What's the story on FN surplus Hi Powers?

[Jim NE]

I saw them advertised as guns with significant finish wear, but at prices well below used Browning Hi Powers (which aren't that easy to find, anyway.)

Are the FN's decent guns? I know FN is a great company, but are their Hi Powers as good as the Brownings? How are they different from Brownings, if at all? Any input and education welcome. Thanks.

 

[WVsig]

The search feature of the forum will serve you well. FN Herstal is Browning. Browning does not make any guns. They are an importer and distributor. Every single Browning Hi Power is a FN Hi Power. They are the ones who commissioned JMB to design the pistol that became the BHP. The design was finished by Saive after JMBs death.

Most of the surplus guns you see are Israeli civil defense forces trade ins. The ones currently at AIM are pretty rough. These days even CDI sales on GB and Mach 1 Arsenals BHPs are also looking rough. The best days of Izzy surplus BHPs may be over. There are still good surplus guns for $500 give or take but they are getting harder to find.

FN guns are good to go get a nice one while you still can. Here is one of mine which I bought years ago.

 

[tarosean]

Are the FN's decent guns? I know FN is a great company, but are their Hi Powers as good as the Brownings?

All Brownings are FN's...
Browning is the importer, the gun has always been built by FN. (except clones of course)

 

[JTQ]

All Brownings are FN's...
Browning is the importer, the gun has always been built by FN. (except clones of course)

This is correct.

(I suppose if we're splitting hair's, it's all Browning Hi-Power's are FN's. Browning has sold a bunch of guns not made by FN)

 

[I6turbo]

I second what WVsig wrote above.

Also will say that the Hi Power is a fantastic gun and you should definitely own at least one.

And here's just about all you ever need to know about Hi Powers, accurate and reliable info that you can trust.
http://hipowersandhandguns.com/HiPowerComments.html

 

[Jim NE]

Thanks for the great education, folks. I was, in fact looking at the AIM guns. It's hard to assess their condition, which is why your input is appreciated.

When looking at used Hi Powers, how can I distinguish military surplus from non-military?

 

[Sistema1927]

A whole lot of HP's were used by Israel. They got them from a number of different sources, including commercial channels. As such, the "military surplus" and "non-military" aren't readily distinguishable.

I purchased an Israeli MkIII FN from AIM last year, and I have been very happy with it.