Posted on 01/20/2022 11:51:42 AM PST by PROCON
Hi-Power, meet the High Power.
The Hi-Power — known as the Browning Hi-Power, the Browning Automatic Pistol, the Grande Puissance, P-35, Pistole 640(b), and so many other names — is arguably the most widely-used military handgun of all time. Present in historic conflicts from both sides of the toughest battles of World War II to the Iranian embassy siege in London that made the British Special Air Service a household name, this single-action semi-automatic pistol was unbelievably innovative for its time, boasting a number of features that made it truly higher power than other options of the day.
Now, 87 years after it was first introduced to the world, Belgian gunmaker Fabrique Nationale (FN) has reintroduced the Hi-Power for the modern shooter, unveiling the company’s new 9mm ‘High Power’ pistol at SHOT Show 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“The High Power is such an iconic design, and synonymous with FN really. We recognized the gravity of reintroducing this newly redesigned pistol with such a storied history,” FN America president and CEO Mark Cherpes said in a statement. “Rather than introduce a clone of the original, we had to deliver much more than other brands, knowing the FN High Power would be held to a higher standard. FN pays homage to the prolific design, while modernizing the ergonomics, functionality, and operation. We respect what this pistol has meant to generations of FN collectors and feel the new FN High Power dovetails perfectly with the rest of the FN pistol line, carrying a future-forward design to the next generation of shooting enthusiasts.”
(Excerpt) Read more at taskandpurpose.com ...
***When FN stopped producing the P35 it cost about $1100.***
I bought my first in 1968 at the BX on Okinawa. Cost was $79.
Wish I still had it but have acquired two St Louis Brownings and a Hungarian clone to replace it.
>If only I was not frightened of loud noises!
The Desert Eagle .50AE or a S&W .500 magnum is loud too but I can’t hear any more anyway so it doesn’t matter...
Some times you have to make a choice between starving or keeping a prime firearm.
There are several I am glad to get rid of, and more I wish I still had back.
Worst pistol I ever owned was a Sterling .22 back in 1980. A true piece of junk. Even a RG was better than that!
My Kassner Hungarian HP clone is running just fine. Keep it loaded and cocked and locked. Running a light and laser combo underneath the frame, using a Recover tactical grip/rail system. Those who have never shot one don’t realize what an innovation they were at the time, with reduced recoil and extra cap mags. MecGar’s 15round mag is a flush fit with an improved mag spring.
A wasted effort by FN.
Even the older versions had an alloy option.
All steel?
Maybe for a .45.
Not for 9mm.
Yes, I used to have a 375 H&H Magnum that was really loud. Canoe capsize took care of that problem.
Browning’s last masterpiece.
Easily the best handgun of WWII. Its 13 round capacity offered far more firepower than anything else at the time and its ergonomic design makes it a joy to shoot. I have a clone - a FEG PJK JHP I run rounds through at the range periodically. I still need to pick up a Tangent sight Nazi Occupation High Power to add to my WWII collection. As usual with Browning designs, it is gorgeous.
This author does not know of what he writes. The standard BHP magazine was always 13 rounds, not 12. The original was always very simple to disassemble for cleaning so there is no significant change there.
It seems that there is a BHP arms race right now. The Turks came out with a faithful clone of the original last year. Then Springfield Armory came out with an improved version at a very reasonable price and fully backwards-compatible with previous models. Now FN has jumped in with another improved version at an outrageous price with “fully ambidextrous controls” which is not really needed except for the thumb safety (maybe) that will not be backwards-compatible.
Before the lake swallowed them up I had an Argentine P-35 military version that I picked up new in the 1980’s for a very reasonable price and a late model FN (assembled in Portugal for God-knows-what reason) that was two tone chrome and blue finish. Both fine guns but not as nice as the original “69” FN version with a ring hammer that I customized and sold at a gun show in Palmer, AK during my wayward youth. I recall looking at an original FN ring hammer at the JC Penney store in Fairbanks in 1976 that was around $175 new. Still kicking myself for not buying that one.
BHPs are fine pistols that feel great in almost everyone’s hand. They do not seem at all heavy for a steel handgun and the recoil of the 9mm is negligible. My first pistol was a Colt 1911 Combat Commander (steel frame) in .45 ACP which I would still have if not for that hungry lake. .45 ACP is a much more serious cartridge than 9mm (although I am not volunteering to be shot by either one). I fire a 1911 regularly because that is the pistol I love, I’m stick-in-the-mud old school, and I’m good with it. I can’t recall when I last fired a BHP.
I have a CZ 75BD. It is THE most accurate, reliable and ergonomic handgun I own....and I own a few....
You almost have to be a mathematician to keep Smith’s models straight, especially all the third gen autos.
Any gun guy who claims to never made a bad deal or has no regrets is a bigger liar than Bill Clinton. I’ve got plenty of both… One of my buddies said I could turn a Holland & Holland into a Mossberg in 3 trades.
By about 1980, maybe a bit earlier, FN had moved Hi Power assembly - again to reduce costs - to Viana Portugal. FN owns Browning and FN-branded and Browning-branded Hi Powers come off the same production and assembly lines, the only difference being the rollmarks added towards the end. Starting about 1988, for reasons likely known only to Browning, Browning-branded Hi Powers began to appear with "Assembled In Portugal" slide markings. FN-branded Hi Powers do not exhibit the Portugal markings, even though they are Assembled In Portugal nonetheless.
It’s hard not to like a Hi Power.
And the gritty trigger is overstated IMO. There’s some unsmoothness as you get to the break point, but once you’re there it’s a clean break.
Busy Man!
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Thanks for posting.
They aren't related by price- American Rifleman says MSRP for the Springfield is $699, and it's made in the USA!
I said I’d think about it :)
I've sold 2. An early 80s acquired Model 17 Masterpiece and a Security Six. Rats.
I have 2 52s and 2 82s. One of the 52s caused me to buy a brass punch set and I learned more than I wanted to about its guts. On the thread topic, I bought an Argentine FM Hi-Power clone and it's Ok. The 82s were made for me.
CZ 75B here. Totally agree.
Don't anthropomorphize firearms.
They hate it when you do that.
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