Did Browning ever make a alloy framed Hi-Power?

I

Icopy

New member
I just had my MKIII made in 1990 sonic cleaned. My gunsmith said the frame was an aluminum alloy. I thought all Hi-Powers were all-steel. What gives?
 
Yes, they were made. I have NO idea in what quantity. IIRC, Wayne Novak owns one of the few examples in this country. I think that a production run of such specimens would give the BHP the sales boost that Browning wants for the pistol. :)
If a refrigerator magnet will not stick to your's, you have a winner!
 
South Africa ordered them with an alloy frame and FN complied. Unfortunately the contract was cancelled before full production was completed. Only a ew hundred were made. These are among the rarest of the HPs and fetch high prices on the collector circuit.

I don't understand why FN never made this model widel available. I also don't understand why FN didn't follow FM of Argentina's lead and produce a compact HP. If you ever come across a FM compact (sold as the Detective Special) get one. They're gems.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
They have a FM compact(short barrel, short grip) at either auctionarms.com or gunsamerica.com. Did they ever make a BHP clone with just a shortened slide?
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jetrecbn1:
They have a FM compact(short barrel, short grip) at either auctionarms.com or gunsamerica.com. Did they ever make a BHP clone with just a shortened slide?[/quote]

Yes, FM made a model called the "Detective" that was a short slide version of the Hi-Power. You don't often see them though.
 
Just my luck. I may have a collectible BHP and it's the same one I dropped the mag on last month. Now it has a small nick on the frame. The gunsmith tried putting cold blueing on the nick and it didn't take. That's what tipped him off. It also weighs next to nothing. I'll check the frame with a magnet when I get off work. Thank guys.
 
Icopy, I think Birchwood-Casey makes a bluing pen (same size and shape as a SHARPY marker. One of our officers 'reblued' an alloy S&W semi-auto frame recently. It looked just like the anodized finish--don't know how long it will wear but it's worth a try!!
 
Yes I read about two of them in a Custom Handguns magazine about 5 years ago. Novak has one and YOU may have the other. I would do some checking as you may have a goldmine!

[This message has been edited by Tom B (edited July 07, 2000).]
 
It's a false alarm guys. I used a magnet last night and it stuck to the frame. So it's a plain-jane MKIII. I don't know what my gunsmith was smoking. Maybe the fumes from the bluing tanks started to get to him. Thanks for all your help and information.
 
I think an aluminum frame HP would have the markings of the SA military. I don't think it would be in the Mk III configuration.

There was a great article in The American Rifleman last year about HPs.

I'm still looking for another copy of the Declaration of Independence folded behind a $4 frame. I know it's out there!

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
I sold a FM detective last year for $150. Reliability was great, accuracy was horrible. If you could 5 rounds in a paper plate at 15 yards you were doing good. It was too bad because it sure was a neat pistol.
 
Yeah the FMs are spotty. You can get a great reliable and accurate pistol as easily as you can get a rat.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
FN does make a compact Hi-Power, but it does not have single action/cocked and locked capability. You can see it here - pics are right above the links.
 
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