Classic Handguns of the 20th Century: The Browning HI-Power

Handguns Magazine ^ | 2003 | David W. Arnold

[45Auto]

Browning Hi-Power with custom Coco Bolo grips

[45Auto]

Schematic of the Hi-Power

[tophat9000]

Has anyone made a Browning Hi-Power copy chamber for the .45Auto?

[Khurkris]

Yes...its called the Colt Gov't Model 1911...

(its a joke son, laugh it up!)

[45Auto]

Not that I'm aware of. The Hi-power has been chambered in the .40 S and W, though.

[tophat9000]

Yes Yes Yes I know....;>I mean with all the "improvements?" they say the Hi Power has over the 1911

[Sender]

FEG of Hungary makes a double-action .45 that is a modified Hi-Power. I've never seen a 'normal' Hi-Power in .45.

I bought the FEG Hi-Power clone called a PJK-9 in 9mm and I am happy with it (except for the gritty mag-safety trigger)

[Ford Fairlane]

One of the higher quality hungarian copies was available in .45, .38 super, 9mm, and 9x21

I cant remember which company made it, but the quality was almost as good as the FN manufactured pistols

[evets]

[BenLurkin]

IIRC, Macolm X spoke rhapsodically about the Browning Hi-Power in his so-called autobiography.

[Sender]

Found it: Hungarian FEG (stands for 'weapons and gas appliances works' GKK-45

[yarddog]

My first real pistol was a Browning Hi-power. I bought it while in college. My parents were a little irritated that I spent my money on the pistol but I had an athletic scholarship and thought I deserved to spend a little on myself.

At the time one could order a pistol throught the mail but mine came from the local hardware store. At the time Browning controlled prices so the small town hardware store could sell at the same price as the largest discounter. The prices were pretty reasonale too.

I have owned maybe a dozen over the years including Canadian, Belgian, Argentine and Hungarian clones. One of the real baragins are the Argentine ones. They have a military finish, not bad but not highly polsished. On the inside they are absolutely identical to that first one I bought in college. The Hungarian ones are well finished and function ok too.

The Hi-power has the best grip of any handgun I have ever tried, they also are easy to hit with. About the only gripe is a mediocre trigger. The small safety is not a problem if you get used to it.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Bang

[yarddog]

I forgot to mention that you can improve on perfection by adding Hogue rubber grips to the hi-power.

I guess each person's hand is different but I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't like the Hi-power's grip.

On the other hand, I think the Ruger P-89 series of pistols are really fine guns but they have the worst grip one can imagine.

[flowerplough]

Lo Power.

[Shooter 2.5]

The article said they're single action. I noticed the later ones are double action.

Do you carry the single action ones with the hammer back with the safety on like a 1911?

[yarddog]

There really aren't any double action Hi-powers. The Hungarian one that is double action, only looks a little like a Hi-power. FEG also makes an exact clone in single action.

Browning has made a bunch of pistols with double action/fast action etc. but they are not really Hi-powers either.

[Shooter 2.5]

I was looking at a picture of the Browning BDA9 made in Belgium.

So do you carry the High Power with the hammer back?

[chadwimc]

God's *OTHER* son, John Moses Browning...