Why are Hi Powers considered 'cheap'?

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rcellis

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I've been reading a lot of negative comments about the Browning Hi Power, usually about workmanship and/or materials.

I had presumed that the HP design was in the public domain by now (like the 1911) and that different companies could 'differentiate' themselves...

So, is it something about the basic design that's poor, or is it that Browning builds a cheap substandard product, or what?

To all HP fans out there - I don't mean to insult - you know better than anyone that the HP gets some bad press...

EDIT: Added after many posts - I was confusing Hi-Powers with Hi-Points.

Clint
 
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Rcellis, you sure you don't have Hi-Point and Hi-Power confused? Hi-Powers are great and probably one of the most under used and under rated firearms made.
 
ugaarguy they are only underrated and underused in America! apparently some members of the SAS still use them and a butt load of other countries (canada for one but I think they might be changing soon). Its unfortunate that more people do not appreciate the beauty, quality and combat proven reliability of this firearm in our own country (although many civies like myself do) and/or military and police (I would much prefer a Browning to a beretta 92). ...sigh.... just my own preference though...
 
Some people dislike the mag disconect, thumb saftey, hammer bite, and caliber. I dont like the wide bottom heavy feel of the grip frame mated with the skinny slide, it just feels odd to me.
 
Some like Hi-Powers and some don't, but I have never heard anyone use Hi-Power and "cheap" in the same sentence.
Damn, I just did!
Well, you get the idea.
 
Yeah I also have never heard them referred to as cheap??

To answer your question the design is public domain.

There are many clones on the market today. Charles Daly, FM, Ingis, Acrus and Feg all come to mind. That said none of these are considered superior to the FN/Browning versions.
 
Hi Powers cheap? :confused:
Now I was talking to my smith about why he loves the BHP. He was telling me about how the design works. I doubt all the Hi Power fans on THR are wrong ;)
 
I've never heard that either... The Hi-Power is roundly acknowledged to be a Class Act... and Browning builds the best of them.
 
My mistake - and explains my added confusion - the bad reviews were in fact of Hi Points. No wonder I couldn't make sense of the different posts.

So, I gather that the Hi Power is a respected pistol, but the Hi Points are sub-standard?

Clint
 
Now you just completely PO'ed all the high point owners out there....!
Click to expand...


:p

Well, I'm a Hi-Point owner, and advocate, and I'm not POed. Hi-Points are generally considered to be "cheap." They are not as well made, or made from the same quality of materials as other guns. Of course on the other hand, they are much less expensive than most other guns also.

The fact that they're "cheap" (I prefer "inexpensive" myself :neener: ) doesn't stop them from being functional. No, they're not pretty. No they're not something your kids are likely to fight over when you die, but if you need a gun, and got only a few bucks, they're worth a look.
 
Cheap? Brownings are not cheap in quality OR in price. You must be thinking about Hi-Points...? :confused:

At one time, almost every NATO country used the BHP as their standard-issue sidearm. Personally, I think the HP is the best 9mm out there... [gimme a sec to put on my kevlar helmet] ...And I even think that the HP is the best single-action pistol out there*. :)

*Excepting the Sig-Neuhausen P210, which is not readily available to most, and VERY expensive.

Are you sure you're thinking of these?
347157.jpg


347158.jpg


Wes

EDIT: Whoops, started this post this morning, just finished it... I guess we just determined that you weren't talking about the FN/Browning Hi Power. ;)
 
For comparison, these are Hi-Point pistols. :uhoh:

SThipoint_100605A.jpg


hi-point%20jhp.jpg


I can't comment on their function; I have only handled them. I will say that they are ungainly in the handling department and leave a lot to be desired aesthetically.

But if it works, for the usual price of ~120, then I guess that's what matters most.

Wes
 
Hi-Points grow on you after a while :) And yes they shoot pretty good.

I have in the past been tempted to by a hi-power clone. But I keep putting it off cuz I want a real Hi-Power. I have 2 1911s one a Colt and a RIA they are both good guns I carry my RIA (don't want to lose my Colt) But there is something about the Colt that the RIA doesn't have,fit finish workmanship I guess. Not putting down my Rock, just if I had to give one up it would be the RIA. And I'm sure I would feel the same way about a HP clone. Looks like one but is not really a Hi-Power.

Chris
 
arent they made of zinc or some other type of pot metal like big raven .25s?
 
There are many clones on the market today. Charles Daly, FM, Ingis, Acrus and Feg all come to mind. That said none of these are considered superior to the FN/Browning versions.
Click to expand...

Close. As I understand it the Inglis Hi-Powers are Canadian and most parts do not interchange with the FN/Browning pistols. The Arcus uses Hi Power mags and I believe some other parts but its not a true clone a la the Ballester Molina to 1911 analogy. FM of Argentina was previously licensed by FN and most owners say they make a very good copy. I've also heard many positive reports on the Hungarian FEG Hi Power clone, which is a true clone - Sarco has Lithuanian Police marked FEGs for sale btw. I've hears the "American Made" Charles Daly Hi Powers are either FM or FEG parts assembled in the US. Hey, if it works for Springfield Armory on their 1911 frames I guess it should work for Daly too.

David_The_Greek, I agree and should have clarified that in the US the Hi Power is under appreciated. The first Hi-Power I actually fired was an FN that a co worker got surplus several years ago. It's one of the Israeli contract pistols. He even gave me an extra Fobus leather mag holder for it - now to convince him to part with the Fobus clip on leather holster for it which I really like.
 
I agree there's likely some confusion.

Hi Power = P35, a quality SA 9mm semiautomatic pistol designed predominantly by John Moses Browning, with the final elements of the design finished after his death, since produced by FN for decades.

Hi-Point = recently-inaugurated firearms manufacturing company producing clunky, bulky inexpensive semiautomatic pistols in several calibers.
 
So, I gather that the Hi Power is a respected pistol...
Click to expand...

As the additional post have stated, YES, Hi Powers are awesome. Perhaps only the FN FAL has been made in and used by more countries than the BHP, if not its gotta be up there on the list. Did you know it was one of, if not the, last weapons designed by John Moses Browning? Shh - just don't tell the 1911 guys, they might throw hissy fits if they knew that JMB designed a 9mm service pistol, cuz you know the 45 ACP is the greatest thing ever :neener:
 
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