Browning P35 info

H

HigherStandard

New member
I just received a Browning P35 in trade. I thought I was getting a Hi Power, but I researched a little bit and found that it falls before the 1955 Hi Power listings. The serial number is in the 29xxx series. It has the small military sights. The dimple for takedown. On the left side of the pistol, it reads, "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE HERSTAL - BELGIQUE", then smaller "BROWNINGS PATENT DEPOSE", this is all on the left side of the slide. There are smaller markings in several places on the pistol, but I will have to dig up a magnifying glass for that. Bright blue finish on the main part of the pistol, but matte finish on top and very front of it. Walnut checkered grips. Forged frame. No indent for shoulder stock. Overall, 98%. I am just trying to put an age and value on it. Any help is appreciated.
 
right. it is the same as a high power. it just became the hi power around 1955. before that, it was the p35. just trying to find out a born on date. talked to Bill at Cylinder and Slide. he was a BIG help. have a really good idea of age and value now. thanks?:confused:
 
The Browning Hi-Power is the civilian version of the P35. If you have a P35, it is not a Browning P35, it is an FN P35. They are not necessarily exactly the same gun, there are often small parts differences, such as bolt release and safety diameters. Many Hi-Power parts will fit, but you need to measure them to be sure.
 
The High Power was called that virtually from day one. The original term was "Grande Puissance" which translates as "High Power." An FN catalog (in English) from its introduction date of 1934 calls it the High Power. The first nation to adopt the pistol was Belgium, where it was called the "Modele 1935". After the Germans took over, they called it the P.35(b) and so marked it, so the term "P.35" was given it by a conquering enemy.

So, unless one is speaking specifically of a pistol made for, or taken over by, the German occupation, the term "P.35" is technically not correct.

The "military" pistol, made before WWII, did not differ from the civilian pistol made at that time and all parts (except for sights) interchange. The same pistol was made for the Germans throughout WWII although late ones have no magazine safety. In the post-war period, first commercial production also had no magazine safety, but that was soon re-installed. In 1950, there were a number of changes made, some minor and some major. In 1962, there were major and visible changes. The extractor was made external, the sear lever retainer changed to a roll pin, and some more minor modifications made to the barrel dimensions.

There was never a real distinction between the "Browning" HP and the "FN" HP. In the beginning, FN used the well known Browning name for advertising, even though Browning died in 1926, and had nothing to do with the design of the pistol, which was by Saive.

More recently, HPs imported into the US by Browning Arms Co. (solely an importer) were marked Browning Arms Co., but otherwise differed not at all from those made for other countries.

Jim
 
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