"Hi Power"

Description

Browning GP 1935
This is a 9mm semi-automatic pistol that is chambered for the NATO standard 9mm X 19mm pistol round. This round is also known as the 9mm Luger and 9mm Parabellum. There have been models made that chamber other rounds than the 9mm Parabellum. These are not dealt with here. Some modern literature refers to the gun as a "Hi Power". Early literature refers to it as a "High Power", this is a translation from its original title given to it by FN "Grand Puissance". History The pistol was designed by John Moses Browning in the 1920s for the Belgian weapons manufacturer Fabrique National d'Armes de Guerre, known usually by the initials "FN". The pistol first went into production in 1935. John Browning died in 1927. The final design work was done on the pistol by an FN employee Dieudonne Saive. A quick visual inspection of the Browning High Power will immediately show its pedigree. It shares many similarities with an earlier Browning design, the 1911 Colt 45. The Browning High Power, also known as the Browning 9mm and at one time in the U.K. as the Browning 38 has been produced by several manufacturers besides FN. Millions of these guns have been produced. Some armories have produced copies with the help and blessing of FN. Some countries have produced unauthorised "knock-offs". Of the various clones, some are exact copies and have parts interchangeable with the FN guns, some don't. At various times during its history, the High Power has been the issue sidearm in over fifty countries. What follows is a partial list to give some idea of the usage: Germany, Denmark, Britain, Iraq, Peru, Israel, Canada, Lithuania, Estonia, and Malaya. Manufacturers of the High Power Browning High Power pistols were used during WWII by both the Axis powers and the Allies. The guns the allies used were produced in Canada by John Inglis & Co. Pistols have also been made in Israel, Argentina, Hungary and Indonesia. The current FN production is machined in Belgium and finished in Portugal. The Argentinian model, called the FM (Fabricaciones Militares), is a clone made with the blessing and assistance of FN. It will interchange parts with the FN Browning and is currently in production. It is not as well finished as the Belgian models, but is functionally good. The Canadian models went out of production at the end of WWII The Inglis models are not 100% interchangeable with the FNs. The Hungarian model the FEG FP9 is a direct copy with some differences.It has a ventilated rib and is believed to have some parts interchangeable with the FN.

From Israel there is a clone called the Kareen. This gun is believed to made from parts machined in Hungary. Indonesia has also produced an unauthorised clone the "Pindad". This gun has not been sold outside of Indonesia and was made to supply the needs of the Indonesian military. Basic Models Obviously, over the years there have been many variations of the High Power produced. This is not a list of the minor differences, but a note on the major differences. Early models were produced with a detachable stock and adjustable sights. The stocks were often wood and doubled as a holster for the gun. It appears these were designed for cavalry use. The pistols designed for the detachable stock have a groove cut into the rear of the pistol grip. Some models have a lanyard ring at the base of the grip. Late models often have an ambidextrous safety. The finish is usually blued. Some models have been made in nickel and chrome plate and many have been phosphated (Parkerised). One finish that has also been used by FN is Parkerising with black enamel paint over the Parkerising. This finish is designed for military use. Guns made for the civilian market by FN are usually blued. Models available in the U.S. The Browning company at One Browning Place, Morgan, Utah 84050-9326 import the FN Browning. Their customer service number is (800) 333-3288. The High Power (Hi-Power) is available in the following variations: Mark III: Fixed sights. Matte blued finish. Two piece plastic molded grips. Standard: Fixed or adjustable sights. Polished blued finish. Walnut grips. HP-Practical: Fixed or adjustable sights. Matte blued slide, Chrome frame. Pachmayr rubber grips. Silver Chrome: Adjustable sights. Chrome plated (matte). Pachmayr rubber grips. Capitan: Adjustable tangent sights (old style). Polished blued finish. Walnut grips. All of the above models, except for the Capitan are available chambered for the .40 S&W cartridge. Ammunition The High Power uses the 9mm Parabellum cartridge. A production Browning should have no trouble feeding and firing any cartridge of this caliber. This includes various hollow point, blunt and round bulleted cartridges. Ammunition that fails to feed in modern semi-automatic guns will usually feed and fire with no problems when loaded into a Browning High Power. Note that the Hi-Power is also available chambered for the S & W .40 cartridge.

Magazines The standard magazine is a blued 13 round magazine. The Argentinian FM company sells a Parkerised magazine. The magazines currently supplied by FN are made under contract in Italy. There are odd High Power magazines that turn up with no markings on them, they are usually blued. These magazines usually work with no problems. There are stainless steel magazines available. There are also 20 round magazines available. Since a recent "crime bill", only 10 round magazines are available to the U.S. public. Old style "pre ban" magazines can still be found but command premium prices. The standard magazine can be disassembled by removing the floor plate. The floor plate slides off by inserting a small screwdriver between the body of the magazine and the front of the magazine body. Pulling the screwdriver away from the body will then allow the follower and spring to drop out of the body. The magazine is usually only disassembled to replace the spring or to thoroughly clean the magazine. Magazine Safety As currently manufactured, the High Power comes with a magazine safety. This means that when the magazine is withdrawn, the gun will not fire. The FN company put this in the gun so that if the shooter touched the trigger while inserting a magazine the gun would not fire if there was still a round in the chamber. Many owners remove this safety. It is done for two reasons. First of all, many owners want to gun to be in fireable condition without the magazine so a fresh magazine can be inserted during combat. The other reason is that the magazine safety prevents the empty magazine dropping freely out of the magazine well. The German military during WWII, told the FN company to leave the magazine safety out. They did this so the gun would always be in fireable condition. When FN took back the factory at the end of WWII, they continued making guns without the magazine safety for a while. These guns have an "A" in the serial number prefix. Field Stripping The High Power is easily field stripped. It can be done in the dark. When disassembled, it should consist of the following pieces: The frame, the slide, the barrel, the magazine, the slide locking lever, the main spring and the main spring guide. Seven pieces including the magazine. To strip the weapon do the following: Remove the magazine by pushing the magazine release lever which is on the left side of the gun behind the trigger guard. Pull back the slide. This will eject a round if there is one in the chamber. Then look through the ejection port on the right side of the gun to visually check that the chamber is empty.

Pull the slide back again and engage the safety lever (usually on the left rear of the gun above the grip) in the second - forward - notch of the slide. The gun should now have the slide held back, the chamber exposed and the front of the barrel exposed. Push the rear toggle of the slide locking lever up to the top of the slide. Push the the pin end of the lever that protrudes on the right side of the gun. From the left side of the gun, grab the now protruding slide locking lever and remove it. Push the safety catch down and push the slide forward over the front of the gun and lay it aside. The slide will now have the barrel, mainspring and mainspring guide inside it. To disassemble further. Hold the slide with one hand and push the mainspring toward the front of the slide. Then lift the mainspring and mainspring guide. Lift and the barrel away from the slide and lay aside. The mainspring and mainspring guide can then be separated. To reassemble the unit, reverse the above procedure.

B35-001 SLIDE COMMERCIAL FN B35-002 SEAR LEVER RETAINER B35-003 REAR SIGHT B35-004 EXTRACTOR B35-005 FIRING PIN SPRING B35-006 FIRING PIN B35-007 MAG. CATCH SPRING GUIDE B35-008 MAG. CATCH SPRING B35-009 MAGAZINE CATCH B35-010 HAMMER B35-011 HAMMER PIN B35-012 HAMMER STRUT B35-013 HAMMER STRUT PIN B35-014 HAMMER SPRING B35-015 HAMMER SPRING SUPPORT B35-016 MAGAZINE B35-017 SEAR SPRING B35-018 GRIPS (Black Rubber Set) B35-019 GRIP SCREW B35-020 SLIDE STOP B35-021 TRIGGER SPRING B35-022 FRAME, Restricted B35-023 RECOIL SPRING B35-024 SPRING RETAINER B35-025 DTENTE BALL SPRING B35-026 DTENTE BALL B35-027 RECOIL SPRING GUIDE B35-028 BARREL B35-029 SEAR LEVER B35-030 F. PIN RETAINER PLATE B35-031 SEAR B35-032 EJECTOR B35-033 TRIGGER PIN B35-034 TRIGGER SPRING PIN B35-035 TRIGGER LEVER B35-036 SEAR PIN B35-037 SAFETY CATCH B35-038 STUD RETAINER PIN B35-039 STUD SPRING B35-040 STUD B35-041 TRIGGER B35-042 GRIP (Walnut Set) B35-043 EXTRACTOR NEW TYPE B35-044 EXTRACTOR NEW SPRING

B35-045 EXTRACTOR NEW PIN B35-046 NEW TYPE HAMMER Parts and Maintenance Because of the long and varied history of the High Power, there are many sources of parts. There is not as much "Customization" as there is of its cousin the Colt 45. Some companies sell special grips, but there are no fancy knobs and bits worth mentioning. As there have been engineering changes over the years, there are some parts interchangeability problems. A gunsmith familiar with the High Power should have no problems. The differences are well documented. At the owner level, all magazines are interchangeable. Below is a list of companies that sell parts for the High Power: Sherwood International(818) 349-7600 (800) 423-5237 Brownells(515) 623-5401 Cylinder & Slide (402) 721-4277 (800) 448-1713 Quality Parts(207) 892-2005 (800) 998-7928 Gun Parts (Numrich Arms)(914) 679-2417 Olympic Arms (Safari Arms)(206) 459-7940 Olympic Arms only sell barrels.

Hi-Power Standard
Calibres Capacidade Ao Acabamento Miras Comprimento do cano Comprimento total Altura Peso HP Capitan
Model Capitan (9mm only) Sights Grips Barrel Length Overall Length 7 3/4"

9 mmP / .40 S&W 10 tiros simples / dupla oxidado regulveis 4 3/4" 7 3/4" 5" 907 g

Fixed

Adjustable 4 3/4" Magazine Capacity 10

Overall Overall Weight Width Height Unloaded 1 3/8" 5" 32 oz.

HP Mk III
Model Sights Grips Fixed Barrel Length 4 3/4" Overall Length 7 3/4"

Mark III Fixed

Overall Overall Weight Magazine Width Height Unloaded Capacity 1 3/8" 5" 32 oz. 10

HP Practical
Model Sights Grips Fixed Barrel Length 4 3/4" Overall Length 7 3/4" 7 3/4"

HP Fixed Practical HP Fixed Practical

Adjustable 4 3/4"

Overall Overall Width Height 1 3/8" 1 3/8" 5" 5"

Weight Magazine Unloaded Capacity 32 oz. 32 oz. 10 10

Model

Sights Grips

Barrel Length 4 3/4"

Overall Length 7 3/4" 7 3/4" 7 3/4"

Overall Width 1 3/8" 1 3/8" 1 3/8"

Overall Height 5" 5" 5"

Weight Unloaded 32 oz. 32 oz. 32 oz.

Magazine Capacity 10 10 10

Standard Fixed Fixed Silver Chrome

Standard Fixed Adjustable 4 3/4" Fixed Adjustable 4 3/4"

German Built Model (WWII)

ASSEMBLY

Remove the magazine. Pull back the slide and push the safety catch into the second notch. Push out the slide stop (T-see 'exploded drawing') from right to left, as shown. Release the safety catch and permit the slide to go forward and off the receiver runners. Push the safety catch down to fire position, then push sear pin (JJ) out from right to left. Allow the ejector (FF) to pivot down until it stops. With the ejector in this position, the safety catch (KK) can now be pushed out.

Hold the gun in the left hand and push in the magazine catch (I) until it is flush with frame. Using a 1/8 inch wide screwdriver, turn the magazine catch spring guide to the magazine catch. Then lift out the unit.

Push trigger pin (GG) out from right to left. Hold the gun with the right side up. With the right hand, pull the trigger forward and upward; this will remove parts (U), (HH), (II), and (OO) as a unit. These parts must be replaced as a unit when reassembling the gun. To remove firing pin (F) and spring (E), hold the slide in the left hand. With a 1/8 inch punch, push in the end of the firing pin; at the same time, push down on the firing pin retainer plate (DD). After firing pin and spring have been removed, pry out extractor (D). To remove the sear lever (CC), hold the slide upside down in the right hand. Using a small screwdriver, pry up the end of the sear lever retainer (be sure the extractor has been removed before doing this). When the head of the retainer is clear of the slide, pry it the rest of the way from the outside of the slide