Israeli surplus FN Hi-Power pistols?

L

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I see FN Hi-Powers periodically at AIM Surplus, and they usually sell out quickly.

Currently, they have some Israeli surplus Mk 3s, and to my eye, they look pretty shabby. I have never owned a Hi Power, and know very little about them. I'm mainly a revolver guy, but like a little of everything.

Link:
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1FNHPMK3

Has anyone bought one of these surplus guns? I know that they have come in to the country in various conditions. Just looking for some feedback, and if these guns are a decent buy. Thanks.

-lc
 
I bought mine from CDI Sales off of Gunbroker. They had a lot of them to choose from in all different price ranges, and the best thing was that each gun had a lot of detailed photos.

If I recall, AIM just says they have them, doesn't show pics, and they are all the same price.

The one I got from CDI was actually better than what their pics showed; It was a repark, and apparently the only thing wrong with it prior was finish wear.
 
Purchased an Israeli trade in a few years back, same painted finish, different sights and safety (older model). Tough trigger but grouped OK.
 
I have gotten aa couple of good guns from AIM.

But CDI Sales on Gunbroker is the better choice. You can see pictures of the exact pistol you are buying.

I have bought quite a few surplus pistols and have been pleased. They tend to be carried around in a holster a lot but not shot very much.

I love my High Power. It is a clone from FEG.

The Star Super B is another excellent 9mm surplus pistol on the market lately.
 
The Israelis seem to beat their guns to heck and back. Really, what someone should be doing is buy the decent ones in bulk, partner up with a good refinisher to have them refinished and then sell them.
 
Currently But CDI Sales or Mach1arsenal on Gun Broker are better choices. This is a $475 Mach1 gun.

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Some of the guns that AIM has been shipping are well below the listed grade while others look great. It is a roll of the dice there. I personally like CDI and Mach1 these days because you get to actually see the pistol you are purchasing.

CDI, AKA Coles Distribution in KY, does not have as many as they have had in past but Gary has a great rep and IMHO conservatively grades his pistols. Most showing up better than expected.
 
I also picked up one from CDI out of Kentucky through gunbroker. Mechanically it is fine; smooth action & trigger since it is well used. I'd say the armorers had maintained it well. Exterior factory finish (an epoxy paint I believe) was pretty rough; almost looked like it had been dragged behind a truck! My local gunsmith refinished it in matte black Duracote so it looks practically original. One of my favorites in the 9mm collection.
 
Even Israeli Police surplus pistols are carried a lot, but fired little. The wear on the finish is from holstering and re-holstering over a long period. Surplus stuff is surplus stuff. Usually sold as is.
A BHP's trigger, especially one on a police issue pistol, is going to be crappy.
"...same painted finish..." Isn't paint.
 
Bought mine for a shooter. "Baked on epoxy", not paint, but wears & eventually chips kind of like paint. (http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/BestHiPower.htm) and I probably wouldn't know a good trigger if it bit me, although some of the Israeli guns don't have the firing pin safety.

Back to the OP, surplus Israeli FN HP35's are economical shooters. You can likely find much better examples of the +1,000,000 Hi Powers made for more money.
 
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Even Israeli Police surplus pistols are carried a lot, but fired little. The wear on the finish is from holstering and re-holstering over a long period. Surplus stuff is surplus stuff. Usually sold as is.
A BHP's trigger, especially one on a police issue pistol, is going to be crappy.
Click to expand...

Why would the trigger on a Izzy be crappier than any other BHP trigger?
 
I just received my Israeli HP and it had the worst gritty trigger I have ever encountered. Dropped the. Trigger Assembly out and tromped the mag safety and 1/2 sand dune from the recesses and now a beautiful 3# smooth pull. The pistol is AIM's standard grade and has a lot of scratches in the enamel but not in the metal, bore is like 100% and interior really nice. When I determine hoe to remove the enamel I will either Ceracoat or give a low luster blue to the pistol. I am quite happy with my AIM standard grade.
 
I've bought... eh, more than one of the Israeli surplus BHPs and from various vendors. All of them have been great shooters with little mechanical wear. A few of them have had triggers that were unsafe for Condition 1 carry and needed work in order to carry.

The ones I've purchased in the last few years have been just beat to hell in terms of finish, although none of them have been great that way. They've all had great bores, little mechanical wear and aside from the hammer/sear issues I mentioned above - the triggers have been very good compared to commercial Hi-Powers which tend to be unnecessarily heavy for a single-action. However, it is a Hi-Power trigger.
 
Just talked with my bluing buddy who says the enamel peels right off with media blast and then a light buff and the HP looks like new. Mine will hit the tank on Monday.
 
I just received my Israeli HP and it had the worst gritty trigger I have ever encountered. Dropped the. Trigger Assembly out and tromped the mag safety and 1/2 sand dune from the recesses and now a beautiful 3# smooth pull. The pistol is AIM's standard grade and has a lot of scratches in the enamel but not in the metal, bore is like 100% and interior really nice. When I determine hoe to remove the enamel I will either Ceracoat or give a low luster blue to the pistol. I am quite happy with my AIM standard grade.
Click to expand...

Did you test that with a gauge or is the 3# a best guess? The reason I ask is even some of the best BHP smiths in the world cannot create a safe and reliable 3# trigger on a BHP.

Most people have to replace the 28# mainspring with a 26 and do a fair amount of polishing if not geometry changes to sear and hammer engagement in order to get under 5#.

I personally like mine in the 4-5# range which allows me to prep the trigger and shoot accurately fast.
 
If it were me, I'd just look for a decent deal on a commercial MK III Hi Power that isn't beat up, and doesn't need refinishing. By the time you get the surplus pistol where you want it, you will probably be spending just as much or more. Unless, you just want an Israeli surplus gun, that is......
 
$500 will get you a excellent condition surplus gun. Excellent condition commercial BHPs sell for closer to $600. Not that you cannot find a deal from time to time.
 
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My experience with the Israeli surplus BHPs has been excellent. They do not exhibit holster wear so much as they appear to have been gripped a lot and can be really beat to hell all over finish wise. Accuracy on two has been superb. The other I have yet to shoot. My preference on BHP is to switch out the factory hammer and sear for a Cylinder & Slide Type II so I don't end up with a permanent hole in the web of my shooting hand. All of mine came from AIM and none were purchased from the same lots.
 
Received my Israeli HP from bluing tanks and it is now hard to tell from new. I had the enamel stripped, a light buff and then blued. So now i have a excellennt condition Hi Power fit for many more years of service ahead of it and the total sum of $515 invested, there is no way i could find a like condition pistol for the money.
 
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