Surplus Hi Power

[Waveski]

I've wanted a Browning Hi Power for a long time , but had pretty much given up having one due to the elevated values - until I stumbled across the surplus offering from Mach1.
I am very happy with what I received today Belgian made , matching frame/slide/barrel , correct magazine. I even like the simple lanyard loop. Plenty of wear , no pitting , clean bore.

If anyone can shed light on the age and likely service location of this pistol I would appreciate it. On the left side above the trigger guard there is an "n" in a circle. Flaming Bomb forward of that. My buddy got one of these in the same shipment ; where mine has the circle n his has a Star of David. That leads me to speculate that the circle n may have national meaning. Left side high on trigger guard there is an upper case "P" , or poorly struck "R" .

Can't wait to get to the range. Enjoy the images.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

1985. Based upon the *PV* portion of your serial number.

Me? I seriously DIG lanyard loops on surplus pistols.

Looks like yours has the same *m* or Hebrew Mem inside the circle as the Star of David guns have inside the star. I think one is military and the other is civil but that's based upon a vague memory.

Todd.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Nice! I never understood the cult following they have...... until I handled one.

 

[jonnyc]

The "Mem" mark usually denotes police (Mishtara) issue, not IDF.

 

[bannockburn]

The Hi-Power fits my small size hand like no other semi-auto pistol does.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

The Hi-Power fits my small size hand like no other semi-auto pistol does.

View attachment 874191

I too, am often RE-amazed at how small my High Powers present.
if you really appreciate it as you seem, try a CZ75 too. With standard, or *thin* grips they are about the same and the curves are all but identical.


Todd.

 

[bannockburn]

Todd

My brother has a CZ 75 and I have a P01. The frame contours are very similar and ergonomic but the Hi-Power still feels the best.

 

[Waveski]

Ah , mem = Mishtara = Israeli Police. Very pleased to know that , thank you.

Now - here is a detail I am interested in - my mag floor plate is all peened over and beat to heck. The pistol my partner received in the package deal had a MecGar mag with a hideous large red rubber bumper attached to the floor plate. Apparently the Israelis abuse the pistol butts in some manner , but how? Must have been premeditated , given the big red bumper.

Check out the image and see if you can solve this minor mystery...

 

[kBob]

They likely taught their police to drop the magazine rather than trying to recover it on the range so that when they were shooting in combat they would not revert to bad for combat range habits. I imagine if that mag dropped a couple of jillion times on a concrete floored or paved range it would look like that.

Even with a partially or mostly emptied magazine some think the "Tactical" or "Combat" reload where one strives to maintain the partially empty mag is a waste of a second and a half or two seconds when you least need to be spending time with an unloaded gun.

Don't believe it? Try using a shot timer on a number of folks doing both a mag drop reload and a recovers magazine reload. Compare each individuals times and the average group times.

It is an opinion thing. I practiced both. Depending on available cover and support both have merits and demerits.

-kBob

 

[sparkyv]

The Hi-Power fits my small size hand like no other semi-auto pistol does.

View attachment 874191

Agreed...if only they didn't bite!

 

[ATLDave]

They likely taught their police to drop the magazine rather than trying to recover it on the range so that when they were shooting in combat they would not revert to bad for combat range habits. I imagine if that mag dropped a couple of jillion times on a concrete floored or paved range it would look like that.

I drop mags pretty much every week on a concrete floor in USPSA matches. They do get beat up, but I've never seen any that looked like what the OP shows! Looks like someone tried to hammer a bolt* with it.

*Yes, I know you don't hammer bolts. That's the joke.

 

[jhb]

Ah , mem = Mishtara = Israeli Police. Very pleased to know that , thank you.

Now - here is a detail I am interested in - my mag floor plate is all peened over and beat to heck. The pistol my partner received in the package deal had a MecGar mag with a hideous large red rubber bumper attached to the floor plate. Apparently the Israelis abuse the pistol butts in some manner , but how? Must have been premeditated , given the big red bumper.

Check out the image and see if you can solve this minor mystery...

most of the surplus hi powers from Israel I've gotten had base plates beaten up like that. if mags works I wouldnt worry. I use my 13 rounders like that for range. I like the mecgar 15 rounders for carry. make sure they work in your gun though. I've never had a problem in any hi power I own with them.

heres one I'm carrying today......gun not the beat up mag....

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

That mag base.... Some one was pounding on a LOT of doors!


Todd.

 

[Waveski]

I'm not worried about the mag , just curious. It has a lot of character.
For working magazines I thought I'd try Inglis. They seem to be a good value , and are a bit more aesthetically compatible with the worn pistol than the shiny MecGars.
Anyone have feedback on the Inglis magazines?

https://www.classicfirearms.com/inglis-browning-hi-power-13rd-mag-9mm/

 

[ancientnoob]

I was just looking at these surplus HPs. I really want one but cant accept the 13 rounders. My state limits my capacity -infringes down to 10 rounds. I wonder about after market mags.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I was just looking at these surplus HPs. I really want one but cant accept the 13 rounders. My state limits my infringes down to 10 rounds. I wonder about after market mags.

Mecgar makes an outstanding 10 rounder and it has the added bonus of a spring at the base that holds it tight and shoots it out the mag-well when ejected.

Looking at their site, I don't see the spring-assisted listed anymore but here's their standard 10 rounder.

The Mecgars are excellent mags and they are in fact, one of Browning's suppliers.

https://www.mec-gar.com/pistol-magazines/Browning/BROWNING-HP-10-Limited


Todd.

 

[Waveski]

If you get mags with the right (legal) limit you should be ok ... are such mags available?

 

[ancientnoob]

If you get mags with the right (legal) limit you should be ok ... are such mags available?

Based on what the other guy said, yes it is doable.

 

[ancientnoob]

Mecgar makes an outstanding 10 rounder and it has the added bonus of a spring at the base that holds it tight and shoots it out the mag-well when ejected.


Todd.

Ah, now I have to get one. I have got to get off this message board. ENABLERS!!!! - Thanks Todd, back to GB I go.

 

[ancientnoob]

I would also consider getting it Robar NP3+ for the price these are being sold at!

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I would also consider getting it Robar NP3+ for the price these are being sold at!

An excellent idea. It wouldn't be as if you are queering some amazing collectible firearm's finish.


Todd.

 

[WVsig]

I would also consider getting it Robar NP3+ for the price these are being sold at!

They no longer refinish firearms.

 

[Waveski]

Thanks Todd, back to GB I go.

You might also consider dealing directly with Mach1. Really fast process and shipping.

 

[ancientnoob]

They no longer refinish firearms.

I saw this and was amazed they buttoned it up. It does look like they got some other companies doing the refinishing through out the US.

 

[I6turbo]

You might also consider dealing directly with Mach1. Really fast process and shipping.

Yes, call them direct and talk to them about what you want. IME, they will pick out a good gun for you. I'm thrilled with my 1994 model MK III that I got that way 3 or 4 years ago. They import better guns than AIM for better prices, IMO.