FN Surplus Hi Power

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roc1

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FN Surplus Hi Power
See a lot of surplus Hi Powers on GB for sale from $450 up all look pretty scratched up. I’m just wondering if they are worth price since Hi Powers are no longer available ? Thoughts anyone have one? Most are from Mach 1 Arsenal I believe.
Thanks
Roc1
 
Hi Powers sell from $400 to $900 on the average around here. Most of the surplus ones I've seen were in good shape other then the finish. Just because something is no longer made doesn't make it worth more. I don't see Ruger P89s bringing top dollar. What makes the price go up is what people are willing to pay. You can most likely go into any local gun shop and fins a used Hi Power for sale.
 
I paid $500ish for my FN Israeli police surplus from AIM. I paid extra for the hand pick and it's still pretty scratched up. People have told me it was worth it. Shoots nice after I removed the mag safety.
 
Thanks guys that’s way these look scratched finish they told me functionally fine just need refinishing. I would do that anyway eventually. I bought new Regent clone from Brownells looks great in and out can’t wait shoot it. C&S is building custom guns off of it read mostly postive reviews
 
I paid $525.00 for my Mk II BHP about 6 months ago from a Cabelas Gun Library back in CO. These things do turn up at all price ranges but mostly at the high end. I think I got a good deal on mine, it’s an original condition shooter with nice finish patina. You see the really nice Mk III’s for $1,200.00 up to $1,800 but that’s not my ballpark for a BHP. Like any gun that is out of production but with a demand, you have to move on a deal for a decent one at a fair price when you come across it.
 
I picked this one up about 5 years ago for $300. It was ugly and covered with surface rust with a little pitting. I did some horse trading to get it reblued.
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A mechanically sound Hi Power with heavy scratching for $450 doesn't sound bad to me as long as you're looking for a shooter. Around me the high-gloss ones in great shape hover around the $1000 mark, give or take $100, and those with parkerized finishes seem to be in the $700-800 range. Those in .40 cal seem to go for a bit less.

I paid $600 OTD for the one below last spring at a pawn shop, might not have been a killer deal but I was buying it with a S&W 19 that I was getting a great price on so I feel like it evened things out. It has a couple light surface scratches but overall is in good shape.


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They are good deals if you choose carefully and know what you are looking at. To me for the surplus guns $450-$550 is the right price to pay. The best days of the BHP surplus market are over IMHO. It used to be you could get a very nice choice looking MKII, MKII 1/2 or MKIII from Cole Dist with no import mark for $400-$500. Those days are gone. The price point is the same but the gun you get for that money will show more wear. For the most part they are still great shooters and have a lot of life in them but they look like they have been road hard and put away wet. With a little work they can turn out really nice.

That said if I have my choice between a surplus BHP and a commercial one I am almost always going to go for the commercial one at the same price. Prices are starting to come down from their peak about 6-8 months ago for BHPs. I paid $500 OTD for this one. I am using it as a base gun for a custom build by Mr. Yost. Don't over pay. The fact that the BHP is now discontinued only effects NIB old new stock for someone who wants to have a NIB gun. The market for all other BHPs did not change the day they were discontinued. There were not instantly less surplus guns or less T series in the marketplace after FN/Browning announced they were ceasing production.

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I got one coming off there website hand picked Browning FN Belgium for $500 hope only needs refinishing which I will do. Looks decent in pics just needs good finish
Thanks
 
I got one coming off there website hand picked Browning FN Belgium for $500 hope only needs refinishing which I will do. Looks decent in pics just needs good finish
Thanks

Good luck! I would replace the springs with Wolf springs. If you remove the magazine disconnect get yourself a heavier trigger return spring and it will help make the reset more distinct. Enjoy it!
 
I bought one from a supply salesman for $250. 7 years later I sold it back to him for $375. He loved it and I didn't. He was extremely happy to get it back. It was a good thing because the more I shot it the less I liked it.
If you find someone like my salesman, it could appreciate more than inflation would account for.
 
Wolff springs are good, but BHSS springs are just as good, if not better, and they are cheaper.

Every top tier BHP smith I know uses Wolf or Factory springs. I have no issue with BHSS springs but I am not a fan of how they do business. PM me if you want more details I don't want to get into here.
 
Had one in mint condition many years ago, didn't care for it in general, traded up for a used Springfield 45, then traded up for a new Kimber stainless II 45.
Still have the Kimber somewhere in the back of the safe.
 
Not sure what problematic business practices BHSS may be up to, but I got a wide combat trigger and optimization springs from them, and they're great. No problems in ordering or receiving, and the results on my mkIII were fantastic. Highly recommend
 
Every top tier BHP smith I know uses Wolf or Factory springs. I have no issue with BHSS springs but I am not a fan of how they do business. PM me if you want more details I don't want to get into here.
I have enough experience with BHSS, and have saved a bunch in the process, in order to know that they are good to go.
 
I have enough experience with BHSS, and have saved a bunch in the process, in order to know that they are good to go.

Awesome. Keep supporting them. I have had a different experience with them and choose to no longer purchase from them. That does not mean you shouldn't keep buying from them. Consumers choice is a good thing.
 
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They are good deals if you choose carefully and know what you are looking at. To me for the surplus guns $450-$550 is the right price to pay. The best days of the BHP surplus market are over IMHO. It used to be you could get a very nice choice looking MKII, MKII 1/2 or MKIII from Cole Dist with no import mark for $400-$500. Those days are gone. The price point is the same but the gun you get for that money will show more wear. For the most part they are still great shooters and have a lot of life in them but they look like they have been road hard and put away wet. With a little work they can turn out really nice.

That said if I have my choice between a surplus BHP and a commercial one I am almost always going to go for the commercial one at the same price. Prices are starting to come down from their peak about 6-8 months ago for BHPs. I paid $500 OTD for this one. I am using it as a base gun for a custom build by Mr. Yost. Don't over pay. The fact that the BHP is now discontinued only effects NIB old new stock for someone who wants to have a NIB gun. The market for all other BHPs did not change the day they were discontinued. There were not instantly less surplus guns or less T series in the marketplace after FN/Browning announced they were ceasing production.

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That was bad when Gary Cole passed then the warehouse burned down. I got several of the CZ75, BHP’s. Plus tons of other foreign imports. You always got the gun in the picture and the prices were fair
 
That was bad when Gary Cole passed then the warehouse burned down. I got several of the CZ75, BHP’s. Plus tons of other foreign imports. You always got the gun in the picture and the prices were fair

Yup and you got to play the find the secondary import mark game! LOL
 
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