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can anyone tell me anything about this pistol?

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cohenj87

Posted: Aug 1st 2010, 10:24 PM

its a friends of mine and he picked it up at a garage sale for a really low price. its a 9mm and on the slide it says (fabrique nationale d'armes de guerre herstal belgique browning's patent depose) if anyone could tell me some stuff about these that would be awesome.

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Apr 19th 09
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Room 055

Posted: Aug 1st 2010, 11:52 PM

Looks like a FN Browning Hi-Power:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Hi-Power

Probably worth $500 or more.

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Jan 8th 09
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Tbird

Posted: Aug 2nd 2010, 12:39 AM

You should really find out from the serial number the date or year of manufacture.
I have one that was early 50s, or even 1950 manufacture. It is in about 98%. I took it to a dealer who collects these guns as well as German Lugers. He really wanted to buy it, but I wanted to hang on to it. I have had it since 1977. Mine looks just like the one in the Blue Book of gun values.

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May 9th 08
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Recoil

Posted: Aug 2nd 2010, 09:02 AM

It definitely looks like it would be a great fit in one of my safes! Good on him.

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Dec 27th 07
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cohenj87

Posted: Aug 2nd 2010, 09:53 AM

well the finish is is pretty rough shape with pleanty of pitting. the serial number is 112,xxx and the barrel matches the slide and matches the frame. he offered to sell it to me for 150 yesterday because he really needs money but i cant buy a gun right now so i just borrowed him the $$. he told me to take it out and shoot and and see if i like it. he said it was a 1 time deal thing because after tomorrow he wont need that $$ anymore. i asked him more about it and his dad just got it recently at a garage sale and gave it to him as a gift. i think im gonna talk him into holding onto it. where can i find out its age from its serial number?

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Room 055

Posted: Aug 2nd 2010, 11:13 AM

FN Browning Hi-Powers with serial numbers between 70,000 and 115,823 were manufactured between 1954 and 1964. I'd say it was probably manufactured in the first couple of years of the 1960's.

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cohenj87

Posted: Aug 2nd 2010, 11:33 AM

thanks alot guys. i also found a forum full of knuckle heads that love these guns and its devoted to just hp's so i asked there also. thanks again guys.

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cohenj87

Posted: Aug 2nd 2010, 10:26 PM

it appears that it was made in 1942 during the nazi occupation of belgium. im kicking myself for not taking it before i researched it. im a good friend and wont pull a fast one on my buddy. it seems that someone later nickel plated it which brings the value down to about 5-600. there is a very good chance this gun was issued and used in ww2.

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Room 055

Posted: Aug 3rd 2010, 12:08 AM

Cohen,

I looked at the pictures closer. That pistol has the Waffen marks used by the Germans for inspection. It is indeed a 1940's occupation manufactured pistol. The serial number you provided threw me since that serial number indicates a 1960's model.

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Mad_Max

Posted: Aug 3rd 2010, 09:36 AM

Yep.....It's a capture or occupation Hi-Power, Waffenampt marking, Tangent rear sight, It would probably except the Wood stock/Holster.......

Don't beat yourself up over it, Condition looks rough, And someone having it Nickled just kills the value.....Seen too many like this, Polish Radoms, Berettas, Etc refinished in this fashion ruining the collector's value.

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May 31st 09
FL US

Bishopn87

Posted: Aug 3rd 2010, 01:00 PM

It's too bad about the nickel plating ... My dad has an FN-licensed copy of a Colt 1907 (if I remember correctly) that his dad picked up off the assembly line during his visit to Europe back in 1944. He's got the paperwork from his company commander authorizing him to bring it back and everything. It's got all the WaA markings, swastika-marked holster, etc. I wish it was a Hi-Power, instead of the dinky little .32 ... but, eh, can't have everything. :)

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Sep 18th 09
CA US

cohenj87

Posted: Aug 3rd 2010, 06:00 PM

i wouldve never sold it and just kept it for the history. i guess it was bought at the garage sale from an old retired trooper and it was his service pistol i guess. so needless to say being 68 yrs old this gun has seen alot of service.

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