Question about FN High Power

[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.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[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...

[MSW2]

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

I bought one for $300 (R4500) a couple of days ago. In a very good condition. I could probably have paid less but it was from a friend so...
Hopefully your prices never reach here.

[MSW2]

Home after just over a year of waiting for the powers that be to approve of me possessing my own bought and paid for property.

https://imgbox.com/vdZvT4S6

[martin08]

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.

Commercial pre-war High Power pistols with the fixed rear sight were built in the 9,000 to 12,000 serial range, according to Vanderlinden, FN Browning Pistols. They would also exhibit the slot for the shoulder stock. All other pre-war officer's models came with the tangent sight.

The one pictured above seems most likely to be a post-liberation gun. Vanderlinden does not seem to offer a good serial range for them.

Here is the pre-war Belgian contract officer's model with tangent sight and stock slot.