Question about FN High Power

[Kyle M.]

I've come across an FN High Power that I'm thinking about buying but I do not know much about these pistols. I've honestly never even seen one in person before, so I'm hoping someone can shed some light on what I may have found and how much I should pay. I am going to look at the pistol tomorrow morning, any chance of getting a year of production based off the serial number 44xxx? I did some quick googling but it seems that FN serial number records can be quite evasive. Sorry for the photos these are the only two the shops website had. Also thanks in advance for any info.

Information

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[Kyle M.]

Well I went to look at the High Power and on my way in the door something else caught my eye, as I was looking around a guy came charging in panting wanting to see the High Power. He looked at it for less than 5 seconds before buying it. So I ended up with a Colt New Service in .45 Colt instead.

[browningautorifle]

I would have probably just taken the Hi-Power because it's so clean. Nice pistol. Now, show us this revolver you just got?

[Gil Boyd]

Kyle,

My view if it means anything.................it served me 100% whilst serving, NEVER had a stoppage and I was sad to see it go and replaced by the Glock. But hey ho thats life!!
I have a friend in NI who asked me to source him one as his PPW and I have now tried absolutely everywhere for a decent good barrel and finished model andb they have become like Rocking Horse poo...........rare indeed, so my advice is try buy it off the guy who bought it.

[Kyle M.]

I would have probably just taken the Hi-Power because it's so clean. Nice pistol. Now, show us this revolver you just got?

Oh I'll be starting a thread on it, now that I realize it is not what it is supposed to be. Let's see what kind of pickle I'm in now.

[Gil Boyd]

Colt .45 like carrying a cannon compared to 9mm

[browningautorifle]

Colt .45 like carrying a cannon

But are they ever nice.

[Mister Coffee]

Kyle, sorry I didn't respond yesterday. I'm no expert, and it's too late for this gun now, but here's some info.

The gun pictured has an internal extractor, "thumb print" slide and ring hammer. Those are your first three dating characteristics. I think they stopped using the internal extractor in the early 1960s. I think the thumb print slide was only used in the 1940s-ish. The ring hammer is the original design feature; it changed to the spur hammer in the early 1970s-ish. I don't know what's up with the "257" on the right side. May be a rack number. Your pictures show a gun that is in very good condition.

Hi-Powers are, at least for the moment, selling at a premium because a) FN stopped making new ones and b) the pandemic.

This site is a good place for info on a gun like that one:

https://highpowercollectors.proboard...threads/recent

Cheers.

[Kyle M.]

Kyle, sorry I didn't respond yesterday. I'm no expert, and it's too late for this gun now, but here's some info.

The gun pictured has an internal extractor, "thumb print" slide and ring hammer. Those are your first three dating characteristics. I think they stopped using the internal extractor in the early 1960s. I think the thumb print slide was only used in the 1940s-ish. The ring hammer is the original design feature; it changed to the spur hammer in the early 1970s-ish. I don't know what's up with the "257" on the right side. May be a rack number. Your pictures show a gun that is in very good condition.

Hi-Powers are, at least for the moment, selling at a premium because a) FN stopped making new ones and b) the pandemic.

This site is a good place for info on a gun like that one:

https://highpowercollectors.proboard...threads/recent

Cheers.

Thanks for the info it's a good reference in case I find another. I had read elsewhere that serial number 47,000 or so was the cut off for pre Nazi occupation guns. So if that is correct it would have made this one pre war. They were asking $1000 for it on consignment.

[browningautorifle]

They were asking $1000 for it on consignment.

That's what they cost hereabouts too, more or less. CDN of course...