L9A1 Hi-Power question

[enbloc8]

A question:

Somebody on another board posted pics of a purported L9A1 Hi-Power. The basic markings match the described Australian spec sheet in the Hi-Power book by Stevens, but there's a couple of things I find puzzling:

1.) The serial number is a T-series, not the "country+year+A12345" serial described in the book and shown on pics of British (I assume) L9A1s.

2.) The NSN on the frame does not match the one on the photographed L9A1s in the book (and looks a little small).

3.) There is no NSN at all on the slide.

Does any of this add up for an L9A1? My gut says it's a common civilian T-series Hi-Power that somebody had custom engraved with the extra markings.

Anyone??

Information

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[Brit plumber]

I think I posted a reply on the same post you mention. This early gun has both the BL67 prefix and a T serial.

Pistol Automatic 9mm L9A1 (FIR 10374)

[Paul S.]

BP, all I can say to that picture is, "Ouch!"

[enbloc8]

No, not that one...this one:

Browning Hi-Power Owner's Forum - L9A1 Value

Like I said, this one looks to me like a civvie T-series HP with ersatz "L9A1" markings added...the biggest reason of all I think that is, I've thought of doing the same thing with one of the fairly-available-right-now T-series HPs! (Unless, by some miracle, a supply of genuine surplus L9A1s miraculously makes its way to the States!)

Regarding my comments, I'd been hoping I could draw responses from some of the more knowledgeable sorts on that site...alas, not so far! :-/

[Peter Laidler]

If that is an L9 dated 1963, then I'd say NOT british because we got our first L9 pistols commencing 1967 and they had BL67A xxxxx serial numbers. However, towards the end and for the last purchases at the end of the 1990's when we'd had enough of the a) unit prices b)spare parts prices and c) quality issues and d) FN thinking that they were calling the shots, we accepted pistols with their serial numbers 'off the shelf' so to speak.

From the 80's due to UN Arms controls and EU rules we were forced to accept L9's with the FN type serial number down the grip front but they still had a UK Military type number

[enbloc8]

What about Australia? It's supposedly a bring-back from Vietnam, and that's the only way (however unlikely) I could see an L9A1 making its way to the US.

Would the Aussies have been purchasing on their own, or were they part of the purchasing arrangement with Britain? That T-series serial makes it sound like they were purchasing from regular FN production on their own.

[Peter Laidler]

Best you read Clive Laws 'Inglis Diamond' I only ever saw the old familiar No2 Pistols in Australia SVN and Malaya. In fact I brought a tangent sighted No1 back with me

[enbloc8]

Best you read Clive Laws 'Inglis Diamond' I only ever saw the old familiar No2 Pistols in Australia SVN and Malaya. In fact I brought a tangent sighted No1 back with me

I have the book. About all it says is that the Aussies had perilously few Hi-Powers (less than 800 IIRC) before they started buying L9A1s. Not much detail beyond that.

A major +1 on bringing a tangent sighted piece back! (Is that the one pictured in Law's book that had a Chinese background?)