Karl Sokol Browning Hi Power Build

[TikkaShooter]

As I don't wear them. I didn't get my panties in a bunch; I simply answered the OP's question. So what is in a name; beats me, we'd need to ask FN, I guess.

My favorite is the FN machined and Portuguese assembled. OTOH, I'm missing an Inglis in the safe and I'd love to find one. To be quite honest, I could care less if it is a Hi or High Power; I just like them all as the fit and finish is top drawer.

 

[WVsig]

As I don't wear them. I didn't get my panties in a bunch; I simply answered the OP's question. So what is in a name; beats me, we'd need to ask FN, I guess.

My favorite is the FN machined and Portuguese assembled. OTOH, I'm missing an Inglis in the safe and I'd love to find one. To be quite honest, I could care less if it is a Hi or High Power; I just like them all as the fit and finish is top drawer.

Whats the difference between a FN rollmarked Browning High Power made in 1995 and a Browning rollmarked Browning Hi Power made in 1995?

 

[USBP379]

L9A1, GP35, Hi Power, High Power. It's all good.

Have a good weekend, fellows!

 

[gsbuickman]

Very nice . There is just no way you can go wrong with a Browning hi-power

 

[USBP379]

Very nice . There is just no way you can go wrong with a Browning hi-power

Thanks.

Ergonomically the Hi Power is pretty much second to none. For a design that is nearing the century mark it's amazing how much they got right. Probably only the CZ75 comes close in "feel" to the Hi Power.

 

[TikkaShooter]

Whats the difference between a FN rollmarked Browning High Power made in 1995 and a Browning rollmarked Browning Hi Power made in 1995?

One says Fabrique Nationale, the other says Browning. Somehow, to buyers the one is more valuable than the other. You'll have to ask them why they pay more for one than the other as I have no clue.

It is similar to what is the difference between an FN FAL and an Imbel (Indústria de Material Bélico) or other clones? Personally except for price, I don't see any difference between the Imbel receiver as compared to the Imbel receiver with the roll marked gear. Yes, there is a difference between inch and metric receivers, OTOH, a lot of people will pay more for the one as compared to the other.

Basically, the difference is how much one pays.. You're asking me to explain what makes one of two identical firearms worth more than the other and again, I have no clue.

 

[bannockburn]

USBP379

Ergonomically the Hi Power is pretty much second to none. For a design that is nearing the century mark it's amazing how much they got right. Probably only the CZ75 comes close in "feel" to the Hi Power.

And the CZ P01 comes in as a mighty close second. Feels like a mini Hi-Power in my hand.

 

[USBP379]

One says Fabrique Nationale, the other says Browning. Somehow, to buyers the one is more valuable than the other. You'll have to ask them why they pay more for one than the other as I have no clue.

It is similar to what is the difference between an FN FAL and an Imbel (Indústria de Material Bélico) or other clones? Personally except for price, I don't see any difference between the Imbel receiver as compared to the Imbel receiver with the roll marked gear. Yes, there is a difference between inch and metric receivers, OTOH, a lot of people will pay more for the one as compared to the other.

Basically, the difference is how much one pays.. You're asking me to explain what makes one of two identical firearms worth more than the other and again, I have no clue.

Please don't turn this thread into a pissing contest. Thank you.

 

[Ironicaintit]

all I know is that Dieudonné Joseph Saive had a knack for building comfortable ergonomics into a machine. I love the feel of the hipower and the FAL

 

[bannockburn]

Ironicaintit

For several years I had access to a number of .308 battle rifles and between a Springfield M1A, HK 91, and a DSA FAL SA58, to me the FAL had the best ergonomics of the three.

 

[TikkaShooter]

all I know is that Dieudonné Joseph Saive had a knack for building comfortable ergonomics into a machine. I love the feel of the hipower and the FAL

That was a touchdown and two point conversion post.

The controls are easily accessed those easy to access ergonomics are what makes some better than others.

I have a few AKs and I like them a lot. They are one of the best bar room brawlers made except for the pee poor ergonomics. Or my trigger finger isn't as adept at going from safe to fire as my thumb.

Dieudonné Joseph Saive worked with the firearms genius of all times John Moses Browning.

Not to hijack the thread; however this is an interesting read about Dieudonné Joseph Saive.
"The Hi-Power was the first 9×19mm handgun to utilize a true staggered-column magazine, and despite Browning's name being associated with the gun, the Hi-Power design is essentially Saive's – not Browning's."
https://www.ammoland.com/2019/10/this-day-in-history-father-of-the-fal-dies/

 

[USBP379]

Hmm I still haven't taken this thing out and put it on paper at 25 yards. Not that it should be a tack driver since I'm still running a factory barrel. Still I'm told just re-crowning the factory barrel usually helps out quite a bit. Hopefully between this and the trigger tune I'll see some decent groups.

 

[USBP379]

So I have pistol #2 ready for Mr. Sokol. It will be on the UPS truck this morning.

This gun is a 1987 vintage based on the letter date code. Interestingly it does not have the active firing pin block.

I bought fairly cheap from Mach 1. Being a surplus, it has seen some abuse. The trigger guard was bent in and was rubbing against the trigger. The frame had a few other bumps and bruises and someone appears to have done a "carry bevel" to the slide's front edges using a ball peen hammer.

Otherwise, the gun actually seems decent. The bore is bright and shiny and frame to slide fit is good. The sear pin still fits fairly well too. So a gun that appears to have been kicked around, abused and neglected but maybe not shot into oblivion.

I sent the frame to Pullman Arms in MA and had the trigger guard fixed. They also cleaned up a couple of the more egregious dents.

Other issues include a broken safety lever on the right side. The gun also fails the click test.

I am asking that Mr. Sokol does his $750 package but with Heinie sights rather than Novak. I'll also have the gun blued rather than painted. Navidrex grips will again be used.

Here's the gun now as ready to ship. While I had it apart I removed the mag safety. I also used a Devel style bobbed hammer and a slide stop lever that's been flush cut on the right edge of the pin. These parts came from a FEG Hi Power I bought some months back.

I'll post pics of the tuned gun as soon as I can. And I swear one of these days I'll shoot the 1st Sokol gun on paper at 25 and post results....

 

[USBP379]

I found this pistol listed on gunbroker. Interesting that it is listed as 1988 production and also only has the "Made in Belgium" mark on the right.

Style-wise it looks like my original gun before sending to Karl. Same small safety and sights, etc. But this one is in better condition. Mine was blued but showed quite a bit of holster wear.

 

[SSN Vet]

I suspect Virgil Tripp could do anything he set his mind to.... one of the old school mechanical genius machinist he is.

Chuck Warner at Elite Warrior Arms in NM is both a 1911 and BHP master as well. This article details how they're building custom BHPs from the ground up (custom machining the frames from steel billet rather than smithing and existing FN frame). That's not exactly dummy work.

 

[USBP379]

I suspect Virgil Tripp could do anything he set his mind to.... one of the old school mechanical genius machinist he is.
.

I heard Virgil is chroming again. Might be old news to some but it was news to me. Last I heard he quit the hard chrome business when he moved out of Alpine.

 

[WVsig]

I suspect Virgil Tripp could do anything he set his mind to.... one of the old school mechanical genius machinist he is.

Chuck Warner at Elite Warrior Arms in NM is both a 1911 and BHP master as well. This article details how they're building custom BHPs from the ground up (custom machining the frames from steel billet rather than smithing and existing FN frame). That's not exactly dummy work.

He is not doing it anymore IIRC. He lost money on every single one of those pistols was the word on the street. They took 2X longer to deliver than he promised and the price kept climbing. I can't remember the exact number but IIRC less than 25 were made. Lots of people won't do business with Mr. Warner but that is another thread.

 

[WVsig]

I heard Virgil is chroming again. Might be old news to some but it was news to me. Last I heard he quit the hard chrome business when he moved out of Alpine.

I recently saw a GI which he hard chromed but I am not sure he is open for business to the general public. If you have heard otherwise please let us know where you heard it.

 

[Otto]

... and I'd add Bill Laughridge's crew at Cylinder and Slide....

And as I stated.... that's not very many.

My BHP goes to Cylinder&Slide next year. Why a year? Because that's how back-logged they are. It cost $50 just to get your name on the waiting list. Good thing I'm not in any hurry. Having a Bar-Sto fitted and the trigger completely reworked....could care less about aesthetics.

 

[USBP379]

He is not doing it anymore IIRC. He lost money on every single one of those pistols was the word on the street. They took 2X longer to deliver than he promised and the price kept climbing. I can't remember the exact number but IIRC less than 25 were made. Lots of people won't do business with Mr. Warner but that is another thread.

Weren't those guns something like $3500? Granted a Yost gun might end up being close to that after you factor in the base pistol. Depending on custom work of course.

I recently saw a GI which he hard chromed but I am not sure he is open for business to the general public. If you have heard otherwise please let us know where you heard it.

I may have misunderstood. It might be that he's only chroming commercially. I'll call Virgil Monday to see what's up. I used to live about 90 miles from him and visited his shop regularly. I need to call if for no other reason than to wish him a Merry Christmas.

Same to all of you here on the board!

 

[USBP379]

My BHP goes to Cylinder&Slide next year. Why a year? Because that's how back-logged they are. It cost $50 just to get your name on the waiting list. Good thing I'm not in any hurry. Having a Bar-Sto fitted and the trigger completely reworked....could care less about aesthetics.

Doing the full trigger work with the re-designed transfer bar? Nice.

 

[USBP379]

My BHP goes to Cylinder&Slide next year. Why a year? Because that's how back-logged they are. It cost $50 just to get your name on the waiting list. Good thing I'm not in any hurry. Having a Bar-Sto fitted and the trigger completely reworked....could care less about aesthetics.

Any updates?

 

[USBP379]

Merry Christmas!

To provide an update; Karl Sokol has finished working on my second gun. He has received my check for the outstanding balance and will hopefully be shipping the pistol back next week.

In the meantime, please see the included photos. Karl sent me these along with the email telling me the work was done. I'm excited to see the gun again and will post some "live and in person" pics as soon as I can.

 

[USBP379]

Additional info/photos of the 2nd gun here:

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...k-purse-from-a-sows-ear.881296/#post-11778204