slide.

Left side:
Fabrique Nationale Herstal
High Power 88 Made In Belgium

Right side:
Howco Dist. Inc.
Laurel, MD, USA

Serial number 245PZ suggests 1981 manufacture date but it has no Mk II type features like rib on slide or ambi safety. The finish appears to be parkerized .

I found various info on web about these being Government Law Enforcement contract pieces (FBI?) from early eighties. 

Hard to sort out hearsay from facts. Can anybody shed any more light on these? Do they have any collector value or are they just user grade shooters?

The previous owner removed the factory sights for some reason, so I need to get them replaced. Not sure if any aftermarket sights would fit in existing dovetail cuts but seems that might be ideal. Would like to get it back as close to stock as possible. Any suggestions?





Thanks,
Phil

[tnorris]

Jan 6, 2023 17:49:14 GMT -5 wheatshocker said:

Right side:
Howco Dist. Inc.
Laurel, MD, USA

Serial number 245PZ suggests 1981 manufacture date but it has no Mk II type features like rib on slide or ambi safety. The finish appears to be parkerized .

I found various info on web about these being Government Law Enforcement contract pieces (FBI?) from early eighties. 

Hard to sort out hearsay from facts. Can anybody shed any more light on these? Do they have any collector value or are they just user grade shooters?

The previous owner removed the factory sights for some reason, so I need to get them replaced. Not sure if any aftermarket sights would fit in existing dovetail cuts but seems that might be ideal. Would like to get it back as close to stock as possible. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Phil

Good morning!

I believe there is nothing different or special about your HOWCO pistol. It should be exactly the same as any other 1981 FN or Browning marked High Power, save for the marks of the importer and the possibility that few marked this way exist. HOWCO was an was a short lived importer which indeed attempted to capture the LEO market, or so I have read.

You should be able to use any sights made for a 1981 High Power, after market or original. I have at least one 1981 which had a small three dot sights. It is possible 1981 pistols were also supplied with a front blade/rear notch sights.

Cool find!

Cheers,

Tim

[ToddSig]

Hey Phil, nice pick up on the Howco, you dont see many of them. Although not high on my list of Hi Powers to own, I would not mind having one as Laurel MD is just around the Capital Beltway from me.

I used Google lens (really cool tool) to snap an image and capture the text from Vanderlinden's 3rd edition, page 787.
www.fnbrowning.com/book-fn-browning-pistols-3rd-editio

He has some good background on the model 88 as the Howco is known.

US. LAW ENFORCEMENT IMPORTS: HOWCO
In the 1970s, FN established a separate police and law enforcement sales department. This department sought to market FN products in the USA but opted not to work with Browning. The goal was to separate the FN products from the commercial Browning line. This allowed the marketing of military products that Browning did not distribute, and allowed the marketing of the High Power in finishes and with different features that were not handled by Browning.

Instead of establishing an FN sales office in the U.S., FN entered into agreements with U.S. importers and distributors. These distributors were, in many ways, assuming the role of FN Agents. Distribution was limited to firearms that could be sold both to law enforcement and the commercial market. Restricted (select fire) arms were available on special order. FN ensured that the distributors attended trade shows, and provided sales samples and show materials. Promoting the line to law enforcement agencies was a requirement. Three companies were involved with distributing the FN High Power, the FN FAL, and FN FNC; these were Howco in Maryland, GunSouth in Alabama, and Steyr in New Jersey.

Howco promoted the High Power to the FBI. It is not clear if any trials were performed or if this extended only to some demonstrations. No official FBI contract was secured. Howco did market the High Power as the Model 88 and these were factory marked with this designation. It is not clear where this model designation originated. Howco pistols were imported between 1980 and 1984, many were the MK2 High Power in phosphate or black enamel finish with, or without lanyard ring.

[wheatshocker]

Thanks for the info Tim & Todd.

I like the dark gray parkerized finish on mine. I'll get some decent sights installed and keep it as a shooter.

It seems other Howco HP's during that short time of early 80's appeared to have more Mark II'ish features such as top rib on slide, ambi safety and weep hole, like this 245PX (1983):

www.1911forum.com/threads/fn-high-power-88.1007846/

Thanks,
Phil