Hi-Power Opinions

Not going to crucify you, but I personally find the BHP to be one of the more attractive pistols I've laid eyes on. I find the lines to contain a sort of deadly elegance. I know that makes no sense, but suffice it to say I'm a fan of the design.
 
To a 1911 guy the Hi Power sure looks different. I happen to like the way they look and, more importantly, I really like the way they shoot. The stock sights on the early ones suck, but then nearly all the sights on pistols designed and/or made before WWII suck.

Mine has been carried and shot a bunch for the last 46 years and I like it just the way it is.

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In response to the OP - no.

I suppose you'd have to ask "compared to what"?

Personally, I never liked the look of 1911's. They look top heavy; simply too big for holding just 7 rounds; hate the grip safety; the ugly plunger tube - now that's a piece that's hard to warm up to. Now, compare the 1911 to the Hi-Power: The Hi-Power's slide is trim in comparison; it sports no useless grip-safety and it eliminates the ugly plunger tube. It basically does everything the 1911 does, just better and with less dangling doo-dads.

Comparing the aesthetics of the Hi-Power to the Glock (or other similar trigger-dingus Glock-offs).......hahahaha :D:D Just because it's plastic doesn't make it fantastic!!!
 
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BHP

I never thought of my HP as "odd looking" or even "ugly".

The grip appearance never appealed to me but when I installed a pair of wrap around finger groove grips that issued vanished.

I placed the BHP next to a Colt stainless tricked out 1911 and I can appreciate
the good looks of the Hi-Power.

Ugly, well you must be thinking of a Glock.
 
I am another who thinks the BHP is a handsome piece. Everyone's taste is different, I suppose, but I think the majority appreciates its appearance.
 
For me, I always thought the safety was too small, and the slide stop was too large. Also never met a stock one that had a decent trigger pull. The grip, on the other hand felt wonderful in my hand.

Despite the name "Browning Hi Power", and always being included in the list of guns that Browning designed, Browning did NOT design the Hi Power.

Many believe, and state that it was, but I don't consider that fully accurate. More accurate histories state that the Hi Power was based on a design by Browning, which is what actually happened.

Browning died in 1926, almost 9 years before the Hi Power was produced. Browning's original design concept was completed by Dieudonné Saive, and the FN design team. It is more than just a bit different than the original Browning idea.

Rumor has it that the FN designers included the magazine disconnect at the request of the French!

I had a commercial Hi Power back in the 80s (before the revamp), and it was a finely made gun. Loved the grip feel, didn't care much for the small safety, disliked the trigger pull, (it took the proverbial three men and a boy to pull the trigger:eek:), and I detested the magazine disconnect.

Personally, I credit the Hi Power as being Browning inspired, with those annoying features I credit to the Belgians, under French influence! :rolleyes:
 
Most of my handguns are single-action revolvers so perhaps my opinion is not well honed by experience, but currently I only have three service-sized semi-automatics - they are all Mk III Hi-Powers. Sometimes I consider again adding a 1911 to the mix but I have 45 caliber handguns coming out my...

I think Hi-Powers are beautiful.
 
I think ugly is a little harsh. My opinion is they're not beautiful, but they are dangerous looking. A few years back, I had a Pro 9 that I thought was beautiful, but times change. Beauty, being in the eye of the beholder, The PX4 is beautiful.
 
It was designed for military and police, not fashion models. And some of those are butt ugly, but can be gussied up. snicker.
"...just a bit different than the original Browning idea..." Starting with the silly mag safety desired by European police services.
 
OP is on crack.

and as an other pointed out.....methinks he is thinkin...."High Point" ...which would be correct......but anyone who thinks the classic Browning High Power...is ugly.....has serious conceptional issues!!
 
Ugly? I think most military sidearms can be called ugly.

The only time I don't like the look of a Hi-Power is when it comes with a spur hammer and that is for pratical reasons as well!

Speaking of spur hammers, does anyone know why Browning only sells the Hi-Power with a spur hammer these days? Even the Mk III has it.
 
I think the only time I would not like it's looks, is if I was staring down the barrel of one pointed at me.

Otherwise, I think it's a beautiful handgun, and it's one on my short list.
 
I think the Hi-Power is the second best looking semi-auto pistol ever made.

The best looking is the Smith & Wesson Model 39.

They're good enough looking to ALMOST be revolvers.
 
Just like the 1911, the HP is beautiful in stock, iron-sighted form.
When you start adding bumps, humps, and lumps, the appearance is degraded considerably.
I had never really thought the HP was a great-looking gun until I saw a picture, maybe from a '30s or '50s FN catalog, that just looked "right".
 
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