New BHP just waiting for it to arrive....pics

[stormdragon]

I bought a Browning Hi Power and I'm waiting for it to come. It's a minty 1981 vintage Browning, fired only once. It's all Belgian.

Here are some pics....

http://users.adelphia.net/~stormdragon/images/BrowningHP/Leftside.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~stormdragon/images/BrowningHP/Rightside.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~stormdragon/images/BrowningHP/Grips.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~stormdragon/images/BrowningHP/Rollmark.jpg

[rhtwist]

Congratulations. Excellent looking firearm! IMHO the other finest pistol ever.
Thanks for the pixs.
rhtwist

[carolinaman]

Hi stormdragon,

Congradulations!

An excellent condition BHP classic!

Chris

[stormdragon]

When did FN start having the HPs assembled in Portugal? Was there a definitive time? Was it gradual? Who does the assembly; is it an FN plant?

People make a lot of the "all Belgium" and I think it's great to have that roll mark on a gun, but I was wondering when they started assembling them in Portugal and whether there really is any difference in quality.

[carolinaman]

Hi stormdragon,

Not being a BHP historian, I want to say the early to mid '80's.

I have been told that it was a labor saving/cost move and there is no discernable difference in quality. A similiar analogy is the Browning Produced Shotguns that were made in Japan.

Collector's/Purist's will always debate that the best products are made in their country of origin. It also helps to inflate the sales price/collectability a little.

To a shooter, it matters little.

Chris

[Hersh]

Stormdragon,

Very nice HP ... congrats on your find !

[RED]

The assembly in Portugal has another reason : Portugal being a U.E nation, F.N can apply a U.E origin to the gun, without infringing U.E customs regulations.
To me, there is absolutely no difference in quality, mine is also assembled in Portugal.

Red

[carolinaman]

Hi Red,

Very good point about European trade agreements.

Chris

[stormdragon]

The assembly in Portugal has another reason : Portugal being a U.E nation, F.N can apply a U.E origin to the gun, without infringing U.E customs regulations.
To me, there is absolutely no difference in quality, mine is also assembled in Portugal.

Red

Yes, very interesting. I would not have thought of that as a motivation.

[flusher]

Speaking of classics

1952 FN Hi Power
1967 German PPK


http://publish.hometown.aol.com/flusher2/myhomepage/gun%20ppk%20and%20fn.jpg

[stormdragon]

VERY nice!

I like the thumb indentation in the slide.

[stormdragon]

Well, it arrived Wednesday. I put a set of Nill grips on it which I bought from a member of an other forum. Here are some updated pics with the grips.

The pics aren't that great. The lighting isn't very good. I'm still working on a lighting tent.

http://users.adelphia.net/~stormdragon/images/BHP/BHPright.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~stormdragon/images/BHP/BHPleft.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~stormdragon/images/BHP/BHPracked.jpg

http://users.adelphia.net/~stormdragon/images/BHP/BHPbelgium.jpg

[WBB]

Very nice, I like it!!!

[carolinaman]

Hi there,

Not near as nice as yours, but here is a picture of my older '76 C High Power.

Very worn, but still a classic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/carolinaman/S2010191.jpg

The only thing I have had to do is clean it up and replace the springs.

Chris

[stormdragon]

Hi there,

Not near as nice as yours, but here is a picture of my older '76 C High Power.

Very worn, but still a classic:

The only thing I have had to do is clean it up and replace the springs.

Chris

It has a beauty all it's own. It's worn nicely, not abused, just used! I expect it was well cared for?

[RED]

Yes, very interesting. I would not have thought of that as a motivation.

Hi Storm,

There is another reason : manpower is much cheaper in Portugal than Belgium.

Best,
Red