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Post by dueodde on Aug 14, 2019 23:37:34 GMT -5
Gentlemen, My Hi Power collection grows. I will soon have to treat you to a photo collage of all of them. Beautiful, elegant weapons they are. Now this for your consideration: Came across this Hi Power among a small pile of ‘surplus’ pistols at a local gun shop. Immediately caught my eye for the odd serial number E07795 – which was in a distinctly newer looking font. No other, older serial numbers but many marks which I believe would place this as a pre-war Belgian, later sold off to what ever armed service or police force, which later sold it off as surplus. Sadly not in good shape, though seems functional. Any insights on the year of manufacture? And is does this font and serial number reveal who had it before it was surplus’d? Thank you and look forward to your replies Dueodde. |
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Post by CXM on Aug 15, 2019 12:45:08 GMT -5
The High Powers with the "E" serial number were made produced in the 1950s for the European market. Quite a few wound up in use by Austria in both military and police services. Some were apparently bought by the British to supplement or replace Canadian Inglis made HPs in use by the British forces. Stories have circulated the "E" indicated English contracts but there is not evidence to suggest this is the case... Quite a number of HPs with "E" series serial numbers have been imported in recent years from Israel and Austria. Condition of these guns have ranged from really nice to really awful. Some of the Izzys have seen very heavy use and care should be taken to ensure they're in good working order before shooting them. The Izzy guns have mostly unknown background, some were bought surplus from European sources in the 50s and 60s, some were captured from various arab countries in the on going wars they launch against Israel and others from unknown sources. The whole question of where the Izzys get weapons is very complex and a subject for future subjects. Anyway, you can expect your gun was probably made in the first half of the 1950s. FWIW Chuck Gentlemen, My Hi Power collection grows. I will soon have to treat you to a photo collage of all of them. Beautiful, elegant weapons they are. Now this for your consideration: Came across this Hi Power among a small pile of ‘surplus’ pistols at a local gun shop. Immediately caught my eye for the odd serial number E07795 – which was in a distinctly newer looking font. No other, older serial numbers but many marks which I believe would place this as a pre-war Belgian, later sold off to what ever armed service or police force, which later sold it off as surplus. Sadly not in good shape, though seems functional. Any insights on the year of manufacture? And is does this font and serial number reveal who had it before it was surplus’d? Thank you and look forward to your replies Dueodde. |
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Post by dueodde on Aug 15, 2019 13:57:41 GMT -5
Thank you Chuck- very helpful and informative. I admired this one on principle, but I would not buy it. Looked too worn down. Here's another photo. D.  |
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Post by jonnyc on Aug 15, 2019 20:32:34 GMT -5
Most of the Israeli "E" HPs would have come out of Lebanon (PLO) and Jordan. Some my have come via the commercial market, but I have no info on that.
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Post by ibmikey on Oct 25, 2019 19:57:30 GMT -5
 I bought mine from Coles many years ago, I have no idea where it served. |
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