Browning Hi-Power Discontinued

[DPris]

Confirmation yesterday from a Browning exec.
Final shipment was received in March, Browning has no more, equipment worn out, production ceased.

ALL models & calibers.
End of an era.
Denis

 

[bogus bill]

Wish I had kept the jewel I had!

 

[WAYNO]

I can hear gun show vendors raising their prices already. :shock:

This is a gun, considered by many to be the very best, that was doomed when CHL came into vogue. When we had to wear our handguns on the outside, a big beautiful gun like the HP is what we hoped we could afford some day. The requirements changed dramatically for most folks, when it became required that our gun was to remain hidden from sight.

Ironically, I've never owned one, but I've shot many. They are so incredibly well made, very smooth in operation, and quite accurate.

It was just a few days ago I was offered a Wehrmacht stamped HP. A little rough in the machining, as Germany eventually couldn't afford to finish them as nice, but a wonderful gun. The seller paid $1500 and asked me what it's worth. I truly don't know.

 

[roashooter]

Will make me treasure the three I have even more so...



have NO idea why this was posted as a new thread....

 

[DPris]

I posted as a new thread because I didn't see it anywhere previously.
If a dupe, it can be removed.
Denis

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

I have a NIB (actually it's zippered Browning pouch) Tangent sight High Power. I know the pistol rug is here somewhere I wasn't storing it in it.
I bought it from a Gun Shop I was working at in the 1970's. The G.S. owner insisted I buy one of these Tangent sight models when I wanted to get a H.P. I listened to him and it's been put away ever since. He had a bunch of them and very few people knew he even had them. I wish now I would have bought a couple of them.

 

[blackhawknj]

In production for-?-80 years. However since the patents are expired, we will see clones, copies, perhaps some new models.

 

[blume357]

equipment worn out, production ceased.

Always more to it than the 'official reply'.... I'm sure even the folks at Browning know that equipment can be replaced.....

As I mentioned in another post... one of those handguns I've wanted for something close to 45 years after reading the book Serpico.

 

[DPris]

If sales don't justify, little point in replacing equipment.

Some years back, FN experimented with an FN-marked Hi-Power through the US subsidiary.
It didn't last long, the FN imports were dropped & remaining inventory dumped through CDNN.

An FN rep told me then that HP sales were not strong enough to support two US outlets, and since Browning had the history & name value, the owner of both companies (FN) pulled the plug on the FN-marked pistols.

The HP has not been a huge seller for Browning.
They're looking at options, but if they do find somebody to build for them, it won't be FN.
Denis

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

First I heard. Too bad. Wish I'd have bought an FN back when they were trying them. Descent prices back then. As usual, bad planning.

 

[DPris]

I did snag one of the FNs, very good price.
Seems like it was somewhere around $400 or less.
Did not have the nice bluing, but I wanted a user & sent it off to Don Williams for some basic internal work.
Denis

 

[dougader]

The Ferrari of 9mm handguns... sad day.

 

[gramps]

I haven't shot one, although a deputy I served with carried one as a duty weapon. I have always heard what a wonderful gun they were, but only one out my crowd had a HP. In a way sad to hear of the demise of the manufacturing by an iconic company. Thanks for the info Dennis.
gramps

 

[DPris]

Very welcome.
Denis

 

[Cholo]

I bought a Belgium made HP in '80. Gorgeous gun! I didn't like the heavy trigger and the gun shop owner said he could easily remove the magazine disconnect. While doing it his screwdriver slipped and put a deep scratch across the bluing and he said: "Oops, gouged ya!" I never could look at that gun again and sold it for what I had in it, along with all my reloading dies etc.

37 years later if I said the gouged ya statement to a long time friend, he'd still cringe.

Sad to see them go, though

 

[Heliman]

I have mine! :mrgreen: And, have owned many others over the years.

Dave

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Gary Reeder has been selling refinished and "lightly customized" used Israeli imports recently. Bet his prices will escalate for this,

 

[DGW1949]

equipment worn out, production ceased.

Always more to it than the 'official reply'.... I'm sure even the folks at Browning know that equipment can be replaced.....

As I mentioned in another post... one of those handguns I've wanted for something close to 45 years after reading the book Serpico.

Browning didn't actually make their Hi-Powers, FN did...even the newer one's marked 'assembled in Portugal'. Browning just had a contract with 'em, same as many other entities have had...so I suspect that whatever equipment is reported to be wore out, resides in Herstal Belgium.

DGW

 

[Kevin]

DPris:
Thanks for this information. I haven't heard of this. I'm sort of sad to see them go. I've wanted one of them for years. Another gun I've wanted is the Browning Medalist, the wood forearm in those nice wooden cases... That is by far the most beautiful handgun ever. The Hi-Power is a close second.

 

[krw]

I felt like they quit making them when they started putting that horendious "Assembled in Portugal" on them. Bout a yr back a kid here in town inherited a nice High-Powr with Wermacht stamp. Had orig holster, and documentation on being a WWII bringback. Would not sell it local and put it on GB. Best I remember brought $1030. Had proper spare mag also. I felt like that was a good deal for the buyer. My opinion

 

[GP100]

Could have scored a Hi-Power back about 5 years ago for a fairly decent price at the time.. But I got sidelined by a Ruger GP-100 that just wouldn't shut up.. It kept calling my name from inside the glass case.. Should have bought the Hi-Power..

I just can't seem to stay away from them GP-100's.. I don't know why.. But if I could own ten of them, I would.. It's a compulsion I tell's ya.. I need therapy.

 

[ditto1958]

That's sad to hear.

 

[Lngstrt]

Visited the Browning site ..... Seems like a number of .40 cal models are disco'd but the Standard 9mm and the MkIII, both with fixed sites, are still shown as current.

Or ... have they just not updated site yet?

 

[DPris]

I can repeat it, but just read my posts above.
The website is irrelevant.
Denis

 

[buckeyeshooter]

Glad I still have one and 12 extra mags. If I have to shoot 9mm, this is the one. Got one of them Glock things too, but its butt ugly.

 

[tinman]

I was fortunate enough to get hold of a T series which I dearly love......guess I better hang on to it for the grandkids.

 

[Ruger Redhawk]

I really hated hearing this but I can understand it looking at it from their viewpoint I'm sure.
I'm sure what really hurt the B.HP is all the modern, newly designed (Polymer) Semi autos on the market today. Just look at all the different companies making semi autos today. In their eyes it's probably not feasible for them to invest all that money in new machinery and keep building a 80+ yr old gun by today's standard is probably consider outdated.
I'm glad I still have two of them I wish now I would have kept a 3rd I had.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

In their eyes it's probably not feasible for them to invest all that money in new machinery and keep building a 80+ yr old gun by today's standard is probably consider outdated.

Very possible. And as far as I'm concerned the fact that the gun may be considered "outdated" says more about those making that call than it does about the gun itself.

Yes, there are "plastic fantastics" that hold a gazillion rounds that you can "customize" to fit your hand and have picatinny rails for mounting lasers/flashlights/bayonets/etc and have extended/threaded muzzles for attaching a suppressor (more likely a fake) all to suit the gonzo "we're all a bunch of operators" meme . . . and not a one of them with any class/soul/panache.

Being a curmudgeon has its advantages. It allows one to see the bigger picture in the rearview mirror.

All JMHO

 

[DGW1949]

In their eyes it's probably not feasible for them to invest all that money in new machinery and keep building a 80+ yr old gun by today's standard is probably consider outdated.

Very possible. And as far as I'm concerned the fact that the gun may be considered "outdated" says more about those making that call than it does about the gun itself.

Yes, there are "plastic fantastics" that hold a gazillion rounds that you can "customize" to fit your hand and have picatinny rails for mounting lasers/flashlights/bayonets/etc and have extended/threaded muzzles for attaching a suppressor (more likely a fake) all to suit the gonzo "we're all a bunch of operators" meme . . . and not a one of them with any class/soul/panache.

Being a curmudgeon has its advantages. It allows one to see the bigger picture in the rearview mirror.

All JMHO

True that Ale-8(1)...Plus, along with the quickly-spreading CCH thing came a whole new group of first time gun buyers whom arrived just in time to get caught up in all of the "newer, faster, lighter, smaller, better" hype being spewed-about by the advertisers and gun-rag writers as if it was Gospel...

Bless their hearts, I guess they just never knew any better. :lol: :lol: :lol:

DGW

 

[Jeepnik]

Had one for a bit. Traded it for an AK. Don't have either now. They wouldn't let me bring the AK home.

Still, sorry to see it go, it is one heck of a great handgun.