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Post by beagle on Sept 17, 2023 17:58:33 GMT -5
Hey guys and gals just dropping in from the PNW I've been shooting and sometimes collecting hi powers for at least 30 years. I own a couple most of them I have a personal attachment to. 1 was my dad's T series that he bought and carried every day for 40 years before he passed in 04. Also have a belgian German proofed and a few. Plus a odd one that I think is possibly very early post war. My collection are all over the map but that's what's fun to me.
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Post by willt1 on Oct 2, 2023 21:04:45 GMT -5
Hello! Might be buying my first High Power soon and I am trying to learn about them. Lots to learn!
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Post by nicohp on Oct 7, 2023 4:34:54 GMT -5
Hi there, my name is Nico and i live in South Africa.
I am so so privileged to have been introduced to this forum where we share history and get so much more information about common interest.
I bought my first pistol from a gentleman namely Roy Swaydon in South Africa , he was a guru in the gun industry.
My artwork 🤷🏻♂️ was a 9mm Browning Hi Power customised to my preference in 1982/83 if my memory serves me right.
I was told a few weeks ago that my beloved 9mm “BHP” is not a BHP but a FEG HP which confused me completely.
I obviously wanted to know more about it and here i am. I need your help
I am a member on the BHP group and they shared info which led me to this forum and very grateful.
Hope i can trace the origin of my pistol as there are many conflicting data and also great data which i need clarification with.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of history.
Respect ✊
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Post by CXM on Oct 7, 2023 5:01:16 GMT -5
First, welcome to High Power Collectors forum... You will find a lot of friendly guys here who are always willing to help. We take some pride in being a friendly and welcoming board to anyone with HP interest... I think you came to the right place for FEG information. There is a LOT of information here on FEG pistols, mostly the HP (start here highpowercollectors.proboards.com/board/7/feg-high-powers) It would be helpful if you could post some detail photos of your gun and pics of the internal markings as well... the markings have a lot of information on the gun. First off, the FEG is an unlicensed clone of the HP produced in Hungary before the fall of the communists. FEG also made quite a lot of HPs in various 'disguises' to sell during the cold war, particularly in the mid east but elsewhere too. FEG also made guns under various brand names for importers in several countries, including both the U.S. and South Afrika. Quite a few HPs went to South Afrika where was/is a popular gun. FEG shipped guns to South Afrika during the period UN sanctions were in place. The FEG produced "MAUSER" labeled guns were shipped to SA in some numbers. You will find a lot of information in the references on FEG built guns. FEG also made a batch (unknown quantity) of HPs with a sort of knock off FN label on the guns that turn up from time to time on the used market. It is unknown exactly why these guns were made, but it is assumed they were made to avoid various restrictions on export of weapons to the mid east at various times. FEG made HPs can be of very good quality... or not... To me it seems to have been luck of the draw. Some have a blue finish that is (to me at least) every bit as good as the finish on FN made guns... Some FEGs have a very basic finish. It is believed this is because buyers could specify the finish they wanted on the guns they were ordering. I suspect the same is true of quality of build of the gun... Basic of better. My first FEG is a really a nice gun with very well done high polish blue... my second had a very indifferent blue. The quality of the first was absolutely excellent, the second was never much good and I ultimately ultimately overhauled the frame and used it with a FM Detective upper (FM is an Argentine company that was licensed by FN to make HPs for a number of years and the detective model a HP with 100mm barrel... sort of a HP version of the Colt's Commander version of the 1911 pistol.) It works now but took a LOT of work to get it there. Anyway, if you can make some good photos I'm sure you will get a lot more information. FWIW Chuck Hi there, my name is Nico and i live in South Africa. I am so so privileged to have been introduced to this forum where we share history and get so much more information about common interest. I bought my first pistol from a gentleman namely Roy Swaydon in South Africa , he was a guru in the gun industry. My artwork 🤷🏻♂️ was a 9mm Browning Hi Power customised to my preference in 1982/83 if my memory serves me right. I was told a few weeks ago that my beloved 9mm “BHP” is not a BHP but a FEG HP which confused me completely. I obviously wanted to know more about it and here i am. I need your help I am a member on the BHP group and they shared info which led me to this forum and very grateful. Hope i can trace the origin of my pistol as there are many conflicting data and also great data which i need clarification with. Thank you for allowing me to be part of history. Respect ✊
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Post by ToddSig on Oct 7, 2023 8:49:59 GMT -5
Welcome nicohp. As Chuck mentions, images would help, as well as the serial number or at least the first few digits. Most FEGs start with a letter, while most FN HPs start with numbers with the exception of T and E, and rarely A
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Post by dewatercop on Nov 6, 2023 11:01:06 GMT -5
Well finally got a clone Hi Power, Girsan P35 match. I'm an old guy that loves single action pistols designed by Browning. As a LEO on 9/11 I was carrying a FEG. Now after 30 years in law enforcement I have a new carry buddy. So my friends please help me be more knowledgeable in our favorite gun
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Post by Mister Coffee on Nov 11, 2023 10:57:07 GMT -5
Well finally got a clone Hi Power, Girsan P35 match. I'm an old guy that loves single action pistols designed by Browning. As a LEO on 9/11 I was carrying a FEG. Now after 30 years in law enforcement I have a new carry buddy. So my friends please help me be more knowledgeable in our favorite gun Glad you could join us, dewatercop. I think you'll will find the knowledge base, expertise and passion of our experts to be helpful. By the way, I'm not one of the experts. I just sit on the side lines, drink beer and try to stay out of my wife's way. Do me a favor. Don't tell her I'm here.
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Post by smissccj on Nov 24, 2023 14:56:46 GMT -5
Good evening! Looking forward to learning and participating in discussions. Thanks for having me.
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Post by 1944hp on Dec 16, 2023 12:32:45 GMT -5
Greeting fellow enthusiasts! Looking forward sharing information about the venerable Hi Power pistol.
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Post by woodyb on Dec 31, 2023 7:48:42 GMT -5
Hello everyone,
I'm Woody. I'm a LEO from Belgium and I've been shooting for over 15 years now. Yesterday I aqcuired my first FN High Power. It was long overdue,I guess. I was almost issued one in the police academy in 2013, but I was issued one of the first batches of S&W MP9's instead. I'm looking forwarding reading up on this classic firearm.
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Post by Mister Coffee on Dec 31, 2023 11:03:41 GMT -5
Hello everyone, I'm Woody. I'm a LEO from Belgium and I've been shooting for over 15 years now. Yesterday I aqcuired my first FN High Power. It was long overdue,I guess. I was almost issued one in the police academy in 2013, but I was issued one of the first batches of S&W MP9's instead. I'm looking forwarding reading up on this classic firearm. Welcome, Monsieur Woody. Bienvenue. Maybe you can tell us if Belgians are as crazy about the FN High Power (or the Browning Hi-Power, as we like to call it) as we are! Hope you have a good time here with us.
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Post by woodyb on Jan 1, 2024 16:08:42 GMT -5
Hello everyone, I'm Woody. I'm a LEO from Belgium and I've been shooting for over 15 years now. Yesterday I aqcuired my first FN High Power. It was long overdue,I guess. I was almost issued one in the police academy in 2013, but I was issued one of the first batches of S&W MP9's instead. I'm looking forwarding reading up on this classic firearm. Welcome, Monsieur Woody. Bienvenue. Maybe you can tell us if Belgians are as crazy about the FN High Power (or the Browning Hi-Power, as we like to call it) as we are! Hope you have a good time here with us. Thank you for the welcome, Mister Coffee.
Well, most Belgians older than 50 will know the FN GP (as it is called in Belgium) from their mandatory service time in the armed forces. It doesn't have a good reputation with a lot of people. They have memories of malfunctions and bad accuracy. But I think the cause of this, is the fact that the FN GP's in armed forces were often old, extremely worn and training was insufficient on pistol shooting. I do believe the army still has them in reserve, but they were replaced by the FN 5.7 only recently. I've seen foto's of A prefix mixed parts Hi Powers that were in service untill recent. The belgian army didn't have a lot of funding the since the 90's.
My sister has carried one while on duty as a customs officer. She liked it and she was pretty good with it. (It is still in service with the customs service to date).I've also noticed a lot of former Gendarmerie officers like their Hi Powers. It used to be their standard service pistol, while most municipal police officers carried revolvers (in the 70's and 80's). I never got issued one, but the S&W MP9 was a lot lighter to carry though.
Long story short, a lot of Belgians like the High Power and are proud of it's Belgian heritage. But as always a lot of people don't like them. I wanted one as it's a piece of Belgian heritage and fits with my other "Service pistols".
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Post by CXM on Jan 2, 2024 16:29:41 GMT -5
Good that you could join us... I hope you will have a good time and join in the discussions. I have an alloy frame HP I am told belonged to the highway police in Belgium and was traded in on the new S&W pistols. How do the police men like the S&W 9mms? I think I would not like having to give up a HP for a plastic gun... but young guys have different views. FWIW Chuck Hello everyone, I'm Woody. I'm a LEO from Belgium and I've been shooting for over 15 years now. Yesterday I aqcuired my first FN High Power. It was long overdue,I guess. I was almost issued one in the police academy in 2013, but I was issued one of the first batches of S&W MP9's instead. I'm looking forwarding reading up on this classic firearm.
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Post by woodyb on Jan 3, 2024 7:03:06 GMT -5
Good that you could join us... I hope you will have a good time and join in the discussions. I have an alloy frame HP I am told belonged to the highway police in Belgium and was traded in on the new S&W pistols. How do the police men like the S&W 9mms? I think I would not like having to give up a HP for a plastic gun... but young guys have different views. FWIW Chuck Hello Chuck, thank you for the welcome.
The highway police in Belgium is part of the Federal Police and former Gendarmerie. They did in fact carry alloy Hi Powers. Does it have a serialnumber starting with GV ? The new police officers liked MP9's better then the Hi Powers, because they are lighter and more modern. But the oldtimers still liked the Hi Powers. Funny thing is the Federal police still carries the S&W MP9 in condtition 3. It's because of the old High Power doctrine that a round in the chamber is dangerous,eventhough they have modern holsters and the M&P9 has a triggersafety and dropsafety. They even added a external safety on the MP9, eventhough they don't carry condition 1. Local police forces (like myself) mostly carry Glock's and have carried them condition 1 since the 90's.
They did have some serious quality control issues with the first M&P9's. The finish wasn't great and prone to rusting. There were also some problems with the firing pins, which they had to replace.
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Post by CXM on Jan 3, 2024 9:38:00 GMT -5
Thanks for your kind reply. Yes, the S/N starts with GV. The finish was not in good shape with some very bad holster wear, which I think must have come from a plastic holster or a leather holster with some sort of metal in it. I have had it refinished in Cera-Coat and it looks quite good now... it is a good shooter too. I sometimes use it with a FM Detective slide which makes it a great carry gun. The early M&P pistols had some problems which have since been solved. The finish on new M&P pistols is nearly indestructible. Thanks for the information. Chuck Chuck[/quote] Hello Chuck, thank you for the welcome.
The highway police in Belgium is part of the Federal Police and former Gendarmerie. They did in fact carry alloy Hi Powers. Does it have a serialnumber starting with GV ? The new police officers liked MP9's better then the Hi Powers, because they are lighter and more modern. But the oldtimers still liked the Hi Powers. Funny thing is the Federal police still carries the S&W MP9 in condtition 3. It's because of the old High Power doctrine that a round in the chamber is dangerous,eventhough they have modern holsters and the M&P9 has a triggersafety and dropsafety. They even added a external safety on the MP9, eventhough they don't carry condition 1. Local police forces (like myself) mostly carry Glock's and have carried them condition 1 since the 90's.
They did have some serious quality control issues with the first M&P9's. The finish wasn't great and prone to rusting. There were also some problems with the firing pins, which they had to replace.
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