Inglis oddball please help evaluate!

[handofzeus]

Here is one of my keepers. Looking for objective evaluations based on your experience. I have researched these extensively and need to know if I missed anything. Serial is amusing but I won't divulge it completely 3CH2###, looks parkerized with polished plumlike blue on slide flats. This was certainly one of the Chinese contract guns that had the tangent sight milled off (you can see the milled off area clearly). Mag safety removed and extended safety installed along with black plastic (not rubber) grips. These look like the only mods. Aside from light scratches on the left side the finish is very good, bore shiny good rifling no pits. Magazine is JI stamped. And finally YES it has the slot in the backstrap for a stock.

 

[flashman2]

What's your question? It's a refinished pistol with some light mods. Value is as a shooter. The grips are correct for an Inglis HP. Rear sight has been modified as well.

Maybe sell the JI mag and use the $ to buy a few aftermarket mags. Won't hurt the value of the gun any to split it off, and there's some original condition Inglis out there needing a JI mag.

 

[handofzeus]

The refinish was factory done when the Chinese backed out of the contract and some of the tangent sight models were converted to allied configuration. Looking for knowledgeable feedback on value. This isn't a gun I would consider blasting away with at the range, that's what MKIIIs or my T-series are for.

 

[tiriaq]

Tangent sighted slides were converted. But square notched rear sights locked in place with a hex head screw were not part of the conversion. Neither was an extended safety.

 

[handofzeus]

So the rear sight was a mod, thanks for the input. I figured the safety was done by the previous owner, looks like the rear sight too. They spent some cash to do it because it's a nice dovetail.

 

[can14]

The rear sight isn't correct for a military conversion .
When the military did it, the guns were re parked in green.

 

[handofzeus]

The plot thickens. I guess they milled off the front sight hinge but somehow they added more material to form the rear sight hump which in this case was at some point milled for a dovetail. The tangent model only had a tiny hump that sat at the rear of the slide behind the tangent leaf. All three serials are identical including font and spacing so the slide must be original to the frame.

Also found that the original safety lever was hidden underneath a nicely screwed on extension!imgur

 

[hatman1793]

Harsh reality: its a C$450-500.00 firearm, a shooter to be sure. It appears that all of the Inglis CH characteristics are absent. So all the provenance is gone.
Refinished, rear & front sights not original, so basically you have a decent 9mm shooter. Compared to the many, many polymer pistols for sale today, like the M&P, Sig P320, and now the new Glock 48, you have an all steel pistol in the right caliber, but......I think you where Im going here....

 

[handofzeus]

Still has the Chinese serial and slotted frame. Guess I'll keep it but won't shoot it. Love this thing.

 

[sailor723]

Still has the Chinese serial and slotted frame. Guess I'll keep it but won't shoot it. Love this thing.

I like your attitude. I think all old guns are interesting in their own right. Sounds like this one has a neat story to tell if it could talk.

 

[Leg]

I’d shoot the heck out of it. Since Bubba has already had his hands on it I wouldn’t be afraid to monkey with it a bit more.

I’ve always wanted an Inglis as a shooter/beater but most are pricey collector pieces. If I had one I’d do some “upgrades” that I think would help keep it relevant as a defensive arm.

 

[Striker]

I have an original Chinese contract Hi-Power. worst sights I've ever looked through.

 

[flashman2]

The refinish was factory done when the Chinese backed out of the contract and some of the tangent sight models were converted to allied configuration.

No, it wasn't. I've seen a few converted CH series still in the CF, and they were parked.

Looking for knowledgeable feedback on value.

$400 maybe. I think $500 is way too high.

This isn't a gun I would consider blasting away with at the range, that's what MKIIIs or my T-series are for.

I'd shoot this before I'd shoot a complete and original T series gun.

 

[flashman2]

The plot thickens. I guess they milled off the front sight hinge but somehow they added more material to form the rear sight hump which in this case was at some point milled for a dovetail.

The conversion was done by milling out the whole rear of the slide - you can see the outline on yours clearly. A new piece was pressed in with the rear sight.

 

[flashman2]

Still has the Chinese serial and slotted frame. Guess I'll keep it but won't shoot it. Love this thing.

I'd be very tempted to get a repro stock for it and shoot it like that... not many pistols you can do that with.

 

[Leg]

No, it wasn't. I've seen a few converted CH series still in the CF, and they were parked.




$400 maybe. I think $500 is way too high.



I'd shoot this before I'd shoot a complete and original T series gun.

You find me an Inglis for $400 and I’ll buy it on the spot and give you a finders fee. Heck, find me any kind of Hi Power for that price and I’ll buy it. You can’t even get FEGs for that cheap.

 

[Donny Fenn1]

The conversion was done by milling out the whole rear of the slide - you can see the outline on yours clearly. A new piece was pressed in with the rear sight.

Good eye, looks like someone tried to make it a target pistol or at least with more user friendly sights than original. Not as glaring as a Bomar topped Inglis slide I had once but same idea.

 

[flashman2]

Good eye, looks like someone tried to make it a target pistol or at least with more user friendly sights than original. Not as glaring as a Bomar topped Inglis slide I had once but same idea.

I wish I could claim credit for being particularly observant, but it's just that I happen to know how the conversion from the tangent sight was done... it's in the Inglis Diamond book I believe, and readily apparent when you handle one in person. The aftermarket bit on the OPs pistol is the bit dovetailed in and retained with the hex screw. The rest is original to the conversion from No 1 to No 2.

 

[flashman2]

You find me an Inglis for $400 and I’ll buy it on the spot and give you a finders fee. Heck, find me any kind of Hi Power for that price and I’ll buy it.

Really? How much of a finders fee?

You can’t even get FEGs for that cheap.

You can buy an ex Izzy FN Mk III in better condition for $600, right now, today. How much do you think this one's worth? This is a much older pistol with presumably much more use and a mismatched, worn finish. I'd have to be on a REAL budget to opt for this rather than one of those surplus izzy Mk IIIs.

It's only value is as a shooter. It's miles away from having any collector value. The fact it has an Inglis stamp is no more relevant than if it had an FN one. As a shooter, I'd put a 70+ year old pistol in that condition at about the bottom of the desirability scale.

To be totally fair, $400 doesn't include the value of the JI mag... so $400 plus whatever you can get for that, minus the couple of bucks for a new commercial one.

 

[handofzeus]

Would love any exerpts from the Clive M. Law book in regard to the conversion back to no. 2 configuration. I tried to contact him and found that he passed away in 2017.