Good luck with your new purchase. Give a range report if you get a chance.
Scott

 

I already shot it, 100% function with the original mag and several Mecgars.

 

Good deal!
Best of luck,
Scott

 

Interesting collection of proof marks!

Id like to find a nice old one to round things out....

 

More pictures of the various marks on the gun S/N is 32,9xx
Found out what some of the marks are. No clue on the others yet. No clue as to the date of manufacture other than pre-war. My understanding is the "H" in the circle indicates Belgium military acceptance.

I thought the "M" on the left side of the frame might be a date stamp, but I think it should be lower case, not upper case. Besides an "m" date stamp would be 1934.

The "O" on the firing pin stop would be 1936, but that seems to early for 32,9xx S/N

 

Good for you Spencer...great find, congrats .

Pre-war...in fact pre-'39, Belgian Military (FN factory MAE Inspector marked/MAE Arsenal Acceptance marked) Type 1 Tangent. BHPs from that contract were intended for/issued to NCOs/Troops and would have been issued with a shoulder stock. Round or square cam cut on the barrel lug? Magazine is period correct as well.

"Browning marked pouch"? Worth some $$$, but nowhere near period correct .

You done good , real good

 

Which marks are these? FN factory MAE Inspector marked/MAE Arsenal Acceptance marked

Barrel lug cut is square, I checked before I shot it yesterday.
No shoulder stock, oh well.

Here is the bag it came in.

 

Well, ask and thou shall receive .

Square cam cut barrel lug and SN just short of 33K would likely put it at very late '38/'39

 

Outstanding! I'm also not comfortable with the nazi-built BHPs.

 

The "Circle H" would have been applied at FN by the in house MAE Inspector.

The Crown PH would have been applied at the Belgian State Arsenal by the MAE Inspector there.

The "Square A" is FN's factory final pre-war Quality Control Stamp.

 

Cool, THANKS!

 

I have a problem with the Nazi guns, too. I don't like the fact that they were made under the duress of the Belgians, treated as slaves, or that they are swastika marked. A very dark time, that I do not want to support in any way, except to remember. Fortunately, there are many other "legit" Hi Powers to enjoy.

 

I tend to agree with that.
However, if it's a GI's war trophy I take the attitude that we kicked the the Nazi's butts and took their stuff. That's a big OK in my book.

 

Just a question which may have already been answered: Is it simply the connection with the Nazis that puts a bitter taste in the mouth or the possibility of sabotage by the workers at the FN plant that is putting off some of you from the wartime Hi-powers? Understand, please, there is no criticism here; only a query.

 

Great example. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

 

Nice old P-35,(not a Browning High Power) but the pouch dates from the
1960's not the 1930's.

Myself, I have no control over what happened 70 plus years ago and have found over and over that the "evil Nazi" stuff is always in demand and brings more $$$ this year than last. But to each his own.

 

WADR my friend, interestingly while the Belgian Military...and FN, identified that pistol as a P35, the factory...and others, used GP for Grande Puissance as well. AND, as early as '34 FN's literature referred to the same pistol as the "Browning 9m/m High (not Hi) Power Automatic Pistol 13 Cartridges".

I'm with you on the P640b (German designation) BTW. As we often point out to the gun control crowd; the pistol is an inanimate object...it's the user who
is solely responsible for whether it's used for good or evil. An appropriate example would be the fact that the Israelis gladly used about every German small arm there was during their war for independence...and beyond.

Besides...as Mr. Burgs points out, many of the German P640b pistols here now were captured by the good guys .....

 

I just picked up an Israeli Police Hi Power from Aim Surplus. Hope it has a Star of David on it!

 

I just ordered one of the Israeli Police High Powers Friday, looks like they had sold out some time Saturday. I ordered the 'select' grade. Now to crank up the old Piggy Back II.

Steve.........

 

Forget about the Nazi stamps it is a part of history that should never be repeated but a good reminder. You take excellent photos by the way.

 

Nice pistol and I gotta say - those are outstanding photos. Must be a macro lens.

 

It is great irony that you can have the bhp with Nazi markings and one with the star of David. There cannot be too many other weapons out there with that unique history. I find that fascinating but at the same time kinda scary. As for getting a nazi proofed hp that's a tough one!? I'd probably just sell it.

 

Thanks for the pictures. I also have one that I was given to me years ago that has no finish on it. (it was in a flooded basement but was removed before it rusted)
If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay for it? (PM if you don't want to post public)

I was thinking of sending mine out to Doug Turnbull to restore but don't know if is worth it!

 

My hat's off to you for those fine photos! Wish I could do that :-(

 

Gorgeous Old Warhorse

I bet almost everyone of us wishes these old guns had in flight recorders that could tell where they've been and what they've done. It's case should say, "Been there. Done that." and very well too. Congrats on an example of John Moses genius. Far better than a new one IMB.

 

Very nice condition P35 for it's age---I too am a sucker for P35s since they were one of the few semi-auto pistols available back in the dark ages of mostly revolvers…
They sure put enough markings on that pistol!

 

I actually acquired my love of firearms as a direct result of my love of history...This particular fascinating piece exemplifies that undeniable (sometimes *uncomfortable*) link between the two as we don't have one absent the other...I've always been troubled and at times horrified at man's barbarity (be it past or present) and outright proclivity for countless atrocities-- but I hold the man behind the crime responsible and never the gun...

YMMV.

 

Very well put !!

:rock: