High Power Pistols

[jhutto]

Is the barel supposed to be tight to the slide like a 1911? is the slide supposed to be tight to the frame like a 1911, are there good magizines available? What should I look for as far as stamping on a highpower? anything else I should look at? How much should I expect to pay.

- I love the looks of these.

[MoJo]

Is the barel supposed to be tight to the slide like a 1911? is the slide supposed to be tight to the frame like a 1911, are there good magizines available? What should I look for as far as stamping on a highpower? anything else I should look at? How much should I expect to pay.

- I love the looks of these.

The answer to your first two questions is yes. There are a lot of magazines available the best being Browning and Mec-Gar. I'm not up on the markings and prices although the Charles Daly High-Power is a very good value. I own one and it has been 100%.

Maybe Stephen Camp will chime in with some of his expertise.

[NcongruNt]

I have an Argentine Hi-Power. It's a FM-90. FM is the Argentine military arsenal. They have licensed the Hi-Power design and tooling from FN in Belgium, and are essentially the same gun as the FN Hi-Power. As the design is licensed, it would be considered a "true" Hi-Power, rather than a clone such as the FEG and most of the others. The FM-90 Hi-Power that I have is the same as an FN Mk II Hi-Power, with the only real difference between the two being the slide design. FM took out the beveling at the front of the gun and opted for a slide that looks more like that of a 1911. Here's what it looks like:



The external finish may not be quite as nice, but all the reviews I've read on the Argentine guns say that their functionality and reliability seem to be comparable to the FN pistols. They're a good deal if you come across one. They seem to be generally available NIB for around $400.

As far as the slide, I believe it is similar to a 1911 in that aspect. Mec-Gar makes an unextended 15-round magazine for the Hi-Power. They can be had for around $25, and I hear they are good stuff. The stock FM magazines have metal followers and hold 14 rounds. I have no idea where to get them other than with a new gun, though. Stock FN magazines hold 13 rounds. You can find them fairly cheap in various places.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I cannot provide information that would be of use to a collector as I've
just not really been interested in this aspect of the Hi Power; I just shoot and use them.

Here is a link concerning what one might look for if shopping for a used Hi Power:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/UsedHiPower.htm

How much one would expect to pay for a Hi Power depends not only on its condition but which version of the gun it actually is. For example, older "classic" Hi Powers with a "T" in the serial number are regarded highly, not only among collectors but shooters as well. These are generally considered to be fitted well and sport really fine polished blue finishes.

After FN quit manufacturing the classic style Hi Power, it was replaced with the Mk II for a few years in the 1980's but this model was relatively short lived and was replaced with the Mk III, the current "chasis" on which today's Hi Powers are made. Information on how the Mk II differs from the Mk III can be found here:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Diff ... dMkIII.htm

Opinions differ on which version(s) of the pistol are the best. My views are here:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/BestHiPower.htm

Other information that might be of interest:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/HiPo ... erBite.htm

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/MagazineSafety.htm

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/TwoPieceBarrels.htm

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Accuracy.htm

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Hi%2 ... gevity.htm

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/9mm_ ... bility.htm

Hopefully, this will be of some use in your search.

Best.

[res1b3uq]

Sarco in NY have these in new condition at reasonable prices. They also had a Detective(4") model.

[GeoJAP]

There are many different kinds of Hi-Powers and also knock offs. I have a Browning (made in Belgium) Hi-power made in 1983. It is a really nice shooter and its street value is about $475 or so. There are so many different series and variations of the Hi-Power that it is hard to answer your broad questions, because it depends on which series and manufacturer that you are looking at.