Counterfeit Browning Hi-Power?

[sailor723]

Does anyone here know anyhing about the counterfeit (with FN markings) BHP's supposedly made by FEG in Hungary? The story is that they were made for a Middle Eastern country that FN refused to sell to (embargo maybe?). I know FEG made Browning clones marketed as a P9 but these were supposedly marked as FN produced guns. ie "Fabrique National Herstal Belgique" etc etc on the slide.

Google turns up lots of stuff but you never know how much is urban legend.

edit:

I've done a little more digging on what seems to be a knowledgable US site called the "Browning Hi-Power Owner's Forum"

It would seem that there are quite a few Hungarian made fake BHP's around marked as FN Hi-Powers (I guess they didn't counterfeit guns marked "Browning") The first indication is a serial number that has the letter B or L followed by a space and then 5 digits.

I've found two guns like that for sale online in Canada being sold as "Brownings" or "Belgian Brownings". I guess it's a case of "buyer beware"

 

[Cocked&Locked]

I would suspect rather then FEG marking the guns, an purchaser bought up a lot and then remarked them to sell at a profit....but who knows

 

[bruce william]

I have a look alike BHP marked Luger I always like the look on peoples face when I tell them that i have a Luger. BHP parts seem to inter change with it.

 

[sailor723]

I would suspect rather then FEG marking the guns, an purchaser bought up a lot and then remarked them to sell at a profit....but who knows

One of the stories I read was that they were made for Iraq in the Saddam Hussain era when that country was under an arms embargo.

I guess the point is that (at least in the US) they sell for less than 1/2 of a real FN or Browning Hi-Power and if people are paying "FN made" prices here they are being taken.

 

[Windknot]

Used to have one. You couldn't tell it from a real one apart from the serial number. I paid the equivalent of CAD$80 for it, but that was 20 years ago and in another country.

 

[corwin-arms]

Pakistan tribal area production may be

 

[enefgee]

I have a look alike BHP marked Luger I always like the look on peoples face when I tell them that i have a Luger. BHP parts seem to inter change with it.

Those were also marketed under the Mauser banner - (cool huh?) they were actually more expensive than the real thing at the time.

 

[TheTooner]

There is also a story that during a strike FN contracted with someone else to make them some HiPowers, providing them with all the necessary technical data and having them marked FN, which would make them genuine FN pistols (whatever FN makes or has made and calls theirs is genuinely FN.) And the story is that the maker was FEG and they later made more unauthorised copies without FN markings and sold them to markets that weren't too particular about such things and also made a double action version which looks slightly different and is what Norinco copies.

 

[rigrat]

I have one that has all the correct FN markings but the B space ***** serial number. It has absolutely no other marks or acceptance stamps anywhere on it. I knew it was a knock of when I bought it and paid accordingly. It is very well made and finished and if it wasn't for the serial number would easily pass for the real thing.

 

[sailor723]

I have one that has all the correct FN markings but the B space ***** serial number. It has absolutely no other marks or acceptance stamps anywhere on it. I knew it was a knock of when I bought it and paid accordingly. It is very well made and finished and if it wasn't for the serial number would easily pass for the real thing.

Yes, from what I've heard in talking to collecters the FEG guns work fine. If you take them down the finish inside is a little less (more tool marks etc) but in terms of function/reliability etc they're fine.