Browning HP Discontinued

My pre war Belgian Army issue, post war "E" series, Inglis, MarkII, two Mark III's and beautiful high polish Tangent Browning marked--pistols just became more dear to me.:D
 
The really sad part about this is our consumer market, and its almost obsessive compulsive fixation on "collectables".

Very soon, every Hi Power will have at least a couple hundred dollars added to the asking price (no matter the condition) because "they ain't makin them no more, its collectable!"

AND people will pay it, pay more for a discontinued pistol than they would have paid for the same gun when it was current production, which, if they had bought it new, would have kept the gun in production.
 
It has the same models on both discontinued and current production.
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Different calibers though. Looks like the 9 mm is still there & the .40 S&W is gone. You have to use the little drop down menu to see what's what.
 
The BHP is a classic. I currently own five in both 9mm and .40 S&W. I am just glad FN decided to discontinue production rather than offer up a cheapened version featuring a polymer frame with tactical rail.
 
I own 3 of them all bought used. I can't imagine they've sold very many of them at the $900 price point in the past couple of years.

Might be a good time to stock up on some small parts - springs, extractors, etc.
 
Collectibles - you can carry a collectible Hi-power along with your John Wayne/NRA Winchster 30-30 in your King Ranch limited edition F-150. Fill the back with beanie babies.

They were neat guns but I agree about the price point. There is some highly modified version being marketed at $2k as the ultimate.

To each his own.
 
I always wanted one but felt like they were kind of overpriced anyways. The HP doesnt look so great when you consider theres about a dozen companies that make SA 9mms and 1911s that cost considerably less and are probably better guns.
Yeah, its cool that its all steel and was partly design by John Browning but that gun should never have cost more than $800.
 
The HP doesnt look so great when you consider theres about a dozen companies that make SA 9mms and 1911s that cost considerably less and are probably better guns.
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Being a gun enthusiast...I have, over time, handled/fired more pistols than I care to list. Its true, there are many sa 9mm....and 1911...that cost less...but as far as being "better guns"...that is only an opinion and not a fact....

Of all the 9s available...regardless of the price/manufacture/materials....not one fits my hand....points like a reflex...than does a Browning HP. The one I carry daily, I picked up for $320 NIB. Yes it was several years ago. But when the rumors started to fly that Browning's were an endangered item, I bought two more...and I did not spend anywhere near $800 for them. I still look...and handle...and fire...all the wonder nines that show up at the range....and I still have not met one that will replace my BHPs....


I just found the receipt...for my last BHP....bought last year...a standard...polished blue...adj sites....$649...
 
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^ Being able to find firearms at excellent prices is an important skill to have and you should be commended for it. That does not, however, change the fact that the average street price of a factory new Hi Power has been higher than $649 for some time, and certainly more than $320.
 
^ Being able to find firearms at excellent prices is an important skill to have and you should be commended for it. That does not, however, change the fact that the average street price of a factory new Hi Power has been higher than $649 for some time, and certainly more than $320.
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The best days of the BHP surplus guns is over IMHO. Israeli has been the best source for a long time and it seems like they have dried up and what is coming in now is nowhere near as nice as they were say 5-10 years ago. CDI sales one of the major and IMHO the best of the BHP surplus importers current has ZERO for sale on GB. Sad...

That said used BHPs at fair prices are everywhere if you know what to look for and know where to look. You also need to have cash in hand and not hesitate when you see a gun that meets your needs. I think that this will hold true for a long time because of the cheer number of these guns in this country.
 
44 AMP said:
The really sad part about this is our consumer market, and its almost obsessive compulsive fixation on "collectables".

Very soon, every Hi Power will have at least a couple hundred dollars added to the asking price (no matter the condition) because "they ain't makin them no more, its collectable!"

AND people will pay it, pay more for a discontinued pistol than they would have paid for the same gun when it was current production, which, if they had bought it new, would have kept the gun in production.
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I agree AMP.
 
Sad to see it go. A great design that most people don't want to pay the price for anymore. For those wanting something similar, there's still the CZ-75.

Much of the market has moved to polymer framed striker fired 9mms which can be produced at a much lower cost. Those who don't mind a single action seem willing to give up the additional rounds and opt for a 1911 in 9mm nowadays.
 
44 AMP said:
The really sad part about this is our consumer market, and its almost obsessive compulsive fixation on "collectables".

Very soon, every Hi Power will have at least a couple hundred dollars added to the asking price (no matter the condition) because "they ain't makin them no more, its collectable!"

AND people will pay it, pay more for a discontinued pistol than they would have paid for the same gun when it was current production, which, if they had bought it new, would have kept the gun in production.
Click to expand...

It's a very unusual gun owner who buys a potential "collectible" that later gets sold at a real profit. Even when they seem to make a profit over the longer term, most increases in value are NEVER as much as the devaluation of the dollar due to inflation. A 2017 dollar, for example, buys what $.11 bought in 1957! That means a $550 gun bought in 1957 would have to sell for almost $5,000 in 2017 to just have the same investment value! Inflation is a killer.

The people who do well when buying or selling guns -- even collectibles -- are generally people who really KNOW their guns, or buy from/sell to folks who DON'T know their guns.

Most of the successful gun people I've talked or dealt with don't buy for long-term growth in value -- they're more focused on the present. The dealers tend to try to move their inventory (where they can make a profit today and tomorrow and stay in business and grow) while collectors continually buy, sell, or trade guns in an effort to IMPROVE the quality of their collection today.

The rest of us just spend our money. :)
 
That's the truth about collectibles. The dealers make the profit on the margins and sales, not on the increase in value.

If you buy collectibles, you need to buy them because you want them as part of your hobby and not for investment.

I know the coin world pretty well. I have some things that have increased in value nicely but I bought them for the hobby. Also, count on getting about 60% of market value when you sell. That's the margin. Auction houses take a significant percent.

Modern commemorative coins - except for a rare few - go for bullion value in a few years.
 
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