Inglis Brownings and parts interchangeability

KotKotofeich

KotKotofeich

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My dad in law just gave me some parts off an old HP he sold off a long time ago. From what he remembers it was a Belgian made browning, possibly from the 40s.

I got a barrel, recoil spring and grips.

I have an Inglis made HP... I can see no difference in the grips - were Inglis grips marked in any particular way that would differentiate them? (I'm now afraid that my Inglis may have non-original grips :/)

I can see no difference in the recoil spring or the guide - again, were there supposed to be differences?

The barrel does not appear to be interchangeable - it fits but the slide does not move. Apart from the lack of serial number markings over the chamber I see no significant difference. Were barrels individually matched to the gun? Can a barrel from one Inglis work in another?

Some pictures (click for full size) to make this more worthwhile ;)






 
The spring barrel and most other parts should interchange with no issues. The original barrels, slides, and frame, are serial number marked and proof marked also.
The barrels are fitted to each gun and the Inglis would have had pinned forward sights set once shot in.
When reconditioned they were sandblasted and the frame and slide serials were often not repainted white.

Anyhow I can't imagine a reason to not use it as is however with your Inglis I would do my best to protect the remaining factory decal as that adds value and is historical.

I shoot with some veteran CF guys who have tens of thousands of rounds in their Inglis guns. Fresh or used... They shoot amazingly well. I have yet to shoot a nicer gun frankly.
Mine is low in round count. Really barrel slop at the front of the slid is all you need to look for and a bushing can be fitted if necessary.

Congrats on the gun.
If ever you wish to part with the Inglis please keep me in mind.
I have had a couple over the years and always try and keep my eye peeled.

Cheers Chris.
 
Preserving it as much as possible is the idea behind taking off the grips and the barrel when shooting it.

This one is not reconditioned - numbers still in the white. But I see no special marks on the grips anywhere - they seem identical to the supposedly Belgian ones.

What is the best way to preserve the remaining decal? I've seen some pistols with tape over it, but I wonder if it might rip off the decal if replaced later...
 
The decals are available on the repro trade. I think I have a strip somewhere. Anything attached to the transfer will lift it off. I'd suggest Pachmayr wrap around rubber grips are your only physical option to prevent damage.
 
I believe those are both Inglis grips. I just checked a few sets of my spare Inglis grips: they all have markings in the centre of the inside of the grip. The marking is "CL" inside a stretched "D" followed by a one or two digit number. The markings are quite small, about 2mm high. Yours appear to have similar markings, although I cannot make out the actual letters/numbers.

That is a very nice Inglis. The only way to preserve the value of your Inglis with low wear, original finish and decal is not to shoot it. Your pistol is worth $1400 ish as is. Why not buy a cheaper shooter grade pistol that will not devalue and shoot that?
 
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Thanks for the info about the grips, Tom E Gun. Indeed they all have CL in a D with a 0,6 or 11 appended.

Also thanks for the pachmayr grips, maple_leaf_eh

I'm not shooting this regularly, only once in the last year. I have a px4 for regular shooting, but conceivably I might shoot the browning on special (commemorative) occasions, especially once I pair it up with a nice Belgian of the same time period :)

Too bad about the barrel. Thanks again!
 
Not all hi power barrels fit. heck, not even all commercial made hi power barrels interchange with other commercial made guns. I spent a goodly amount of time trying to find an a barrel that would fit and function correctly in an Inglis frame and slide i acquired years back. I still have an extra barrel and possibly sping and guide around the mess that is my gun room.
 
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