New FN High Power - Finally a successor to the 1911 or Blasphemy to John Brownings name?

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tark said:
That washed out trigger pin hole looks suspicious, as does the rounded bottom edge on the frame. It would not have left Belgium that way. Compare to the first picture. My gun was never fired after leaving the factory. These guns have a rich, lustrous blue, but not the super high luster " Python " blue that your gun has. You have a beautiful gun, don't get me wrong, but I suspect it has been re-blued at some point in its life. Nothing wrong with that !!:)
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Far be it for me to argue with an expert that works at a gun museum but it is the original finish ;)

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Nature Boy said:
Far be it for me to argue with an expert that works at a gun museum but it is the original finish ;)
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Lol... I am no expert, and that's for sure and for certain...as Quigley would say. Most of what I know about Hi- Powers I learned from WVsig. When I worked for Les, and before my back got really bad, I did a lot of polishing and bluing. It just didn't look quite right to me, but I suspect the lighting makes the bluing look more " Python like." You know the gun's history, I don't...so that bluing is original.
 
bc1023
Mediocre accuracy, fragile construction, hammer bite and an absolutely horrendous trigger.
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Actually your description fits my '66 T Series Hi-Power, if you'll forgive the pun, to a "T".

Overall fit and finish were essentially a rather loose fit of slide to frame and a highly polished, deep blued finish. Every thing looked great on the outside; not so much on the inside. Accuracy was just fair, given the aforementioned loose fit of slide to frame and barrel to slide, along with an off the charts trigger pull. The tiny sights didn't help matters either and the thumb safety practically required the use of a rubber mallet to put it on safe and to take it off again.

All in all not exactly the Hi-Power's finest effort but I had no problem selling it to a collector at a gun show for a very tidy profit.
 
bannockburn said:
bc1023


Actually your description fits my '66 T Series Hi-Power, if you'll forgive the pun, to a "T".

Overall fit and finish were essentially a rather loose fit of slide to frame and a highly polished, deep blued finish. Every thing looked great on the outside; not so much on the inside. Accuracy was just fair, given the aforementioned loose fit of slide to frame and barrel to slide, along with an off the charts trigger pull. The tiny sights didn't help matters either and the thumb safety practically required the use of a rubber mallet to put it on safe and to take it off again.

All in all not exactly the Hi-Power's finest effort but I had no problem selling it to a collector at a gun show for a very tidy profit.
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None of them were great. Later models had better controls and sights, but the shortcomings remained. It’s a very mediocre pistol and happens to have a long military pedigree.

I own several and have owned quite a few more over the years. I love the gun’s looks and its history. As a shooter, it sucks
 
bc1023 said:
None of them were great. Later models had better controls and sights, but the shortcomings remained. It’s a very mediocre pistol and happens to have a long military pedigree.

I own several and have owned quite a few more over the years. I love the gun’s looks and its history. As a shooter, it sucks
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It’s funny, everyone has a different perspective. For me, the fit in the hand is so good, that I can put up with the mediocre trigger, sights, and safety. I don’t get too excited about the history but I do like them for the range. I am glad there are clones that are a lot more affordable than the Browning or wartime examples.
 
bc1023 said:
Mediocre accuracy, fragile construction, hammer bite and an absolutely horrendous trigger.
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Don't forget the stiff, hard to use safety and the horrendous sights. I have long arms. If I hold the gun at arms length...the sight picture disappears!! The front sight is swallowed by the narrow rear sight notch. The gun itself is beautifully polished and blued, but.........
 
The HiPower was my favorite for a few decades. I owned a few, over the years. Canadian and nazi wartime examples, as well as a sweet 1973 C-series.
They always shot great for me, and the grip fit my hand very well.
It wasn’t until I tried a Glock G26, and found I shot it as well or better than the HiPower, along with a good reduction in size and weight, that I gave them up.
 
tark said:
Don't forget the stiff, hard to use safety and the horrendous sights. I have long arms. If I hold the gun at arms length...the sight picture disappears!! The front sight is swallowed by the narrow rear sight notch. The gun itself is beautifully polished and blued, but.........
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Yeah I left the sights and safety out because many BHP’s did improve in that area.

But I agree
 
I've never fired mine, and neither has anyone else after the guy who proof tested it. It was bought by a friend, as a new gun, in early 1969. He had intended to use it as a carry gun until he discovered that he couldn't see the sights, had difficulty manipulating the safety and the trigger pull was like a box of chocolates. He stuck it in his safe and there it sat for a half century until he gave it to me in return for a favor. I am a collector so I will probably never shoot it. When I'm gone my son can do whatever he wants with it.
 
bc1023
None of them were great. Later models had better controls and sights, but the shortcomings remained.
Click to expand...

It was 1985 and I was reading "Combat Handguns" as there was a brief article on the "new and improved" Browning Hi-Power Mk.II. Gone was the highly polished, blued finish, replaced with a rather drab, matte blued finish that looked more like parkerizing than anything else. Definitely not winning any style and appearance points in my book, though I have to say it's been a very durable finish when it comes right down to it. Same thing with the trigger, sights, and thumb safety: nothing Earth shattering going on but still a very real improvement over the earlier models.
 
biggest issue I had with the original was the hammer bite. Trigger was easy enough to dial in once I removed the safety. Why they never addressed the beavertail is beyond me. Even a grip maker could solve it. As for the thin width... 9mm Tokarev makes the hi-power feel like a Glock. I actually prefer them over the hi-power. Better trigger..thinner... conceals easier...more robust design etc.

hi-power is a classic though so there is that. I dont cosider them particularly durable but they hold up well enough. Other than the hammer bite they shoot fine. Thats kind of minor gripe though. I dont consider them the be all end all of 9mms. Some of the custom jobs shown here are nice but I am not a big enough fan to throw down that kind of money on a hi-power and have a frame welded up.

its all good though. Maybe with all the renewed interest in the hi-power someone will bring back the polymer frame versions and really thin it down. better yet a steel subframe inside a polymer grip. Put a good set of sights on it, give it a beavertail, better extractior, etc. etc. and keep the retail price in check. I could see that doing well on the market. Purists of course would hate it but whatever.

Starting to see new custom style factory turkish clones so thats nice. hopefully they are using good steel for the major components. I have seen some pretty soft steel on different makes of Turkish pistols (slides mainly) so I am a bit leary of them. FN uses quality materials so no worries there on this new pistol regardless of the angst and turmoil people are going through.
 
Misplacedtexan said:
Tesla
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You're a little late. Post #36 already answered that question.
Jim Watson said:
Tesla was brilliant but eccentric and flaky.
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Yes, he was a bit of a fruitcake, but brilliant nonetheless. AC won out over DC because it is pretty hard to move electrical current over long distances with direct current. Since all batteries are DC, Tesla's have an " inverter " to change the batteries DC current over to AC.
 
This is a weird release. Like other people have said, this design is similar to the new Colt Python or the Bronco, in that design tweaks had to be made to make production viable in 2022. The difference is, the Hi-Power doesn't really have the cult following that those other two do. Sure, it's got its fans, but I can't see people paying $1200 to get a "sort of similar" Hi Power.

With Colt snake-gun prices out the roof, paying $1500 for a "sort of similar" Python is a solid pitch for guys who just want a shooter. But you can get a Turkish Hi-Power clone to shoot for $500, or a real-deal BHP for about what FN is asking for the reboot.

Or heck, just get yourself a nice CZ-75. I like the BHP, but I like CZs better.
 
Mosin Bubba said:
This is a weird release. Like other people have said, this design is similar to the new Colt Python or the Bronco, in that design tweaks had to be made to make production viable in 2022. The difference is, the Hi-Power doesn't really have the cult following that those other two do. Sure, it's got its fans, but I can't see people paying $1200 to get a "sort of similar" Hi Power.

With Colt snake-gun prices out the roof, paying $1500 for a "sort of similar" Python is a solid pitch for guys who just want a shooter. But you can get a Turkish Hi-Power clone to shoot for $500, or a real-deal BHP for about what FN is asking for the reboot.

Or heck, just get yourself a nice CZ-75. I like the BHP, but I like CZs better.
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Yes ... very strange release. Even more odd is that the association with the Hi-power name in an attempt to market it may be its own downfall. Say they marketed it as the FN "Power 17" or whatever and kept the prices in the $750 range to gain a following in the long run it could have staying power as it offers quite a lot of nice features that plays right into the 1911 crowd (which is rather large). Seems like everyone and their mother is buying 9mm 1911s lately.

As I said before its a very nice pistol with pretty impressive out of box performance (if Ians pistol is the norm). Nice all steel soft shooter that looks to be customize friendly for your Wilson Combat type aftermarket type manufacturers. I would compare it closer to something like a 9mm 1911 more than a Hi-power in terms of size and shooting experience. The FN however gives you double stack along with a better (IMO) barrel locking system.

I think it will fail in the long run if FN is stubborn with the price point which is kind of sad. Its got serious potential if it can get some traction in the market place. Bringing in a new design is always tricky though. Even CZs were overlooked for many years until the prices went way down for a few years. As the market grew and people started buying them they gained a following and CZ was able to increase the prices. This has happened with lots of Manufacturers and designs...... Tanfoglio witness, Canik , CZ, various 1911 manufacturers etc. etc..

Looks like FN has chosen to take the Walther P88 approach. Put out a very nice pistol with a rediculous price point and expect people to jump right in. Problem is FN is not H&K and you really need a hard core cult brand following to try and pull that off. I dont think I have ever met anyone who was an FN cult follower. Hi-power yes but not FN as a brand.

This is not the first time FN has done this. They have a history of this sort of thing. Lots of good pistols through the years that just never can get any traction. FN BDA 9mm (DA Hi-power style) was a nice pistol as well. They would do well to bring the price point down on these and also offer a quality budget friendly pistol (509 style) to get some brand recognition for a few years. Your average gun store shopper has no clue who FN is and they are one of the largest manufacturers in the world of firearms with many military contracts thoughout history. There most well known pistol currently made is probably the FN 5.7 and that is a niche pistol.

Steyr has this problem as well. They make fantastic stuff and nobody pays attention to them outside bullpup/AUG fanatics and that is a very small group.

If this new FN "High Power" had Sig Sauer, HK, CZ on the slide people would jump on them. As it is now they are kind of shooting themselves in the foot. They are helping Turkish "Hi Power" gun sales more than anything else.
 
starling
This is not the first time FN has done this. They have a history of this sort of thing. Lots of good pistols through the years that just never can get any traction. FN BDA 9mm (DA Hi-power style) was a nice pistol as well.
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Are you sure you don't mean the Browning BDM instead of the BDA (which was a single stack rebadged SIG P220?

Also the BDM was not designed or made by FN but was totally a product of Browning Arms Company and made here in the U.S.

I remember seeing one when they came out in the early '90s and while it was decent in terms of it's grip frame (very Hi-Power like) and overall ergonomics, it had an unusual dual action trigger. There was the "P" mode which was a typical DA/SA set-up and a "R" mode setting which featured a DA revolver operating mode to it. There was also a frame mounted safety/decocker available on it. The BRM version was a DAO model and didn't come with a safety/decocker.
 
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bannockburn said:
starling


Are you sure you don't mean the Browning BDM instead of the BDA (which was a single stack rebadged SIG P220?
I remember seeing one when they came out in the early '90s and while it was decent in terms of it's grip frame (very Hi-Powerish) and egonomics, it had an unusual dual action trigger. There was "P" mode which was a typical DA/SA set-up and a "R" setting which featured a more revolver like
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BDM had the net revolver mode switch. BDA was a double action Hi-power. BDA was the American designation. I think outside the USA it was known as the the HP-DA. Exellent pistols but they never really caught on. The other BDA (Sig) was the euro heel magazine release 220. And yet ANOTHER FN BDA was the 380acp double stack Beretta 84 style variant. Browning/FN likes to use the BDA designation a lot so it gets confusing.

Picture here... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_HP-DA

Anyways they were very nice high quality pistols but never really caught on. Its a pattern with FN. They put out great stuff but cant ever seem to get any traction in the market. Of course their most historical and known pistol was always the Hi-power but they did the brilliant move of discontinueing it when it should be their flagship pistol just for branding alone. But hey.... whatever
 
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I was trying to like the BDA, but really couldn't - a slim and nice handling pistol for sure, but that weird, mousetrap looking, mainspring and the fact that they thinned down the lower barrel lug for the DA trigger was just too much for my taste.
 
Mizar said:
I was trying to like the BDA, but really couldn't - a slim and nice handling pistol for sure, but that weird, mousetrap looking, mainspring and the fact that they thinned down the lower barrel lug for the DA trigger was just too much for my taste.
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The Finns liked them well enough. I shot a couple that were nice. Finding magazines was a big problem as this was during the AWB. Same goes for the excellent pistol BDM Magazines BTW.

Problem with FN is they dont seem to really care all that much about the commercial market. They are all about military/LE contracts. This new "High Power" looks like an attempt to break through to the US commercial market again but it looks to be a pretty clumsy attempt again unfortunately. FN 509 has not even really taken off either and those are excellent as well. They really need a high quality budget pistol. Something like the 509 in the $350 range.

Personally I hope it suceeds as FN is kinda overlooked outside of video game enthusiests which most often dont know what FN even stands for let alone the long history of the company.

If these new High Powers fail in the market and anyone really wants one keep an eye on CDNN. In the past they have always been the ones to blow out FN pistols for bargin prices. I remember those FN BDA /HP-DA 9mm pistols in the $300-$350 range back in the day. This was at the time before CZ really broke through in the US market. I think I paid $350 for my CZ40B back then from CDNN (Another excellent pistol).

Im not an FN fanatic but good is good. I typically only buy American made firearms unless they are used. I like to keep the money "in Country" and know what I am supporting. FN makes exellent top of the line firearms though without a doubt. They always have. I put them right up there with HK/CZ/Beretta etc. etc.
 
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bannockburn: said:
It was 1985 and I was reading "Combat Handguns" as there was a brief article on the "new and improved" Browning Hi-Power Mk.II. Gone was the highly polished, blued finish, replaced with a rather drab, matte blued finish that looked more like parkerizing than anything else. Definitely not winning any style and appearance points in my book, though I have to say it's been a very durable finish when it comes right down to it. Same thing with the trigger, sights, and thumb safety: nothing Earth shattering going on but still a very real improvement over the earlier models.
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When I got my BHP Mk.II from the Cabelas Gun Library in Lone Tree CO for $525.00 I’m thinking I got a really good starting point for a project gun, and now 5 years later its unchanged from the day I got it except for a few thousand additional rounds through it.
 
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