archie said:
The pistol was initially designed by J. M. Browning, who died prior to completion, then finished by Dieudonne Saive. However the trigger to sear connection was farmed out to Rube Goldberg. (The trigger sends movement ninety degrees through the walking bar in the slide to another connection in the frame which moves the sear.) It can be 'cleaned up' in the same sense a Government Model trigger pull can be 'cleaned up' but is far more complicated due to the several connections.
This is sort of true. JMB did not design the Browning High Power. He did design the Grand Rendement (High Efficiency). He submitted two prototypes to the French on behalf of FN Herstal in response to their contract request in 1922. It was built around the 15 round mag designed by Saive. One of the guns was a striker fired pistol which featured a locked breech design. The other was a simple blow back. The French liked the locked breech but the striker fired mechanism was dropped.
archie said:
The magazine safety was a requirement for initial development; the pistol was made to be submitted for French Army trials. The French decided on a home designed pistol, but neither FN nor Browning ever ditched it. One notes Ol' John did ditch the grip safety as the French didn't insist.
Yes the mag disconnect was part of the contract requirements. All FN made BHPs with the exception of some made under German Occupation have the mag disconnect. The gun never had a grip safety IIRC.
Saive took over modifications of the initial design to save time so that transatlantic shipping would not be required. While it was being developed JMB passed. The project then became Saive's to complete and he created the pistol we know today as the FN Browning High Power, Grande Puissance. The French never adopted it but the Belgians did in 1935 so it is also referred to as the FN Browning Model 1935 or HP35.
archie said:
They are however, reliable and heavy duty pistols. (Presuming one accepts the 9x19 cartridge as acceptable.)
Accuracy. What level do you desire? The typical High Power is capable of hitting a human torso out to fifty yards or so regularly - presuming the operator is so qualified. The typical High Power is not suited for NRA 2700 shooting. Shooting bunnies at ranges over thirty yards would be difficult. I would consider the typical HP suitably accurate for self defense.
Your initial post mentioned wanting "... an older one ..." I find them interesting, but they are becoming collector's items. Newer ones are probably easier to find, but don't have the same 'feeling'.
I agree that they are accurate service pistols. They can hit man sized targets easily at 50 yards+. The guns have had many changes over the years. Some were subtle others where more substantial. Most people make distinctions between Pre-T internal extractors, T series guns, C series guns, MKIIs and current MKIIIs.
Some of these designations represent real changes in the pistol other are nothing more than inventory control serial number changes. The change over from T series to C series pistols is basically this. A 1969 T series is the same gun as a 1969 C series. Just like a 1972 T is the same as a 1972 C except for the hammer change from the ring to the spurred hammer.
C series to MKII brought changes to the slide, the barrel bushing, safety and the sights. This was IMHO the first step towards making them a more modern pistol. For the most part gone are the half moon sights and small thumb safety. Modern ambi safeties and modern sights are considered an improvement by many shooters.
MKII to MKIII brought cast frames which are just a bit thicker and dovetailed front and rear sights. The cast frame was brought into production to help accommodate the 40 S&W and is stronger than the original forged. Many speculate that it was cheaper to produce the cast frame vs a forged frame of similar strength. Most people consider these the most durable shooters.
One thing to remember is that dates of production for the different BHP designations are very fluid. FNs record keeping was more of a high art than a science. They always used leftover parts even after design changes. Contract guns would get their own serial number designations and they often used the same format for multiple contracts resulting in guns with identical serial numbers. There are forged frame MKIIIs the list really goes on and on. This makes the BHP one of the most interesting pistols to research.
I recommend the Vanderlinden and R Blake Stevens books as well as the late Steven Camps website. Camp's site is very informative from an end user perspective the other 2 are more of a historical perspective. Enjoy the BHP I think like the 1911 every collection needs at least one.
