Brownibg Hi Power Standard questions

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sailor723

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New gun buyer here. I like the look of the Hi Power and think the history is pretty neat.

I was looking online at a Hi Power for sale from an estate. The serial # is given as 77C###XX with the "77" indicating 1977 and "C" indicating Hi Power. Here's my problem. According to the Browning website on how to date your gun they stopped using that system of numbering in 1975. I also noticed the pistol has a matte finish slide which seems odd as well. The writting on the slide says "made in Belgium" but from what I can find out online the Portugese assembly plant opened in 1971 (I know the new ones say "made in Belguim" with "assemblied in Portugal" written below. The seller (a dealer) couldn't really explain these issues except to say things like "It is what it is"...... "It's a shooter"...... Would you say it's likely a gun that's had work or parts replaced?

The ask is $885 I know I'm very new at this. Would the above set off alarm bells for you?
 
"It is what it is"...... "It's a shooter"...... <------- That answers your question. As long as the work done was clean and smooth, no problem. But if you're looking for a collector grade or Used but Box Stock Original , keep looking.
 
Understood, if you handle a CZ75 SPo1 Shadow as an example you may just fall in love.. a great shooter nice sights and good trigger..
the grip is one of the best I've seen and fits most folks like a glove..
 
MTLGUN said:
"It is what it is"...... "It's a shooter"...... <------- That answers your question. As long as the work done was clean and smooth, no problem. But if you're looking for a collector grade or Used but Box Stock Original , keep looking.
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I'm not looking for a collector but wonder about the $885 price if it's not "Used but Box Stock Original"
 
silverfoxdj said:
Understood, if you handle a CZ75 SPo1 Shadow as an example you may just fall in love.. a great shooter nice sights and good trigger..
the grip is one of the best I've seen and fits most folks like a glove..
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. I have just joined our local club and one of the members has been kind enough to offer to let me try his CZ 75B. I've shot the Beretta 92 and a Browning so maybe I'll take him up on the offer before making the call.
 
sailor723 said:
Thanks for the suggestion. I have just joined our local club and one of the members has been kind enough to offer to let me try his CZ 75B. I've shot the Beretta 92 and a Browning so maybe I'll take him up on the offer before making the call.
Click to expand...

Good move but there are diffeences between CZ models to consider..
 
sailor723 said:
I'm not looking for a collector but wonder about the $885 price if it's not "Used but Box Stock Original"
Click to expand...

If you are patient a good serviceable example will show in the EE for less. If you aren't patient and you like that one enough, perhaps you could ask the dealer to sweeten the deal with some ammo or an accessory (this is often easier for a dealer than reducing the selling price.) If you can afford a bit more, you shop around for a new one.
 
sailor723 said:
New gun buyer here. I like the look of the Hi Power and think the history is pretty neat.

I was looking online at a Hi Power for sale from an estate. The serial # is given as 77C###XX with the "77" indicating 1977 and "C" indicating Hi Power. Here's my problem. According to the Browning website on how to date your gun they stopped using that system of numbering in 1975. I also noticed the pistol has a matte finish slide which seems odd as well. The writting on the slide says "made in Belgium" but from what I can find out online the Portugese assembly plant opened in 1971 (I know the new ones say "made in Belguim" with "assemblied in Portugal" written below. The seller (a dealer) couldn't really explain these issues except to say things like "It is what it is"...... "It's a shooter"...... Would you say it's likely a gun that's had work or parts replaced?

The ask is $885 I know I'm very new at this. Would the above set off alarm bells for you?
Click to expand...
They didn't start assembling Hi-Power's in Portugal until mid-late 80's. However, if the slide is matte while the frame is polished, it has definitely been refinished. $885 is way too much for a used, refinished, "shooter grade" BHP.
 
Anyone have any thoughts on the serial number confusion? If I'm reading the Browning site correctly a pistol with a serial # starting in "77C" should not exist.

The other thing the dealer mentioned on the phone is that the Mag disconnect has been removed and the trigger is much lighter.

There are photos of the pistol online at the dealer's site (Astro arms) but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post links here.
 
My 1977 "T"-series is getting more range time these days and I'm really enjoying it.
I'm even getting used to the plain black steel sights. It points naturally(in my hands) and the slide feels like its on ball bearings. It has Soul.
However, I prefer the trigger reset on my G17 and I don't have a problem holstering it….
DSCN1320_zpsda1ec637.jpg

DSCN1315_zpsb0ded620.jpg
 
johNTO said:
My 1977 "T"-series is getting more range time these days and I'm really enjoying it.
I'm even getting used to the plain black steel sights. It points naturally(in my hands) and the slide feels like its on ball bearings. It has Soul.
However, I prefer the trigger reset on my G17 and I don't have a problem holstering it….
DSCN1320_zpsda1ec637.jpg

DSCN1315_zpsb0ded620.jpg
Click to expand...

"77 "T" series?? I thought T's were 1969 and before. Colour me confused!

http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=35
 
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