I was recently offered, again, a "Browning High Power" with a serial number beginning by B 09###.
I respectfully submitted to the seller that this was not an autentic Browning, that is was most likely a clone manufactured by FÉG (Fegyver es Gazkeszuelekgyara NV) in Hungary. I might as well as having talked to a wall.
FÉG are rather well made, at least for the finish and in my collection wich includes 26 samples (you may think I like them...), I felt I should own a FÉG clone, if only for the sake of comparing, with the ones made in Belgium (Herstal) or assembled in Portugal, or in Argentina (DM Rosario) or, naturally, in Toronto (Inglis) between March 1944 and September 1945. FÉG has made "fake Brownings", some prefer calling them "stealth", out in the open, not paying for a licence from FN. Sold to armies and police forces in many coutries of the world. And distributors on this continent were not always clear about the nature/origin.
Are they safe to fire?
Let me reverse the question and put it to you this way: would you be comfortable to operate close to your face, a pistol, which is a high pressure device (SAAMI pressure for 9mm x 19P being 35,000 psi for normal ammo, and 38,500 psi for P+) that bears no proofing marks? You don't need to be a retired professional engineer (which I was) to promtly answer NO WAY. I'm not affirming they were never tested, just... at least, show me the money. I have not, and will not shoot my FÉG, as a matter of principle.
I will offer in support of this post, two references in addition to the comprehensive 9x19P entry and Browning High Power found in Wikipedia. First, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Hi-Power
(see other listed manufacturers in this article.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9719mm_Parabellum
(… for SAAMI values.)
Then, go read the following post:
https://www.handgunsandammunition.com/hi-power-forum/9243-counterfit-fake-hi-powers.html
I aslo found a long time ago, on the Midwest Gun Works site on-line, a comprehensive list of High Power (made by FN Herstall) serial numbers, starting back in 1935. It's not there any more, but perhaps could be found elsewhere: THERE ARE NO HIGH POWER ever made by FN Herstall WITH S/N BEGINNING WITH LETTER B. Drop me a line with your e-mail address if you want this complete list. Or if you find reliable information to the contrary. I would appreciate.
Getting back to the seller proposing a FÉG clone, he argued that his CFC issued Firearm Registration Certificates shows "Browning" in the box "Marque - Make". Since when does a registration certificate constitute a valid document to establish maker or country of origin?
Browsing through my own CFC issued Firearm Registration Certificates, I can report that all of them show in that box, either "Browning" or "FN Browning". This includes the FÉG, the Brazilian DM Rosario, the Franconia (Germany), and all the Inglis(es) made in Toronto.
I believe a potential buyer should be told, exactly, to the best of the seller's knowledge, what he is contemplating before he concludes the deal. Specially if safety could be an issue. He may want to pay less, or pay the asking price, as I did for mine (finish is VERY nice).
Am I out for lunch here? Your two cents please. Don't hesitate to contradict me, to err is human.
(… to be paid for it is devine!)
Gefreiter
Military firearms collector since 1984
I respectfully submitted to the seller that this was not an autentic Browning, that is was most likely a clone manufactured by FÉG (Fegyver es Gazkeszuelekgyara NV) in Hungary. I might as well as having talked to a wall.
FÉG are rather well made, at least for the finish and in my collection wich includes 26 samples (you may think I like them...), I felt I should own a FÉG clone, if only for the sake of comparing, with the ones made in Belgium (Herstal) or assembled in Portugal, or in Argentina (DM Rosario) or, naturally, in Toronto (Inglis) between March 1944 and September 1945. FÉG has made "fake Brownings", some prefer calling them "stealth", out in the open, not paying for a licence from FN. Sold to armies and police forces in many coutries of the world. And distributors on this continent were not always clear about the nature/origin.
Are they safe to fire?
Let me reverse the question and put it to you this way: would you be comfortable to operate close to your face, a pistol, which is a high pressure device (SAAMI pressure for 9mm x 19P being 35,000 psi for normal ammo, and 38,500 psi for P+) that bears no proofing marks? You don't need to be a retired professional engineer (which I was) to promtly answer NO WAY. I'm not affirming they were never tested, just... at least, show me the money. I have not, and will not shoot my FÉG, as a matter of principle.
I will offer in support of this post, two references in addition to the comprehensive 9x19P entry and Browning High Power found in Wikipedia. First, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Hi-Power
(see other listed manufacturers in this article.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9%C3%9719mm_Parabellum
(… for SAAMI values.)
Then, go read the following post:
https://www.handgunsandammunition.com/hi-power-forum/9243-counterfit-fake-hi-powers.html
I aslo found a long time ago, on the Midwest Gun Works site on-line, a comprehensive list of High Power (made by FN Herstall) serial numbers, starting back in 1935. It's not there any more, but perhaps could be found elsewhere: THERE ARE NO HIGH POWER ever made by FN Herstall WITH S/N BEGINNING WITH LETTER B. Drop me a line with your e-mail address if you want this complete list. Or if you find reliable information to the contrary. I would appreciate.
Getting back to the seller proposing a FÉG clone, he argued that his CFC issued Firearm Registration Certificates shows "Browning" in the box "Marque - Make". Since when does a registration certificate constitute a valid document to establish maker or country of origin?
Browsing through my own CFC issued Firearm Registration Certificates, I can report that all of them show in that box, either "Browning" or "FN Browning". This includes the FÉG, the Brazilian DM Rosario, the Franconia (Germany), and all the Inglis(es) made in Toronto.
I believe a potential buyer should be told, exactly, to the best of the seller's knowledge, what he is contemplating before he concludes the deal. Specially if safety could be an issue. He may want to pay less, or pay the asking price, as I did for mine (finish is VERY nice).
Am I out for lunch here? Your two cents please. Don't hesitate to contradict me, to err is human.
(… to be paid for it is devine!)
Gefreiter
Military firearms collector since 1984
