Hi Power Hi-Powers!
My favorite P-35’s are the postwar commercial versions made by FN after 1945
and through the 1960s, with importation to the U.S. market commencing around 1954.
This example was made in 1958 and has the relief cut in the slide, making it easier to
remove the slide stop for disassembly.
In 2017 this message appeared on the Browning web site: “… the Hi-Power is technically out of production. Current dealer inventories will be the last available from Browning for the foreseeable future.”
All Browning-marked Hi-Powers were made by Fabrique Nationale of Belgium. Terms like “technically out of production” and “foreseeable future” suggest FN has left the door open a crack for reintroduction. At its peak of popularity the HP (or P-35, for its year of introduction) served as the military duty pistol of over 90 nations and remains widely used to this day. Like me, I’m sure many of you are enamored with this design. Let’s take a peek at some of my favorites!
After Germany occupied Belgium and the FN factory, P-35 pistols (left) were used by
German forces. Several senior FN people, including Saive, managed to escape before the
factory was occupied, taking blueprints with them. The John Inglis company of Ontario,
Canada used the blueprints and the guidance of FN staff to produce the P-35 for issue
to British Commonwealth forces.
An Inglis-made WWII-era P-35 with wooden holster/shoulder stock. The pistol’s
backstrap is slotted to accept the steel attachment of the stock. Adjustable sights
on the pistol go out to a rather optimistic 500 meters.
A version of the BHP with a satin nickel/silver chrome finish was made from 1980-1985.
These have become quite collectible, with examples such as these two, made in 1980 and
marked “Made in Belgium,” especially in demand.
A commercial FN made circa 1951. The slides on these early models were marked
“Fabrique Nationale D’Armes Du Guerre, Herstal, Belgium.” On those imported to North
America commencing 1954 the markings read “Browning Arms Company, St. Louis,
MO & Montreal, PQ, Made in Belgium.”
I keep this early manual to show experts who snootily tell me the P-35 pistol is “properly”
called the GP (for Grande Puissance). True, indeed, in Belgium where the French language
is commonly used. If in Germany, it’s “proper” to call it the Hochleistung and in Spain, the
Gran Potencia. Where English is involved, I’m quite content to call it the High Power —
although at present, Browning spells it Hi-Power.
This Renaissance model, made in 1967, belongs to a good buddy who had our mutual
friend Jerry Haugen make him a fancy belt, holster and magazine pouch to go with it.
