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Post by ruber on May 24, 2021 10:51:53 GMT -5
Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, but it is nice to follow the threads and see the new photos. At work now we use traditional DA/SA or striker guns, so I don’t spend as much time with HP’s as I used to. But.... recently I picked this up from a neighbor. No rug or original mags. Original grips had some water damage I am working on. However, this is my first Browning from the 70’s (1974), so that’s nice... It makes a nice companion to the others:
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Post by ruber on Nov 5, 2021 14:57:11 GMT -5
I added some more photos to the CA forum with all the talk about the SA-35, so I thought I would post them here too: MkIII with SFS: Older 80’s sport model (the S&W stand was a spoof, someone on the forum had just posted a similar photo of the same year/model): The 70’s fixer upper from above: An old vs new photo I took for the FN website contest back when the FNP was new:
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Post by ToddSig on Nov 6, 2021 8:32:56 GMT -5
Nice collection Ruber, thanks for posting. In the 4th image, with the FNP-40, is the 757 in front of the hammer on the frame a rack number? (if German Police, could be an inventory # of the North Rhine Westphalia Dept) Also, very close in serial number to ek's high power who posted right after you. His looks like a rack/inventory number? of 750. Can you tell us more about the High Power. Thanks.
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Post by ruber on Nov 6, 2021 12:06:38 GMT -5
Thanks! I don’t know much about the Westphalia gun other than what has already been said. It belonged to my wife’s uncle and transferred to me when he passed (the rest of her family is vehemently anti gun). About 10 years ago I tried to look up info on it at the Military Handguns Forum and on the 1911 forum and basically came back with a 1953 Westphalia contract gun. I did find two folks who had rack numbers 544 & 487 with corresponding serials. Here are some photos from 10 years ago, I’ll dig up old posts and photos of the proofs and post in the other thread later today.
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Post by ruber on Nov 12, 2021 15:25:32 GMT -5
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Post by ToddSig on Nov 13, 2021 10:20:57 GMT -5
Ruber, great images and great condition for an early 1950s police High Power. Love seeing all of the markings. I have always leaned toward collecting the external extractor period Hi Powers, I am getting more of an appreciation for some of the earlier High Powers. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by ruber on Nov 13, 2021 15:20:00 GMT -5
Yep, I like working on the older guns, they give you a feeling that someone actually built it. Tearing down that old HP and seeing the tool marks and stamps, I could almost picture myself on the factory floor.
First thing I needed to do to it was fit a new extractor. So I’m sitting there at my workbench (built in 1932) with a new oversized extractor, the two tools needed to tear the whole gun down, and a stone. I got a real feel for the original designs and by hand work that went into those old guns.
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Post by Bob Reed on Nov 14, 2021 10:35:18 GMT -5
Ruber, that is a beautiful HP - tool marks and all - it is beautiful.
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Post by Mister Coffee on Nov 14, 2021 11:43:59 GMT -5
Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, but it is nice to follow the threads and see the new photos. At work now we use traditional DA/SA or striker guns, so I don’t spend as much time with HP’s as I used to. But.... recently I picked this up from a neighbor. No rug or original mags. Original grips had some water damage I am working on. However, this is my first Browning from the 70’s (1974), so that’s nice... It makes a nice companion to the others: Ruber is nicely capturing that old-time Hi-Power bluing.
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Post by ruber on Nov 14, 2021 20:11:44 GMT -5
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Post by ToddSig on Dec 10, 2022 15:16:43 GMT -5
I have always wanted a Pre T Hi Power (around 1960-1964), but was never able to find exactly what I wanted. Recently I spotted a well worn, but fair condition FN Pre T, serial 125357. Internal extractor, no thumb print depression. It probably dates from 1964, the few parts with production date stamps are from 1963. I would have preferred a Browning marked Pre T, but this will do for now. The finish is a little tired but the slide and frame are in pretty decent condition. I might send it to Fords after the new year for a polish and re-blue.
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Post by seasoldier on Dec 12, 2022 9:58:17 GMT -5
Nice find.
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Post by ToddSig on Jan 1, 2023 11:41:42 GMT -5
I know I just bought an FN High Power pre T in early December, probably 1963 from the production date marks. It was nice, finish was a bit lacking and what I really wanted was a pre T (internal extractor, no thumbprint/half moon depression) and most importantly to me, a Browning Arm Company marked commercial Hi Power. I spotted a sale on Gunbroker for a 1962 BAC Hi Power (110736) and it pretty much had everything I was looking for. Plus in pretty good, original blued finish with original grips. Nothing other than changing springs and a little clean up was needed. Most production date marks and serial marks were dated for 1962. I have several BAC T series Hi Power, and a BAC 1958 Hi Power with only St Louis (pre Montreal) marks in my collection, and this fit nicely in between. I contacted the seller, got some additional info and they were willing to ship to C&R, so even better. End of the GB auction I make a bid, there were 30 previous bids and I thought I would have to make multiple bids to get it, I won the auction with the original single bid, paying nearly surplus money for the Hi Power. Not sure what I will do the earlier purchased 1963 FN pre T High Power. I will probably keep it, as I have a hard time selling anything Hi Power related. A couple of images of the new to me BAC Pre T
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Post by ruber on Jan 1, 2023 22:26:40 GMT -5
I know I just bought an FN High Power pre T in early December, probably 1963 from the production date marks. It was nice, finish was a bit lacking and what I really wanted was a pre T (internal extractor, no thumbprint/half moon depression) and most importantly to me, a Browning Arm Company marked commercial Hi Power. I spotted a sale on Gunbroker for a 1962 BAC Hi Power (110736) and it pretty much had everything I was looking for. Plus in pretty good, original blued finish with original grips. Nothing other than changing springs and a little clean up was needed. Most production date marks and serial marks were dated for 1962. I have several BAC T series Hi Power, and a BAC 1958 Hi Power with only St Louis (pre Montreal) marks in my collection, and this fit nicely in between. I contacted the seller, got some additional info and they were willing to ship to C&R, so even better. End of the GB auction I make a bid, there were 30 previous bids and I thought I would have to make multiple bids to get it, I won the auction with the original single bid, paying nearly surplus money for the Hi Power. Not sure what I will do the earlier purchased 1963 FN pre T High Power. I will probably keep it, as I have a hard time selling anything Hi Power related. A couple of images of the new to me BAC Pre T Very nice, and a great addition to the collection! That slide is really nice and clean, but I still like the old thumbprint. I'd be hard pressed to get rid of the older one.
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Post by ToddSig on Apr 4, 2023 16:33:10 GMT -5
This past Saturday I was viewing some custom Hi Power offerings on Gunbroker and spotted a nice Garthwaite custom HP. I have wanted a Garthwaite Hi Power for some time now, but just could not find one at a reasonable price. I found many of his full builds are now offered for over$3,500/ $4,000. The GB Garthwaite was built on a 2002 FNH USA (Columbia, SC) with the following enhancements: Heine Original 300/Slant Pro Garthwaite Front Sight with 10 Karat .080 Gold Bead Insert Texture (Stipple) Front Strap Texture (Stipple) Back Strap Install Frame extension (Beavertail) Garthwaite Custom Thumb Safety Complete Trigger Job using Garthwaite Tool Steel Commander undercut hammer, hard sear and Garthwaite straight trigger with frame and slide fitting Bar-Sto Match Barrel Spegel Presentation Grips Teflon Coat Radius, Debur In looking at the GB ad, it was Buy Now and I spotted the seller was somewhat local to me, about an +hour. I emailed him through GB asking if he would be interested in a private sale and meet at an FFL to make the transfer. Turns out he worked about half an hour from me. We scheduled a meet and made the transfer, he had no GB fees, and I saved on taxes and no shipping. A win/win for both of us. The only drawback, and it is a minor one, he was a lefty, so the Garthwaite custom safety is on the wrong side for me. The other side of the ambi has the OEM MKIII lever. Great trigger at just over 4#. All in all a good, fair deal, with some savings for both of us. A few images Garthwaite's custom "G" signature on the safety
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