I am a big fan of hi-powers (Browning/FN/whatever) and have owned custom ones in the past. I sold them within the past year on a whim and find myself wanting one again. I have a couple that I have messed with on my own and they're really pretty good but I still have a yearning for one from a professional gunsmith. Is a Novak Special Ops package Mark III Browning worth $1600? I am considering it somewhat, but I'm not really enthused about spending that much when I could get by with much less. For many years, however, the Novak name has been attached to the custom hi-power as a standard for excellence. I'm not so naive to believe this, of course, but it's still something I'm thinking about. Anyone have any suggestions or advice? Alternative gunsmiths or approaches?
Custom hi-powers
- Thread starter hdm25
- Start date
- Status
Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
Hello, HDM25. I've been a HP afficianado for 30 years now. The first custom work I had done on a '71 HP was the instalation of S&W adjustable revolver sights as the adj sights on the Browning would not hold zero and were too high. I still have and use that pistol.
It also has a slightly extended custom thumb safety.
As the HP is my favorite pistol, like many others, I began to think that I HAD to have this or that custom change made on this or that HP and paid a local artisan to do the work. I usually wound up NOT keeping that pistol
For me, I finally learned that the "right" thing to do was as little as necessary to make the piece more "shootable."
Recently, I had Novak fixed sights put on a MkIII, actually 2 MkIIIs. They look great and I really like them, but if you ask me if they do anything that the original fixed sights that came on the pistol do not, the answer is "no." I like the way they look and they do make the pistols more pleasing to the eye in my view, but in practical terms, nothing was truly gained. (By the way, I am not saying that one shouldn't have a piece customized for "looks." Pride of ownership is important, too.)
With current MkIIIs, all I "need" to do is bob the hammer spur a bit and I remove the ambi thumb safety on the right side of the pistol as it gets in my way. IF a trigger job's needed, one is done. I remove the magazine disconnect for a better trigger pull and because I hate the things. I replace the nylon stocks that come standard as they don't feel comfortable to me.
I've seen and handled Novak HPs. They truly are works of art and are practical in execution. Essentially, what you're getting is better trigger, better-looking sights, beautiful finish, and (possibly) a more reliable pistol that will have more "practical" accuracy because it's tuned and more comfortable.
Only you can decide if it's worth it.
Having said all that, I suspect that you could take a fine Novak gun and shoot it for group against a much less "refined" MkIII and note no real difference. The same would hold true for "speed work."
I pitted my custom HPs against my HPs that merely had the factory MkIII sights and the minor changes I mentioned above. I could tell no difference.
$1600 is a tidy sum, but you can make more if that's what it'll take to get the gun of your dreams.
Best.
It also has a slightly extended custom thumb safety.
As the HP is my favorite pistol, like many others, I began to think that I HAD to have this or that custom change made on this or that HP and paid a local artisan to do the work. I usually wound up NOT keeping that pistol
For me, I finally learned that the "right" thing to do was as little as necessary to make the piece more "shootable."
Recently, I had Novak fixed sights put on a MkIII, actually 2 MkIIIs. They look great and I really like them, but if you ask me if they do anything that the original fixed sights that came on the pistol do not, the answer is "no." I like the way they look and they do make the pistols more pleasing to the eye in my view, but in practical terms, nothing was truly gained. (By the way, I am not saying that one shouldn't have a piece customized for "looks." Pride of ownership is important, too.)
With current MkIIIs, all I "need" to do is bob the hammer spur a bit and I remove the ambi thumb safety on the right side of the pistol as it gets in my way. IF a trigger job's needed, one is done. I remove the magazine disconnect for a better trigger pull and because I hate the things. I replace the nylon stocks that come standard as they don't feel comfortable to me.
I've seen and handled Novak HPs. They truly are works of art and are practical in execution. Essentially, what you're getting is better trigger, better-looking sights, beautiful finish, and (possibly) a more reliable pistol that will have more "practical" accuracy because it's tuned and more comfortable.
Only you can decide if it's worth it.
Having said all that, I suspect that you could take a fine Novak gun and shoot it for group against a much less "refined" MkIII and note no real difference. The same would hold true for "speed work."
I pitted my custom HPs against my HPs that merely had the factory MkIII sights and the minor changes I mentioned above. I could tell no difference.
$1600 is a tidy sum, but you can make more if that's what it'll take to get the gun of your dreams.
Best.
I think I may have sold the "gun of my dreams" earlier in the year. A hi-power, or any pistol, really NEEDS anything done to it...at least not if it is of reasonable quality, anyway. It's just nice to have those custom touches. Trigger job? Yeah, that's OK but, by taking out the magazine disconnect and polishing the hammer and sear contact surfaces (and maybe replacing the hammer and sear with C&S parts) and (again, maybe) putting in a C&S spring kit, I can do a trigger job on my own. I've even messed around with various sears that I bought from Marstar and found that the tolerances are ever so slightly different between individual ones that you can really affect the trigger pull by replacing the sear with the proper one. Sights? I like Novak sights and will have them on any single action semi-auto that I own just because I like them. Reliability work? Maybe, but I have yet to find a hi-power that did not feed and extract factory ammunition with a ball profile reliably. Only if you're using Cor-bon or some short round does it seem to start to matter. That covers the three basics.
I must have something to eliminate hammer bite. Bobbing the spur hammer and taking out part of the back of it is the only thing that eliminates it for me other than the installation of a beavertail and commander hammer, but doing this is simply about five minutes worth of work with a Dremel tool. But a good beavertail gives me a little more control of the hi-power and enables an even higher grip.
Stippling or checkering? No checkering on a hi-power for me, but I love stippling. Not necessary but very nice to have.
Dehorning? Not necessary but nice aesthetically if well done.
Beveled magazine well? Not necessary but, again, a nice and fairly cheap option and easily done myself if I want it.
Most of the gunsmith work on a hi-power is, in terms of functionality, either not necessary or is simply a matter of replacing some parts or springs. The real "magic" of a well-done custom hi-power is in the aesthetic appeal of the gun and I just can't get away from it.
I wish I knew how to insert pictures in here and I would show you a picture of the hi-power that I should have kept.
Well...it's getting late. I would appreciate further input from anyone out there...
I must have something to eliminate hammer bite. Bobbing the spur hammer and taking out part of the back of it is the only thing that eliminates it for me other than the installation of a beavertail and commander hammer, but doing this is simply about five minutes worth of work with a Dremel tool. But a good beavertail gives me a little more control of the hi-power and enables an even higher grip.
Stippling or checkering? No checkering on a hi-power for me, but I love stippling. Not necessary but very nice to have.
Dehorning? Not necessary but nice aesthetically if well done.
Beveled magazine well? Not necessary but, again, a nice and fairly cheap option and easily done myself if I want it.
Most of the gunsmith work on a hi-power is, in terms of functionality, either not necessary or is simply a matter of replacing some parts or springs. The real "magic" of a well-done custom hi-power is in the aesthetic appeal of the gun and I just can't get away from it.
I wish I knew how to insert pictures in here and I would show you a picture of the hi-power that I should have kept.
Well...it's getting late. I would appreciate further input from anyone out there...
Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
Hello. Yes, I know exactly what you mean on sprucing them up into the "perfect hi power."
The Novak sights do add a panache of sorts and are a beautiful addition when properly installed such that the contour of the rear of the slide matches that of the rear sight.
Like you, I routinely bob and shape the hammer spurs on my HPs or replace them with the C&S rowell-type hammer. On the HP, I also agree that stippling looks better than checkering, especially since the front straps are a bit thin for checkering on HPs unless you go to 30lpi or more! Well, this could go on and on.
Best.
The Novak sights do add a panache of sorts and are a beautiful addition when properly installed such that the contour of the rear of the slide matches that of the rear sight.
Like you, I routinely bob and shape the hammer spurs on my HPs or replace them with the C&S rowell-type hammer. On the HP, I also agree that stippling looks better than checkering, especially since the front straps are a bit thin for checkering on HPs unless you go to 30lpi or more! Well, this could go on and on.
Best.
for HP work!Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
Hello. Man, that's an elegant HP. If it shoots half as good as it looks, it's definitely a keeper. Best.
I had a bad day in Madison Heights, Michigan on Tuesday afternoon at the Double Action gun range. My FM High Power, which I spent so much time and effort on, may have curled up its toes and died. I have yet to take the remains to a coroner (Dick William's Gunshop) to see, if like Lazurus, it can be brought back from the dead.
I had put about 30 rounds of 147 gr. Black Talon through it when I attempted to release a magazine for a reload. All of a sudden I realized the magazine release had came loose. Upon investigation a small portion of the frame had curled back in the location that holds the slide release screw in. I have never seen this in 40 years of shooting.
The FM had a trigger job, Novak sights, Cylinder and Slide safety, Spegel grips, and a brand new high luster blue job. The pistol shot well and experienced very few bobbles. I shot this pistol most of the time to save wear and tear on my MK III. It truly was a thing of beauty prior to its demise.
Dick William's will either be able to repair it or I will be looking for a used frame. I have well over 5,000 rounds through this pistol but I had expected it to last indefinitely. This reinforces my belief that the original Browning High Power is better
than a licensed copy or clone.
I will be having a Novena for my FM tonight. Hopefully, the candles and rosary help. Keep my FM in your prayers.
Regards,
Richard
[This message has been edited by Richard (edited September 20, 2000).]
I had put about 30 rounds of 147 gr. Black Talon through it when I attempted to release a magazine for a reload. All of a sudden I realized the magazine release had came loose. Upon investigation a small portion of the frame had curled back in the location that holds the slide release screw in. I have never seen this in 40 years of shooting.
The FM had a trigger job, Novak sights, Cylinder and Slide safety, Spegel grips, and a brand new high luster blue job. The pistol shot well and experienced very few bobbles. I shot this pistol most of the time to save wear and tear on my MK III. It truly was a thing of beauty prior to its demise.
Dick William's will either be able to repair it or I will be looking for a used frame. I have well over 5,000 rounds through this pistol but I had expected it to last indefinitely. This reinforces my belief that the original Browning High Power is better
than a licensed copy or clone.
I will be having a Novena for my FM tonight. Hopefully, the candles and rosary help. Keep my FM in your prayers.
Regards,
Richard
[This message has been edited by Richard (edited September 20, 2000).]
- Status