Browning Hi-Power price.

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I'm pretty sure that the date makes it a "Made in Belgium" rather than the "Made in Belgium Assembled in Portugal" model......if that's the case, they're more desirable to collectors.
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There are so many BHPs of this vintage that it is not really a collector IMHO. As a shooter you can do a lot worse for your $400. What kind of sights are on the gun? Does it have a secondary import mark on it? What type of hammer is one the gun? Spur or ringed?

T series and pre T series BHPs have collector value and like all collector pieces condition is everything.
 
The "Made in Belgium, Assembled in Portugal" guns are just as good as the "Made in Belgium" only guns. In fact there are rumors that even the "Portugal" guns are assembled in Belgium, and FN only puts it on the gun for trade issues. Not sure if that is true or not so take it with a grain of salt.

I've had a MK III Silver Chrome Hi Power since 1994 when I bought it new, and it has been FLAWLESS all these years. It is box stock, and my most accurate centerfire pistol.

The MK III's have cast frames which are stronger, and are fine for +P ammo.
 
That one will be buried with me....
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Rellascout, I have commented on my fondness for that gun a few times. If that is truly your plan, please leave a note somewhere that I am to be one of your pallbearers, or at least let me know where you are to be buried. :)

A local store has a nice C&S worked gun that looks just like yours, but with their other commander style hammer. I feel bad for the guys who work there because they have to clean my drool off the top of the display case every time I go in.
 
The "Made in Belgium, Assembled in Portugal" guns are just as good as the "Made in Belgium" only guns. In fact there are rumors that even the "Portugal" guns are assembled in Belgium, and FN only puts it on the gun for trade issues. Not sure if that is true or not so take it with a grain of salt.

I've had a MK III Silver Chrome Hi Power since 1994 when I bought it new, and it has been FLAWLESS all these years. It is box stock, and my most accurate centerfire pistol.

The MK III's have cast frames which are stronger, and are fine for +P ammo.
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The Port marked guns are just as good as most BHPs. IMHO the T series guns are still the best of the breed. MKIII will have a cast frame and their +P status is a point of debate but in the quantity most people shoot +p it is a non-issue IMHO. You can tell it has a cast frame from the score lines in the magwell.

IIRC you have it backwards on the origins of the pistols.

The "Assembled in Portugal" rollmark shows up because FN misunderstood an import regulation regarding rollmarking the origin of the pistol. They were assembled in Port before the "Assembled in Portugal" rollmark was used. Once the rollmark was established it stayed.

All MKIII FN marked and Browning marked Hi powers were assembled in Port even the FNs which do not have the "Assembled in Portugal" rollmark. Some people will attempt to advertise these as Belgium production but they were assembled right next to Browning marked guns in Port.
 
Thanks for the clarification Rella. I only shoot standard pressure 9MM in my BHP, or my reduced power reloads, so +P is not an issue with me, but I've seen some posts where people do not think it is OK for the BHP. It is a European gun, and therefore must be subject to the hotter NATO stuff.
 
The Brown High Power was designed by John Moses Browning...I think it will handle a +P round... that said I like plain 115 grain hollow points....
 
I'd buy any Browning Hi Power in decent condition for less than 600 but I also do not own one yet
 
All this talk about +P's yadda. Yea, they'll wear out.. I got my first new HP right around '78.. wore that thing out in short order (cracked the slide) after 50,000 almost proof loads. Casted for it etc. Sold it for more than I paid for it and I paid a lot for it.
 
I bought my first Browning Hi Power this week after years of procrastination and weeks of analysis. As a former system’s designer, it’s my inherent nature to over analyze everything. Unfortunately this thought process can lead a condition that I lovingly refer to as “paralysis by analysis”; you end up doing nothing.

The BHP is one of those guns that have a mystic. It is similar to “good will” on the assets ledger of a venerable business. Therefore, you will pay more for the product. The good part is that you will have minimum downside risk and great upside potential regarding the future worth of the gun.

My gun collection could not be complete without owning one. It’s not the latest technology and the gun does have its quirks but you will own a piece of history.

A gun’s value is what someone is willing to pay but keep in mind the gun’s intrinsic value. Good luck with your decision.
 
Not many people buy a Hi Power and then regret it. And if you do regret the purchase, it's one of those guns that people line up to buy.

I agree with Rellascout that a 1981 is not really in the collector market, so it's a shooter and it will be a good one. If its a little rusty then its worth refinishing, and if it's worth refinishing then you might as well throw some Heinies or Novaks on it. And have the damned mag disconnect jerked out while they're at it - it shouldn't cost any extra since they have to disassemble the gun anyway. They just have to leave it out upon reassembly.

When you take it to the range you'll understand why people value the Hi Power so much. They're easy to shoot well.
 
Not many people buy a Hi Power and then regret it. And if you do regret the purchase, it's one of those guns that people line up to buy.
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The key is to not over pay up fron I only get in line if the price is right... :evil:
 
The key is to not over pay up fron I only get in line if the price is right...
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They are so hard to find in some areas that many people will overpay to get one. When people get one they generally end up as "keepers" so there's not as many on the used market as other pistols. I've shot handguns for 40 or 45 years. Nothing feels as good or shoots as good in my hands as a BHP. I can do things with a BHP that I can not do with any other pistol, and I could do that almost from the first time I picked one up. There's not much of a learning curve, you just pick them and shoot them and the slugs go where you want them to go, without much effort on your part.
 
They are so hard to find in some areas that many people will overpay to get one. When people get one they generally end up as "keepers" so there's not as many on the used market as other pistols. I've shot handguns for 40 or 45 years. Nothing feels as good or shoots as good in my hands as a BHP. I can do things with a BHP that I can not do with any other pistol, and I could do that almost from the first time I picked one up. There's not much of a learning curve, you just pick them and shoot them and the slugs go where you want them to go, without much effort on your part.
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I here you. I have lots of other 9mms but none that I like more than my BHPs. I have bought and sold few over the years mainly MKIIIs which I can replace if I want. Timing is everything IMHO. You have to have the cash and be ready to buy when you find a deal. Having a good transfer dealer really expands the selection and lowers the price a lot.

I am down to 4 and they are not going anywhere. I am always on the look out for a deal but honestly they have to be something special for me to pick one up these days.
 
buy it! Ive always wanted a browning hi power, right after I bought my last gun(w.german 226) I saw a really nice belgium made hi power in very good condition for $465 at a local shop, when I finally had to cash to get it, it was gone, only in the shop for a few days!
 
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