Hi Power

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Cooldill said:
What about this little guy?

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/608644049

As an example, how is the price? This is about the grade I'm going for. Are non matching serial #s a bad thing for Hi Powers, or does it not matter?
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Looks refinished (how bad is it on the inside if it was bad enough to need refinishing on the outside?), isn't a Mk III (so the sights and safety are smaller), doesn't include its original parts (why get an electro-penciled, non-matching SNs gun when you can get an original for about the same price?), the photos don't show the exterior the barrel so it may be pitted on the outside like a lot of the CDI and AIM guns are. You can do a lot better for not much more money. As Walt Sherrill said, don't get in too big of a hurry. :)

Once you get a HP you're probably going to love it, so don't buy one that's less than what you really want.
 
Thanks guys. A question about the refinished parkerized guns. Was that done by Bubba, or the factory or arsenal? Kind of wanting to avoid a "Bubba done got to it" special, but wouldn't care if it was actually done at a military arsenal or something.
 
Most the time if you are looking at CDI guns they were refinished parkerized after they came into the US. For me I always look for the best original finish I can find. If I feel the need to refinish a gun I want to be able to pick the finish and who is going to apply it. The real sweet spot for Israeli Surplus Hi Powers is over IMHO. There are still tons of good shooters but the prime examples are long gone. Back in the day you could get a gun like this for $450.





When I look at the surplus guns you want to look at CDI or Mach I's VG to excellent guns. Bore condition is more important than finish if you are looking for a shooter. Look for guns that have matching frame, slide and barrel. It is not that mix masters will not shoot but they are not as valuable so when comparing apples to apples you want matching pieces.

For example I like this gun. He has a few that are simlar It has not been refinished it has a VG bore and it is a forged frame MKII 1/2! Modern MKIII sights, ambi safety and a spur hammer! You should shoot that gun as is of send it out for a reblue or finish of your choice. http://www.gunbroker.com/item/606169497

pix055541259.jpg


This one is also nice but I would replace the thumb safety. This is a MKII all the way! http://www.gunbroker.com/item/608824395

pix887691397.jpg


The best part about CDIs guns is that he hides or very lightly engraves the import stamp so that most people cannot find it. This is a plus if you plan to refinish the gun later. CDI stands behind their guns and he moves a lot of them. You can buy with confidence!
 
WVsig said:
Most the time if you are looking at CDI guns they were refinished parkerized after they came into the US. For me I always look for the best original finish I can find. If I feel the need to refinish a gun I want to be able to pick the finish and who is going to apply it. The real sweet spot for Israeli Surplus Hi Powers is over IMHO. There are still tons of good shooters but the prime examples are long gone. Back in the day you could get a gun like this for $450.





When I look at the surplus guns you want to look at CDI or Mach I's VG to excellent guns. Bore condition is more important than finish if you are looking for a shooter. Look for guns that have matching frame, slide and barrel. It is not that mix masters will not shoot but they are not as valuable so when comparing apples to apples you want matching pieces.

For example I like this gun. He has a few that are simlar It has not been refinished it has a VG bore and it is a forged frame MKII 1/2! Modern MKIII sights, ambi safety and a spur hammer! You should shoot that gun as is of send it out for a reblue or finish of your choice. http://www.gunbroker.com/item/606169497

pix055541259.jpg


This one is also nice but I would replace the thumb safety. This is a MKII all the way! http://www.gunbroker.com/item/608824395

pix887691397.jpg


The best part about CDIs guns is that he hides or very lightly engraves the import stamp so that most people cannot find it. This is a plus if you plan to refinish the gun later. CDI stands behind their guns and he moves a lot of them. You can buy with confidence!
Click to expand...

Has that second one been refinished? I quite like it a lot.
 
Cooldill said:
Oh I see. Is CDI the one who refinished them?

Sorry I missed the boat on Hi-Powers. I have a habit of missing the boat on surplus guns but I've learned my lesson over the years.
Click to expand...

I believe they send them out.
 
Thanks so much everyone for helping me, it means a lot. Sorry for all the questions!
 
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danez71 said:
Nice! Looks just like my MkIII.

I wonder what's with that huge base on the mag.....?
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I'm not sure. Also from the pictures it looks like the front sight is orange... I don't think that's correct? Probably someone painted it with model paint or something. I sent the seller a message asking if he could tell me more about the gun, if it's all original or if it's been modified.
 
BIN of $450 is a very good price. Seller has only 7 sales on GB. No pics of the inside of the barrel. I once bought an FEG Hi Power clone that came with a magazine like the one in the picture. Held 15 rounds instead of the standard 13.
 
I noticed the sight too. Its not original as far as my knowledge knows.

I'd guess painted. But I wouldnt care about that.

The mag may be just have a big bumper base on it for those times when tactical mag drops happen. Or maybe it's a particular brand. I don't know..... I'd take a wild guess and say mag bumper.


Just today I put a pair of Navidrex slim grips on mine after owning it for about 25 yrs with the same grips as in that pic. $50. It made a slight difference to be a little thinner but got rid of the thumb rest on the factory grip which I had a kind of a love / hate opinion of.
Was it worth $50....?..... Hard to say with out shooting it. Im pretty darn sure I wont dislike them so it won't be a waste either.
 
I would buy it if his shipping is reasonable. Even if you toss the mag they are easily replaceable with Mecgars. $20 give or take each. They can be had in 13 or 15 round flush fit. They are the OEM for FN.

It is a stock MKIII it looks like someone paint the stock front sight orange for contrast. I have bought a few that way. Easily removed and repainted white.
 
I also like Navidrex grips. Hate the factory plastic. Have a bin full of them. I also like Spegels.
 
I just bought it, gang. It was only a few dollars less than the refinished surplus guns and boy did it look clean. We'll see when I get it in! Can't wait. I've been looking for a 9x19mm range gun for a while now. I've got a Glock 19 but I just don't enjoy it very much. I have always heard the Hi-Powers fit the hand very nicely and are a joy to shoot.
 
Cooldill said:
I just bought it, gang. It was only a few dollars less than the refinished surplus guns and boy did it look clean. We'll see when I get it in! Can't wait. I've been looking for a 9x19mm range gun for a while now. I've got a Glock 19 but I just don't enjoy it very much. I have always heard the Hi-Powers fit the hand very nicely and are a joy to shoot.
Click to expand...
Congratulations! Looks like it's in great shape and I think you'll be happy. If it's in as good a condition as the photos indicate, you got a bargain. That gun would normally sell for a good bit more than 450. IME, the only 9mm that feels a little better than the HP is the CZ 75/85. Still, there's something about the HP that is just great. Now just hope that the trigger is good when it arrives. If not, it can be improved, but maybe you'll get lucky and it'll have a good trigger.
 
Well thanks all.

I am going to probably repaint the front sight back to white or just swap it for a new factory sight so it is original. Also I'll buy a military holster for it, and spare mags of course.
 
I got a refinished (parkerized) FEG clone from CDI a couple years back for just over $200, it's been solid for me. It has the standard military sights, and can be tough to shoot due to that, but when I do my job it does fine.
CDI hides the import marks. I believe they put them all on the barrel, you'll never see it until you break it down. My bore was still good, despite the price.

Regarding the trigger, have you shot a Hi Power before? The magazine safety makes it crunchy, but is easy to remove. I was able to do so in minutes, and it DRAMATICALLY improved my trigger.
 
I will strongly disagree with the negative comments on military surplus weapons, through the years I have purchased dozens each of M1 Garands, 1911a1 pistols, 1917 S&W pistols, 1903 and A3 rifles, all available combloc pistols such as Tokorev and Makerov, Star A & B --super A &B, and recently purchased eight HiPowers from Aim and CDI. The HP pistols were lightly blasted to remove enamel, given a light polish and now look and perform as a low gloss new pistol. The import marks from these outlets are very discreetly applied. Century Arms is one of the worst for markings so check any purchase carefully for them.
Of the multitudes i have purchased one or two were disappointing when arrived the remainder have fully met expectations, and i shoot all of my weapons including the ugly old Nagant revolver.
 
Congrats!

I recently had the slide off it and compared it to the M&P Shields slide. Same width.......who would of ever thought that?!?!
 
Looks like a magazine extension... about 15 years ago a lot of Argentine standard (high) capacity magazines were imported from Argentina that had extensions expanding capacity to 17 rounds... the price was right too (During the Klinton magazine law mags were limited to reduced capacity 10 rounds.)

I bought a few of them at the time and they worked ok... I could never get 17 rounds into them, but 15 worked ok... There were two versions... a flat base 15 round and the extended base for 17 rounds (advertised...) On mine I took the extensions off and they worked pretty well.... They are sometimes described as South African... which they were not.

With the easy availability of reasonably priced and very reliable Mec-Gar 15 round magazines there is no reason to buy anything else...

V/r

Chuck


danez71 said:
Nice! Looks just like my MkIII.

I wonder what's with that huge base on the mag.....?
Click to expand...
 
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