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Post by Bob Reed on Oct 4, 2020 6:41:08 GMT -5
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Post by txengineer on Nov 9, 2020 8:05:43 GMT -5
Bob, I'm new to this forum and just won a Browning High Power through a Gunbroker auction. Any information regarding confirming the date of production would be greatly appreciated. The Gunbroker listing is www.gunbroker.com/item/881853925. Thanks. |
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Post by ToddSig on Nov 9, 2020 9:16:31 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum, and great purchase. GunsRC on GB sells some great collector weapons. Congratulations.
I am not an expert on FN marked High Powers, but two things that I see fit the 1955 date. On the slide and frame is a Controllers of the Proof mark, an R on its back with an asterisk This is Sylvan Wagemans mark, who worked 1951-1965. And, to narrow it down further on the trigger guard is a 5 with a box around it. From the image it appears the the box is open on the bottom. This indicates a third quarter 1955 production date.
Vanderlinden's book has a great section on High Power holsters, but in a quick check I did not see one similar to yours. If you are new to Hi/High Powers, for historical information I would recommend you purchase Anthony Vanderlinden's FN Browning Pistol Book and Blake Stevens The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol. For care, parts and more gun specific information, Stephen Campp's The Shooters Guide to the Browning Hi Power.
Keep us posted when you get the High Power.
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Post by txengineer on Nov 9, 2020 9:25:00 GMT -5
I appreciate the quick response. I'm also glad to hear the 1955 production date as confirmed by you and stated by the GunBroker seller is correct. Based on the price I paid, I'm certain it's well above the industry appraised value. Nonetheless, its what I have been wanting to include in my gun collection. I did have one more question regarding how this pistol likely arrived in the US. I do not see any import marks and was curious if the FN pistols were being imported by Browning at that time. Could you comment? Thanks.
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Post by tnorris on Nov 9, 2020 11:03:36 GMT -5
I agree with ToddSig on the date and book recommendations.
I have mused after finding a pistol quite similar to yours but from 1950, that GIs may have brought them back after serving in Europe or Korea. I have heard tales of Vietnam Vets buying them at the PX to bring home at the end of their tours... I'd guess it's possible this was an option for earlier service members.
I like hearing the story that goes along with any older pistol I find, even if it's just a glimpse.
I have a 1943 High Power. It was in pretty good shape, though obviously used and long neglected. I found it at a local gun shop. A woman older than my 64 years was liquidating her late fathers collection as she had no interest. I speculate her father was a WWll GI and brought it home after the war. There were other paths, I suppose. Cleaned up, and with a few new parts... she is a great shooter when I bring her out. *All of the old worn out parts have been stored away for posterity.
If you are going to shoot your 1955, you should probably replace all springs, including the sear spring. I "modernized" my 1950 without permanently altering anything.
Nice find!
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Post by txengineer on Nov 9, 2020 11:26:14 GMT -5
All sounds reasonable as to how the pistol may have arrived in the US. I do plan to shoot my High Power, but probably not on a regular basis. Thanks for the advice regarding replacement of the springs.
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Post by ToddSig on Nov 9, 2020 13:03:50 GMT -5
When you get the High Power, check the magazine, there could be production date marks on it as well. Pre 1962/63 magazines should have an aluminum follower. The slide may too have some marks on the firing pin block.
In looking at the holster I see it is stamped LGK-NO??? This mark is found on some High Power pistols and should be similar for holsters as well. Per Vanderlinden, page 345, LGK refers to Landesgendarmeriekommando - State Gendarmerie. The following two letters after LGK are for the province. Your holster looks like "NO" (the second letter is a bit smudged). If "NO" it refers to the province Niederosterreich (Lower Austria).
According to Vanderlinden, in 1955 the LGK ordered about 10,000 High Powers. The pistols were marked with LGK so I dont believe yours was part of that contract.
The other mark on the holster appears to be "unbrauchbar" which translates to unusable. Perhaps marked that way when taken out of service?
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Post by Bob Reed on Nov 9, 2020 14:15:50 GMT -5
Welcome Aboard, Tex,
That High Power is in absolutely beautiful condition.
BTW: I'm just an Armorer, however, Todd & Tim know more than me regarding production dates, proof marks, etc., and believe me sir, they do know, A LOT.
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Post by txengineer on Nov 9, 2020 14:21:07 GMT -5
Very interesting information about the holster. I had little to no expectations that I would receive this much information about this particular High Power. I will definitely post back any additional markings that I find on the slide and magazine once the pistol is in my possession. Thanks again!
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Post by tnorris on Dec 5, 2020 21:55:16 GMT -5
Hello... I am a new member... just found this Forum and it is enriching... I have to start by saying that I came by a Hi power mark 3 , but from what I've read I think it is an 88Mark 2... However... What doesn't make sense is the serial number of that which reads 245MZ***** Now according the Browning site , M is 0 and Z is 1 so what year will this make... is there and HP with serial number stamped on the grip side of the frame , and not under the slide Thanks.
Hello and welcome to the forum.
What makes you think your pistol is an '88 Mark ll? Mark ll pistols began appearing in 1982?
Mark lll pistols began appearing in 1988?
By serial number, yours was made in 2001 and should probably be a Mark lll. My 1989 Israeli is more like a Mark ll, it still has the type 1 floating sear lever. My youngest three (Mark llls) all have the type 2 "paddle shaped" sear lever. I think there were configuration variations for certain contracts and for other reasons...
Serial number placement varies in my collection. All #s on right side of pistols:
2004 .40/Browning - front grip strap only 2003 .40 Vigilante/FNUSA - frame above grip panel/barrel visible thru port
2002 Mark lll/FNUSA- front grip strap/barrel thru port
1989 Israeli/FN - front strap of grip/slide below ejection port/barrel visible thru port
1982 Browning- frame below the ejection port/barrel visible thru port. 1981 Alloy Austrian Police/FN - front strap of grip/slide below port/barrel visible thru port
1950 FN - slide below ejection port/frame below port/*left side of barrel not visible
1943 FN - classically stacked - barrel/slide/frame
1975 Alloy/FN - front grip strap on frame... I don't have the original slide or barrel
It was fun taking them out to look for sr# locations... hope it helps.
Cheers!
Tim
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Post by ToddSig on Dec 8, 2020 17:29:07 GMT -5
Hello and welcome to the forum. What makes you think your pistol is an '88 Mark ll? Mark ll pistols began appearing in 1982?
Mark lll pistols began appearing in 1988?
By serial number, yours was made in 2001 and should probably be a Mark lll. My 1989 Israeli is more like a Mark ll, it still has the type 1 floating sear lever. My youngest three (Mark llls) all have the type 2 "paddle shaped" sear lever. I think there were configuration variations for certain contracts and for other reasons...
Serial number placement varies in my collection. All #s on right side of pistols: 2004 .40/Browning - front grip strap only 2003 .40 Vigilante/FNUSA - frame above grip panel/barrel visible thru port
2002 Mark lll/FNUSA- front grip strap/barrel thru port
1989 Israeli/FN - front strap of grip/slide below ejection port/barrel visible thru port
1982 Browning- frame below the ejection port/barrel visible thru port. 1981 Alloy Austrian Police/FN - front strap of grip/slide below port/barrel visible thru port
1950 FN - slide below ejection port/frame below port/*left side of barrel not visible
1943 FN - classically stacked - barrel/slide/frame 1975 Alloy/FN - front grip strap on frame... I don't have the original slide or barrel It was fun taking them out to look for sr# locations... hope it helps.
Cheers! Tim
Yes sir it helped a lot.... thanks. Fellow member Ibmikey posted in your other thread that he has a Hi Power with the serial number over the right grip panel. I asked him to post an image. Link to that thread is highpowercollectors.proboards.com/thread/1005/serial-number-question?page=1&scrollTo=7424Perhpas TNorris can post an image of his as well. As we said, you dont see that placement often, but it is out there. |
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Post by tnorris on Dec 8, 2020 18:13:49 GMT -5
Here are photos of my 2003 .40 caliber Vigilante, to illustrate the placement of the serial number. This one came from the factory with SFS and was on closeout at CDNN for $399 when I found it. All of the closeout 9s were already gone. I feel lucky to have picked this one up and would have gone for another one or two if I had known better. I had planned to convert her to 9mm and never got around to it, so I only shot 100 or so rounds with it. Cheers! Tim
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Post by gravey479 on Jul 26, 2021 20:22:51 GMT -5
My High Power serial number T293941 can anyone identify year and make?
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Post by tnorris on Jul 26, 2021 21:09:58 GMT -5
My High Power serial number T293941 can anyone identify year and make?
Welcome - first post!
Probably 1969- 1971?
The chart at the Browning website is not completely accurate.
Link at the top of this thread... and here.
There may be date codes on some of the parts (firing pin retaining plate, trigger guard, barrel, hammer, inside bottom of slide), and they may be different, indicating the quarter of the year each part was made/stamped. You will be looking for a number inside a diamond or partial diamond if it was stamped after 1967. An "8" inside a four sided diamond shape would be the first quarter of 1968, a one sided diamond (upper left side) would be forth quarter 1968. If there is one somewhere on the frame, I generally use that as a "production date" and it is usually the last date of all of the parts. I'd guess there are exceptions!
It was commonly called the T series, for the serial number which begins with the letter T. All High Powers (and Browning High Powers) were made by Fabrique Nationale Herstal, Belgium. This should be roll markrd on the left side of the slide. Other companies made clones and licensed copies... sounds like yours is from FNH (FN) by the T serial number.
Hope this helps... post some in focus closeup pictures of qualifying marks if you can!
Cheers,
Tim
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Post by cmdrcody on Sept 22, 2021 10:28:40 GMT -5
I just got an older high power sn# 55537    What would be possible dates of manufacturing? |
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