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Post by tnorris on Jun 12, 2019 20:40:27 GMT -5
I found this at my local gun store today. I bought it. Can't pick it up until Saturday evening... but I took some pictures. As near as I can tell it might be an early 1943 issued gun...
Please tell me what you all think... Thanks!
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Post by abninftr on Jun 13, 2019 0:58:51 GMT -5
It looks good, and $500 is a good price these days.
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Post by CXM on Jun 13, 2019 12:15:56 GMT -5
Looks ok... I'd think the price is at the high end of the range for a German Hp... but not out of the range of reasonable. Keep in mind, it is an old gun and newer HPs are a better choice for a shooter... if it is for collecting and shooting from time to time fine. V/ar Chuck It looks good, and $500 is a good price these days. |
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Post by tnorris on Jun 17, 2019 17:04:09 GMT -5
After an initial cleaning, she looks pretty good at 76!
She has required some work... old and aging parts.
The stocks are soft and decaying against the metal, mostly on the bottom edge.
She had a trigger pull of 2.3#s. Definitely not good.
The sear spring was flat to almost bending the wrong way. Replaced with an RDIH Optimized sear spring.
The sear looked fine, unaltered, but a 1982 FN sear gives me a slightly lighter trigger pull at 4.5#s.
I replaced the recoil spring... there are rings around the barrel where the old one sat for decades.
Yet to come:
-replace mainspring
-clean up mainspring/magwell area
-replace trigger spring - clean up trigger area
-replace extractor for shooting to prevent damage to the original
-order new walnut stocks to replace the Tisas stocks she is currently wearing
I'll also look at adding a new sear to its shooting kit, and put the '82 back with the parts for the pistol it belongs to. All the parts she came with are labeled and stored for posterity.
I should be able to try her out at the range by the end of the week!
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Post by jonnyc on Jun 17, 2019 19:37:26 GMT -5
No, you got a great deal. Assuming it's matching, that's an easy $1000+ pistol here in Eastern PA.
I would do a gentle cleaning, replace the recoil and FP springs, and replace (and keep!) the extractor if you plan on shooting to any extent. I would avoid some of the other stuff you're doing, but it's your pistol.
But like a good doctor......do no harm! Don't "fix" anything permanent.
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Post by tnorris on Jun 17, 2019 23:10:28 GMT -5
Thanks for the good advice JonnyC. I will do no harm!
I'm keeping any parts I replace for posterity. And I'm replacing some parts only to shoot her safely, though she will not be a shooter. I imagine I'd like to have two sets of parts... the originals and those that are used for shooting. As far as cleaning I've been quite gentle. Do no harm IS the program.
And serial numbers all match!
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Post by jonnyc on Jun 18, 2019 6:14:36 GMT -5
Excellent. Neat pistol, great price.
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Post by bandito on Aug 8, 2019 3:27:44 GMT -5
I'm just a short time owner but long time admirer. I think you got an exceptional deal. Be Well. Bandito
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Post by CXM on Aug 8, 2019 8:41:23 GMT -5
The wear (grooves) inside the slide are not a good thing. They indicate something wrong with the lockup system of the gun. Several things can cause this problem. Here is a photo of a German Occupation HP with internal damage, which I think is the same as you describe. You will note on right side of the photo, the entrance to the recoil spring tunnel shows metal broken off...not a good thing either.  The 'grooves' forward of the ejection port show where barrel lugs impacted the slide and over time caused this issue. Here is a somewhat closer view: It is possible this condition happens because of lower quality materials used under war time pressures, or as a result of relaxed standards to facilitate faster production during the war. It is also possible this happened as a result of intentional sabotage by workers in occupied Belgium. I have never seen this condition in any gun not made under German occupation of Belgium. You may want to have it checked by a competent gunsmith prior to shooting it. FWIW CHuck |
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Post by bandito on Aug 11, 2019 15:54:01 GMT -5
I just don't feel drawn to the wartime Hipowers. I like shooters. Would like to own a 40 S&W and a Detective model Argy. Probably won't happen except accidentally. Once in a while a blind hog happens on an acorn. Actually I think they would have no problem using their nose to find an acorn, the blind hog that is. Though try as I might, I don't go by a gunshop or house and smell a 40 cal. Alas. Be Well. Bandito
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Post by tnorris on Aug 15, 2019 19:07:38 GMT -5
I just don't feel drawn to the wartime Hipowers. I like shooters. Would like to own a 40 S&W and a Detective model Argy. Probably won't happen except accidentally. Once in a while a blind hog happens on an acorn. Actually I think they would have no problem using their nose to find an acorn. Though try as I might, I don't go by a gunshop or house and smell a 40 cal. Alas. Be Well. Bandito
I have seven plus the occupation gun - two are 40 cal.
Bought one 40 new.
Found the other 40 this summer in excellent shape.
All are (will be) shooters... some more than others and the FN alloy/FM detective more than all of them!
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Post by bandito on Aug 26, 2019 19:54:47 GMT -5
Yes on the detective. Will keep my eye open and have a prospect of a "friend" that works in a gun shop to call me if one shows up. Be Well. Bandito
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Post by tnorris on Sept 25, 2019 11:39:08 GMT -5
I shot the 1943 for the first time yesterday. I had other work to do at the range so I only put 25 rounds through her. I replaced the recoil spring and sear spring with new parts from BHSS... the sear spring is of the new SFS style. I have some spares so that's what I used. A new extractor was also used.
It shot pretty well! Better grouping than a 1960 with similar sights and not as good as a 1982 with adjustable sights.
I really like old High Powers!
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Post by bandito on Oct 3, 2019 9:38:32 GMT -5
I'm sure I paid a premium but I got a 40 cal. It became available and I grabbed it at once. I consider the seller a new friend. I am warming up to the idea of older HPs. I'm not sure of a German model but an Argy detective and an Inglis with stock are on my list. I really at least want to shoot a stocked model for fun. Be Well, Bandito
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Post by CXM on Oct 6, 2019 12:37:57 GMT -5
Nice catch on the 40... one thing I like about them is I could put a 357SIG barrel in one...a real plus to me. Good luck on the Detective...  V/r Chuck I'm sure I paid a premium but I got a 40 cal. It became available and I grabbed it at once. I consider the seller a new friend. I am warming up to the idea of older HPs. I'm not sure of a German model but an Argy detective and an Inglis with stock are on my list. I really at least want to shoot a stocked model for fun. Be Well, Bandito |
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