Help dating Pre-war Browning Hi-Power

[Charly2020!]

Howdy Highroaders,

I was offered the following Hi-Power (given the low serial number (51542), I believe it may be from the 1950s or earlier). It's current shape/design is horrible but it will make a great restoration project. If after seeing the pictures you have more questions, please let me know.

 

[Nature Boy]

I'm by no means an expert, but I think the fact that it has fixed sights makes it a post war, made sometime from '46-'58

 

[dogtown tom]

I'm by no means an expert, but I think the fact that it has fixed sights makes it a post war, made sometime from '46-'58

this

 

[Charly2020!]

I'm by no means an expert, but I think the fact that it has fixed sights makes it a post war, made sometime from '46-'58

Thank you @Nature Boy . Is there another place/person I can reach out to get further clarification/details?

 

[Nature Boy]

@WVsig is a Hi Power connoisseur of the first order and very knowledgeable

I did a little internet digging and might have it narrowed down a bit more, but take it with a grain of salt.

This 2 inside a partial box is supposed to be the year that part was inspected. In your pistols case that would mean 1952

 

[kBob]

I thought some fixed sight guns were made under German Occupation and some were made just before that.

What year was the firing pin retainer "peanut" replaced with a roll pin?

-kBob

 

[justdino]

Yours has an internal extractor. They changed from internal to external about 1962, I think. I can't recall when, but I know it's somewhere on the web and I'm too lazy to go look.

FN serial numbers do not follow the same numbering sequence as Browning did, so don't waste your time on a Browning serial number list.

 

[Nature Boy]

I thought some fixed sight guns were made under German Occupation and some were made just before that.

There were fixed sight pistols made during occupation. I happen to have one. There may have been some pre war too, but I don't know. I do believe that the majority of pre war Hi Powers had tangent sights

 

[WVsig]

*X is an inspector mark. It was used by Alfred Regnier from 1937-1964

The Lion over the PV is the Poudre Vive or smokeless powder proof.

The 2 in a half square is a date code for the hammer and the frame. The barrel shows the same inspector code.

The hammer was made in 4th Qtr 1952 the frame was made in 2nd Qtr 1952.

For some reason someone polished the parts into the white or had them plated. They also buggered the trigger retaining pin. Most likely hey drove it out the wrong direction enlarging the hole in the frame. This is why it is peened. They never came from the factory with a peened trigger pin or a roll pin.

The trigger pin should look like this. This one is nitried but you can see the way it should look. The one above is deformed.



I would shoot the gun as is and not put any money into it. From what I see the gun was made in the 4th Qtr 1952.

 

[Charly2020!]

*X is an inspector mark. It was used by Alfred Regnier from 1937-1964

The Lion over the PV is the Poudre Vive or smokeless powder proof.

The 2 in a half square is a date code for the hammer and the frame. The barrel shows the same inspector code.

The hammer was made in 4th Qtr 1952 the frame was made in 2nd Qtr 1952.

For some reason someone polished the parts into the white or had them plated. They also buggered the trigger retaining pin. Most likely hey drove it out the wrong direction enlarging the hole in the frame. This is why it is peened. They never came from the factory with a peened trigger pin or a roll pin.

The trigger pin should look like this. This one is nitried but you can see the way it should look. The one above is deformed.

View attachment 990471

I would shoot the gun as is and not put any money into it. From what I see the gun was made in the 4th Qtr 1952.

@WVsig thank you very much for such useful information, I really appreciate it. I have shot the gun and it is in perfect working conditions. It comes with two (2) not-orginal mags.

My plan is to buy it cheap and send it to a gunsmith to try to get it to its original condition.

P.S. Any idea where can I get either the original or replica case that will match the year (not sure what it looks like) and grips? I have tried searching on various places but no luck.

 

[WVsig]

@WVsig thank you very much for such useful information, I really appreciate it. I have shot the gun and it is in perfect working conditions. It comes with two (2) not-orginal mags.

My plan is to buy it cheap and send it to a gunsmith to try to get it to its original condition.

P.S. Any idea where can I get either the original or replica case that will match the year (not sure what it looks like) and grips? I have tried searching on various places but no luck.

French Walnut FN grips is what you are looking for. They will be $75-$150





This is the box. You will be able to find the grips but the box will be almost impossible to find. If someone has it they have the gun to go with it. It would also cost you more than that gun is worth to acquire it.

 

[Charly2020!]

French Walnut FN grips is what you are looking for. They will be $75-$150

View attachment 990620

View attachment 990618

This is the box. You will be able to find the grips but the box will be almost impossible to find. If someone has it they have the gun to go with it. It would also cost you more than that gun is worth to acquire it.

View attachment 990619

@WVsig thank you again. One last question. If you were to buy a case (not a box) for this model which one would you recommend?

 

[WVsig]

@WVsig thank you again. One last question. If you were to buy a case (not a box) for this model which one would you recommend?

Mr Yost ships his custom BHPs in these.

https://boytharness.com/product/heart-shaped-handgun-case/

 

[MaverickDMD]

Hey. I had a 1952 FN BHP and knew it well. I can make you a set of period walnut correct grips with the right colour redbacks. Can be aged or pristine whatever the preference and can stamp the correct year marks, grease pencil markings, oil weathering - whatever mods are required. As for the case, you might want to consider an early Browning pistol case with the red interior - eBay about $125.

 

[MaverickDMD]

And I agree with WVSig above - tart it up yes, but don't put too much $ into it as it's not a super rare or collectible gun. Nice, cool, worth preserving yes, but not a big ticket collector gun.