On the subject of High Powers:

[Ibmikey]

While looking don't let a cast frame pistol turn you off, FN changed from forged to cast frames when the HP was chambered for .40 and it battered the forged frame, it was found the cast frame could take more of a licking and consequently all frames were changed to cast.
I have a bunch of HP's with forged frames and one Mk III with cast, you cannot tell them apart ( mine does not have the serrations on the bottom of the frame like later pistols) i shoot the Mk III most with no signs of wear, cracks or parts lying with the pile of brass.

 

[baddarryl]

As a Ruger fan I have no issues for with cast frames. Going to do like you guys said, hold out for a nice one. Thanks everyone great, thoughtful information!

 

[briang2ad]

As stated above - stalk with cash and buy when right. I have a nice MKIII I picked up in a local pawn shop. It was in 99% condition. I THOUGHT it had a decent trigger in the shop and later found it was "variable" - take up and weight varied too much. I ended up getting a trigger job from a local but well known 1911 smith. It now wears a C&S sear and hammer and has a very nice pull. I did mess up in that when I hammered out the trigger pin, I dinged up the frame a tad. Still looks nice. I now have $700+ in the gun, and will likley hang on to it - its a classic for me.

This is why I say buy in person, you MAY luck into a nice one with a good trigger. If I found one that the finish was a wash, BUT had a decent trigger, I'd buy it and have it cerakoted. Better than one with a nice finish, and bad trigger in my book. And... they can have some BAD triggers.

Right now, it seems like the time to get one. They are everywhere for low prices. Sure the finish may be south, but they are solid guns.

 

[reynolds357]

If I were going to pay 650 for a welllllll used pistol, i would just pay 950 for a new one instead. I would say 400 or new, do not even consider 650.

 

[larryh1108]

That's all silly.
Many here have purchased near new BHPs for $650-$700.
That's $300 in savings.
$400 or $1000?
Just plain silly.

 

[WVsig]

If I were going to pay 650 for a welllllll used pistol, i would just pay 950 for a new one instead. I would say 400 or new, do not even consider 650.

How many BHPs have you bought recently... LOL?

Seriously no one should buy a NIB BHP. There is no need. This is a $450 gun.

This is a $600 gun.

This Novak Custom cost me $650.

This is my 1969 C $400 beater....

$550 Alloy HP which weights the same as a Glock 19.

 

[Laz]

Seriously no one should buy a NIB BHP. There is no need.

I don't agree. Someone should buy new Hi Powers. Actually a good number of people should buy new Hi Powers if we want Hi Powers to continue to be manufactured.

 

[Ibmikey]

I agree with Larry my $400 to $550 purchases have turned into new looking pistols without a lot of additional expenditures, fortunately my bluing was free but grips from Altamont and a few McGar mags cost a few bucks. Now i have pistols that would sell for close to a grand ( I do not sell my firearms) so good investment.
Also some of those $450 pistols just leak history like the Spanish AF pistol that ended up in a South African soldiers holster ( SA markings in frame) and then to Israel where it served until imported to the US and My gunsafe.

 

[Model12Win]

Just got in my first BHP:

A used Mk III commercial. Barely used in fantastic shape for $450 out the door. I'm stoked.

 

[2ndsojourn]

Nice. When ya gettin the second one?

 

[TailGator]

There is a very nice Belgian HP at my LGS, but I couldn't rake the $1K price tag out of my couch cushions. I owe them a bottle of Windex after drooling on the glass case, though.

 

[WVsig]

The problem is that cheap BHPs is that they turn into guns like this. Its a Garthwaite custom build I had done last year. Gun started out as a like new MKIII similar to Model12Win's.

 

[UncleEd]

WVsig,

Excellent Hi Power; I think it looks better than the Nighthawk offering including the grips.

I'm particularly drawn to the backstrap "stippling" which looks so much better than Nighthawk's "shredded stippling."

Nice job all around including the muzzle crowning and the rear sight.

Not asking but I'm thinking the cost was no more and probably a lot less than
the asking price of $2,800 for a Nighthawk.

:

 

[WVsig]

WVsig,

Excellent Hi Power; I think it looks better than the Nighthawk offering including the grips.

I'm particularly drawn to the backstrap "stippling" which looks so much better than Nighthawk's "shredded stippling."

Nice job all around including the muzzle crowning and the rear sight.

Not asking but I'm thinking the cost was no more and probably a lot less than
the asking price of $2,800 for a Nighthawk.

:

The Nighthawk BHP does not do a lot for me but its entirely a style issue. From what I understand they are excellent shooters.

Mr Garthwaite's detail work is amazing. One day I will send him a 1911 to work on. He is not cheap but with a LNIB used base gun my custom BHP from him was less than a NIB Nighthawk.

Mr Garthwaite is a BHP master. I have had or have custom BHPs from Jim West, Novak, APW Cogan, Garthwaite and Don Williams. One day if I hit the lottery I will get one from Ted Yost.

The two smiths I would recommend over and over again would be Mr Garthwaite and Don Williams of The Action Works. Both are masters of the BHP. They can do almost anything you want short of checkering the grip straps. These days only Yost will do that and only on some guns which are thick enough in the grip strap area.

These two gentleman are so easy to work with. They normally have a wait list and it is not a fast process but it is worth it. Don did an alloy BHP for me and it is one of my favorite carry guns. It weights about the same as a Glock 19. He installed the following

C&S Hammer
Trigger Job
Reliability package
Front & Backstrap Stippling
Beveled Mag well
Smooth out package
Garthwaite wide trigger
Don Williams custom wide safety
NP3 frame and black Rogard on the slide & controls
Harrison 1911 sights with Tritium Front and rear.
Spegel Grips

BHPs are addictive and I love shooting them!

 

[drobs]

I paid $450 for a real nice reparked CDI Fn Hi Power MK3.
$600 I'd be looking for lightly used Browning or FN. $600 is way too much for an Israeli PD FN!!!