Hi Power ID Help

[timburn]

Hello Folks,
I hope the collective wisdom of the group can help me identify my new Hi Power. When I bought this gun I was told it was made in Belgium for the Argentine military contract. I have a FM 90 which I am fond of. This gun does not have a Crest on the slide or any Argentine markings like any other Hi power I ever saw made before Argentina stared producing there own. Also the serial number( 245nm04xxx) indicates 1990 manufacture which is way after Argentina produced their own. It has an enamel type finish and what looks like a Belgium proof mark. I believe you can make it out in the pictures. the front sight is dovetail. It has hole for lanyard. Sorry for the length of this post. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Tim

 

[earlthegoat2]

The gun was made by FN as opposed to FM in Argentina. The contract FM had to build Hi Powers may have expired or it just was not possible to produce any more so they had to get some for their military by way of FN.

It appears to have MKIII style sights which would fit with the production year. It does not have an ambi safety though so Argentina must have specified a single sided safety.

Does it have a serial number on the front of the grip as well as on the slide and barrel?

 

[timburn]

serial #

Yes, has serial # on front of grip. I believe FM produced the FM 90 and FM 95 from apx 1968 into this century.
Tim

 

[Sunray]

I'd bet it's a Century Arms assembled pistol. The barrel is certainly from Century. Looks like a hand stamped S/N too.
The NHC Co is Old Sacramento Armory/New Helvetica Marketing/CA. Apparently they imported Israeli Police issued Mkk III(most dated '93 and ''94) and a few Mk II(late '80's) High Powers that were sold through AIM. Might well be one of them. Carried a lot fired a little.

 

[jonnyc]

The Argentines produced FN-licensed HPs until the late 1980s, and then later switched over to non-licensed M90 production.
Timburn, why do you think your HP is from Argentina? Although the serial does seem a bit odd, my first thought would have been an Israeli-contract HP.

 

[timburn]

Origin

Jonnyc,
The broker ( on auction arms) believed so. When I emailed back to them, they simply said that they were told that. Personally, I don't think it is Argentine. There is no mention of Browning anywhere on the gun. Seems to have some MkIII characteristics, but not all. Another military issue is my theory.
Tim

 

[earlthegoat2]

Although the serial does seem a bit odd, my first thought would have been an Israeli-contract HP.

Possible because it says Fabrique Nationale on the slide. Isreal did order some HPs directly from FN as well but they were all MKIIIs. Since this seems to fit with that this is a possible example. It should have no firing pin safety either which would deviate from normal MKIII production as all of them have firing pin safeties. This was Ireals request I suppose.

However if it says Kareen anywhere then it is most definitely an Isreali. From the pictures I would say it is not Isreali because it does not have the extended downward tang on the upper part of the grip that the Isreali manufacture modified in the original design. Here is a Kareen Isreali Hi Power, note the slide markings and ring hammer which all Kareens had.

Isreal did order some HPs directly from FN as well but they were all MKIIIs.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=168152260

I'd bet it's a Century Arms assembled pistol

This is possible as it fits with my first statement above. They were made in Belgium by FN. They went to Isreal. They then were surplused to the US and CIA sold them in the US. THat explains both serial numbers as CIA puts their own serials on everything.

And yes they should not be marked Browning. Browning is an American importer of them from FN.

 

[jonnyc]

"Isreal did order some HPs directly from FN as well but they were all MKIIIs"

Not quite true. Israel did buy pre-MkIII HPs, and early MkIIIs with pre-MkIII features.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Not quite true. Israel did buy pre-MkIII HPs, and early MkIIIs with pre-MkIII features.

I knew simplifying things would stir up something. Yes this is right jonnyc.

Since the one pictured seems to be of the MKIII variety and there is not a huge amount of difference between MKIIs and MKIIIs besides finish (and finish would be on a customer dependent basis if it was a government order), I figured it would not matter to mention the small number of MKIIs that Isreal did procure.