Need help assessing value of old Browning Hi Power 9mm
 

Greetings all, I am considering selling or trading my old Browning as I am the type of person who shoots what I own and this old gun really needs to just be retired in a collection somewhere.

It is a very old Browning Hi Power with a four digit serial number and made in Belgium with various other markings; some appear to be Chinese. Are there any gun experts among the Pelican population that can help me asses the value? I have a lot of pictures and can take more as needed but will start with these for now.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396701093.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396701127.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396701148.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396701163.jpg

Vintage High Power
 

What you have there appears to be a pre WWII High Power with the tangent sight. I could not tell from the pictures, but often the guns with the tangent sights will also have a slot in the grip for a removeable stock/holster. The "chinese" markings are various proof marks that were put on the piece when it was built. It might be interesting to do a bit of research to find out exactly what they are. The older High Powers tend to bring pretty good money from collectors. You might want to take a look on the Gunbroker.com site to try to establish a value. This piece could go back as far as the late 1930's.

butt stock groove
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396704453.jpg
and a view of the sighting rail
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396704567.jpg

worthless - but I'll pay the shipping for you to send it to me

mmmmm, yeah, I think I'll pass on that deal. But thanks for the offer anyway. ;)

pic of the breech face?
Thinking '46 or '47

As a heads up, if'n you can get your hand on an original stock, it should be exempt from NFA

Pardon my ignorance, but I'm not following "breech face"?

Breech face
 

That is the part of the slide that closes against the back or primer end of the cartridge. Where the firing pin come thru.

this?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396742957.jpg

Age.......
 

Your pistol has the early type of (internal) extractor which makes it at least pre 1962. After that time, the guns used an external extractor design. Since your example does not have a prefix or suffix to the serial number, I believe that would place it before 1954 when they started being imported into the US. Serial number info on the Hi Powers is sketchy before then. That said, I believe your gun is a WWII military issue that someone brought back as a war souvenier. As such, it would have considerable value to a collector. Even in it's current condition, I would think that it would bring between $1200 - $1500 at auction, maybe more. I hope this helps.

thank you. that helps a lot. If you run across anything else, please let me know.

I purchased this gun about 1990 from a friend who had a contact in Maryland that was an arms importer. While I was unable to verify this, he said it came from a warehouse in China.

thanks again. SmileWavy

Are you saying that the lion, PV and * N are Chinese markings?

No, after I looked closer (last night), I realized they were written sideways and what they were. :rolleyes: I had just never really thought about it until recently. All I ever did was load ammo and go shoot. I did that regularly for about the first three years I owned it. I then fell on some hard financial times and was unable to buy loading supplies and simply put the thing away and didn't think about it again until a few months ago.

Here are a couple more pics in case this helps identify anything.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396784809.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396784851.jpg

and this is what's stamped on the barrel but difficult to read in a picture.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1396785027.jpg

Proof marks
 

I found the lion over PV proof. It is a "Nitro" proof or Parabellum proof. Definitely Belgian. Haven't found anything on the lion over N proof. Probably a general acceptance mark for the piece.

$250 to $325

Value
 

I would buy it for that amount but would not sell it at that price! Seriously, these guns are very collectible.

QUOTE: "I would buy it for that amount... these guns are very collectible."
______________________

Exactly.

* Off topic example: I was watching a Barrett Jackson auction a few months back on TV.
A black on black 1970 Chevelle SS came up. Built as a Pro-mod street car - the under chassis cam showed, fuel cell with braided lines, a four-link, SS exhaust, four wheel big disc brakes. It had a 502ci BB crate engine, after-market AC. The car was lowered with nice wheels on it - looked flawless top to bottom.

It was the first day, a Thursday I think. Hammed SOLD (no reserve!) at ....$39,600! That 502 crate motor is about $17k alone.

I was screaming at the TV...an unreal purchase for someone.

If it had rolled across on Saturday, that car could have gone to six figures. If the guy did all the work himself - I doubt he could have built that car for less that $60-70k.

Timing - and desire.

FN Hi Powers
 

Found these on Gunbroker.com. Neither one has the tangent sight or stock slot but both appear to be from the same era. Note the same slide markings and proof marks. Price range is about $1100 to $1500, but I believe that your example would be worth more as it has the long range sight and is milled for the stock.

Used Colt 1911-22 Gold Cup Trophy 22LR NO RESERVE : Semi Auto Pistols at GunBroker.com

Early Belgian FN Hi-Power P-35 thumbprint P35 : Semi Auto Pistols at GunBroker.com

Sorry, my bad, got the wrong one!

Ok, I think I got it right this time!

reported

Huh? To who, and for what?

For some odd reason I really want one of the old Brownings with the tangent sights.

There is a Nazi marked one on Gunbroker, without the stock cut on the grip:

FN Browning Hi Power Nazi WaA103 Tangent 52667 : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com

For someone wanting a WW2 bringback, this seems like a decent deal: Nazi Browning Hi Power WWII German Pistol 9mm : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com

Fred,

I really appreciate all of this. I'm looking at those links you provided and am thinking I would not be too far off the mark in asking 1200 for mine. It has a couple of desirable features the others don't but is not in as good a condition cosmetically. Is that sound reasoning?

There was a spambot post which has been deleted. Thanks moderators! SmileWavy

red-beard,

Having been a land-locked sailor on Lake Meredith for several years, I fully appreciate your signature line. well done!

1200 sounds pretty reasonable, should go pretty quickly

I hope so, I want it to be a fair deal for myself and for the buyer. That's why I ask a lot of questions from those with better intel than me.

Update
 

I just saw some pictures of Browning Hi Powers produced under the German occupation of Belgium that began in 1940. The serials on the occupation guns have a suffix of "1a". Since your gun does not have that, it is probably one that was made for the Belgium military between 1935 and early 1940. The occupation guns will also have a German "Waffenampt" proof on it. Judging by the condition of your Hi Power, it most likely saw some hard service during WWII.

Price
 

You have a very collectible item in that Hi Power or P35, don't give it away! I would put it out for auction with a reserve and see what the market will do!