Need help assessing value of old Browning Hi Power 9mm

cruisin · 05:31 AM

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.

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

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.

cruisin · 04-05-2014, 05:30 AM

butt stock groove

and a view of the sighting rail

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

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

cruisin · 04-05-2014, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWebb

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.

HHI944 · 04-05-2014, 03:10 PM

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

cruisin · 04-05-2014, 03:27 PM

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

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisin

Pardon my ignorance, but I'm not following "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.

cruisin · 04-05-2014, 04:09 PM

this?

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisin

this?

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.

cruisin · 04-06-2014, 03:18 AM

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.

rusnak · 04-06-2014, 03:38 AM

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

cruisin · 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusnak

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.

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.

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

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruisin

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.

Mo_Gearhead · 04-06-2014, 05:42 AM

$250 to $325

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo_Gearhead

$250 to $325

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

Mo_Gearhead · 04-06-2014, 08:15 AM

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.

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

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

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by fred cook

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.

Early Belgian FN Hi-Power P-35 thumbprint P35 : 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!

fred cook · fred cook's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by fred cook

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.

FN P-35 (Hi-Power) W/Thumbprint Free Ship NO RES! : Semi Auto Pistols at GunBroker.com

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

Ok, I think I got it right this time!