Chinese FN Contract Hi Power

[bacarnal]

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.

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.

[Mister Coffee]

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

[bacarnal]

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

[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

[Brit plumber]

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

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.

[Paul S.]

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, 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.

[bacarnal]

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.

[browningautorifle]

Nice looking old pistol.

[Daan Kemp]

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

[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.