Browning Highpower Questions

Drachenblut

Drachenblut

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Hello,

I have a friend of mine who says he has his Grandfather's Browning High-Power that he had during his time in the services (I believe before or during WWII, I could be wrong). He asked me to inquire as to it's value and any historical facts anyone here can provide.

The info he provided is such on the handgun:
Brownings Arms Company
St.Louis Month & Montreal P.Q.
Made In Belgium
Serial # T135***
He mentioned there was somewhere on it written or stamped a reference to Inglis (spelling?) in Toronto, now owned by Whirlpool.

What questions should I ask him for more information if any? Pictures at this time are not availiable.
Any info would be helpful if someone could even run the serial # and see what they find as for dating/manufacture/service?

Yours,
Drachenblut
 
Last edited:
Unlikely to have been before WWII. The Hi-Power was an FN product. (Browning started designing it for them to enter for a French Army requirement for a pistol, but he died and one of their in-house staff, Dieudonné Saive, finished it. I think the French didn't end up selecting it, but Belgium did in 1935.)

It didn't enter Canadian (or British) service until after WWII started and the Germans occupied Belgium. FN managers and designers who fled to Britain then provided the designs and a license to the Allies and the Inglis company started making them in Canada, so our side didn't see it issued until later in the war. The FN factory also kept making them, under occupation, for the Germans. If I recall correctly, they were uncommon in the Canadian Army before 1944, though I've read some vets remembering getting them in Italy, so maybe '43.

Can you find out what service your friend's grandfather was in? Was he Belgian or German?
 
My friend's grandfather was British serving with the Canadians in 43-45, then came to Canada. Apparently the story goes he either was issued it or won it in a crap game in 45. That's all I could find out so-far.
 
Apparently, the story was incorrect. The story is actually that his grandfather bought in new in 1958 for about 60.00. Any history on it now? Serial numbers make sence?

Thanks,
D
 
Drachenblut said:
Apparently, the story was incorrect. The story is actually that his grandfather bought in new in 1958 for about 60.00. Any history on it now? Serial numbers make sence?

Thanks,
D
Click to expand...


It certainly makes sense that a British or Canadian WWII vet buying himself a pistol in 1958 would choose a Hi-Power because he remembered them being good kit that he used in the war.
 
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