Chinese FN Contract Hi Power

I have a little beauty that has been between two of my friends and I since it was imported. Serial is 49XX with stock cut and tangent sights. I'd post pix of it but for some odd reason it won't let me upload, though I've done it numerous times before. The finish isn't the best in the world, but she shoots great (surprised me when I took off the head of a Cotton Mouth at about 7 paces who was threatening my dog and I when I was in North Carolina in the mid '90's) and I've been able to hang on to her for the last 10 years. I can't find much on the net about her, but I had a long talk with a gentleman who worked for the main company that shipped them in and distributed them to all of the others, Keng's included. Any further info would be appreciated. Thanks, Bruce.

Hope you eventually get some pictures up, Bruce. I'd like to see the gun. :)

Well, that seemed to work. Here are the pictures requested. All serials match. The magazine has no markings and the floor plate is machined. Any ideas? Thanks, Bruce.

Attachment 99086Attachment 99085Attachment 99084Attachment 99083

Don't think that's a Chinese contract BHP. Supposedly the S/N range for those starts at 5,000, with a CH prefix, and there should be some Chinese characters on it.
I think it's an early commercial BHP. Those had the tangent sights too. Some of them ended up in China too though.
Scroll down to post #7.
China Hi Power - 1911Forum

Sunray, I ran across that 2008 post also. It stated some had Chinese characters and some didn't. I also saw the serial range, but it having been imported by Keng's and its rough finish, I'd go out on a limb and say it was Chinese contract unless someone else has any definitive info. That said, I like her since she's such a rare piece historically speaking (especially with wood grips) and looks like around the first run. Cheers, Bruce.

Nice looking old pistol.

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Originally Posted by Sunray

Don't think that's a Chinese contract BHP. Supposedly the S/N range for those starts at 5,000, with a CH prefix, and there should be some Chinese characters on it.
I think it's an early commercial BHP. Those had the tangent sights too. Some of them ended up in China too though.
Scroll down to post #7.
China Hi Power - 1911Forum

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I think you may have confused the Inglis Contract with the pre war FN contract. The Inglis contract had a CH prefix but AFAIK, the FN contract were an off the shelf pattern with the normal serial sequence.

Serious wear on that BHP but the barrel and frame still seem good.

She still shoots very well. When I got her back about 10 years ago, I had to find an extractor for her, but other than that, she's a great old pistol. I recently acquired a Canadian shoulder stock for her. Yes, I know that a slabside stock would be more appropriate, but those are almost impossible to find.

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Originally Posted by bacarnal

She still shoots very well. When I got her back about 10 years ago, I had to find an extractor for her, but other than that, she's a great old pistol. I recently acquired a Canadian shoulder stock for her. Yes, I know that a slabside stock would be more appropriate, but those are almost impossible to find.

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If you are planning to shoot it regularily i would recommend fitting a later barrel.

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Originally Posted by Lee Enfield

If you are planning to shoot it regularily i would recommend fitting a later barrel.

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Good idea, Thanks!
I've been all over the ball park at gun shows and shops when I ask for an idea of her value. What would y'all consider how much she's worth? Thanks, Bruce.

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Originally Posted by Lee Enfield

If you are planning to shoot it regularily i would recommend fitting a later barrel.

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This is where I point out that the pictured FN BHP is a pre-war Chinese contract pistol and has the early oval cam slot in the barrel lug. "Fitting a later barrel" is an unlikely proposition.

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Originally Posted by Paul S.

This is where I point out that the pictured FN BHP is a pre-war Chinese contract pistol and has the early oval cam slot in the barrel lug. "Fitting a later barrel" is an unlikely proposition.

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It is largely a case of "cut and try".

It should be fairly easy to fit an Inglis barrel, or a pre c.1955/58 FN barrel.

After FN made the "screw Inglis/CAL" changes in the mid 1950s it becomes more difficult.

A post c.1958 to modern barrel can be fitted, but it becomes more difficult.

Paul S., Thanks for the confirmation on it being a Chinese Contract. I should have caught the cam slot difference, but I'd only just read about it a couple of days ago. That said, I could probably radius the cam slot of a square slot barrel as Lee Enfield suggested if I find the right barrel. I have one in mind and hope I can make a deal on it.
Back to worth, does anyone have any ideas on the value of her? Thanks, Bruce.

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Originally Posted by Sunray

Don't think that's a Chinese contract BHP. Supposedly the S/N range for those starts at 5,000, with a CH prefix, and there should be some Chinese characters on it.
I think it's an early commercial BHP. Those had the tangent sights too. Some of them ended up in China too though.
Scroll down to post #7.
China Hi Power - 1911Forum

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Sunray, you are correct with regard to the Lend-Lease Inglis made pistols. However, the illustrated pistol is a pre-war FN pistol, one of the many that the Chinese purchased. In fact, one of the Chinese FNs was used by Inglis to reverse engineer their BHP production drawings.