Inglis Hi Power "stuff"

[mauser]

A few years ago my wife gave me for Valentines Day a beautiful Inglis HP, Chinese contract, with stock/holster. Thanks to the gang here at CGN I was able to learn a lot about my new artifact.

I was browsing the Net when I ran across a website with lots of wartime photos taken back when the Inglis plant was going full speed making the tools of war. Below is a photo from that site showing some ladies working on the Brownings. Note the decal on the grip strap. That's one thing my gun doesn't have. In fact, mine looks like it might never have been issued but sat in a warehouse someplace for a long time.

I thought you folks might enjoy seeing these old snapshots...

I also got a copy of a photo of one of the HP assembly gals test-firing one of their handiwork.

I figured these pics should go good with the gun when framed and hung beside it in my gun room.

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser

If you carry a gun people will call you paranoid. That's ridiculous. If I have a gun, what in Hell do I have to be paranoid for?

 

[Ganderite]

No ear protection. Must have been painful...

 

[canuck]

Nice No.1 Inglis
You should get yourself a copy of Clive Law's "The Inglis Diamond" -well worth the $$

 

[mauser]

Hey, canuck. Problem with that is I don't collect anything even close to the Inglis. My collecting parameters are as follows: .22rf, single-shot, made in Canada or US, older and more oddball the better. The only exceptions to those parameters are that I'm researching the little four-shooter Mossberg Brownies, and the 4 French Gevarm .22rf semi-auto rifles.

I spend money on books which apply to the collection. The Inglis is strictly a gift, not part of the collection. It's kept loaded as one of our stashed-away "house guns." Handy but out of sight.

Not really worth buying a book for just ONE gun.

But I'll remember it if I should stumble on a copy.

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser

Beware of the man who only has ONE gun. He probably knows how to use it.

 

[canuck]

I know where you're coming from - a fella can spend a small fortune on books alone!
I only mention it as the pics you posted (and many more) are in the book I mentioned.
Love to see pics of your 22 collection some time - I like the old 22 pumps myself

 

[Tyler]

We still have a few of the modified No. 1's (the lowers) in our unit vault. They just filled in the notch for the stock with a pre-cut piece of steel.

It's always nice to see the ladies who made the guns we still use today.

 

[mauser]

I think I've posted photos of the majority of my guns on here - someplace. What you might try is run a search for posts by mauser. There's a pile of 'em on here someplace.

One you definitely don't want to miss is the story of my little Tobin Arms .22rf SS. I even had a CGN member sell me a 1917 copy of The Rod And Gun In Canada which is the ONLY place anyone has seen a picture of the little guy. The Tobin company had moved from CT up to Woodstock, Ont. early in the 1900s. Coincidentally, the publisher of Rod & Gun was also HQd in Woodstock at the time.

Tobin NEVER advertised their .22. They were world-renowned for high quality scatterguns so I guess a .22 was beneath their dignity. Here's a scan of that old ad.

And here's a pic of my little Tobin I "stole" for less than $100 from an online auction up in Georgia.

About a week after I got mine, a guy in Ontario sold one at auction over there for $700!

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser

The two most important rules in a gunfight are: Always cheat, and Always win.

 

[mauser]

Forgot to mention....

My Inglis has a black Parkerized finish on it. Were they ALL like that? I could swear I've seen 'em in the OD Parker. Anyone know if they did various colors, or maybe used black for the China contract?

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser

There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either.

 

[brit84]

most ive seen are black for the chinese contracts. does yours have chinese lettering on it? there are some without

 

[mauser]

brit84, that's the kind of info I'm looking for. No, all english. I had a pile of old dewat Stens MANY moons ago when living in BC, and a lot of those had the Chinese characters on them. But not this HP.

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser

I carry a gun 'cause a cop's too heavy.

 

[canuck]

Neat little gun - the Tobin!
Thats interesting info Tyler, - that they bother to fill the notch in the backstrap.

From what I've read/heard, the black painted finish (Suncorite?) was applied by the Brits - we sold them a number of the CH guns, which made thier way back to the US as surplus.
The original finish would be the phosphate/park as on your old Stens.
Does the serial number show through the finish as "in the white", or is the finish over the numbers?

PS
- hows Florida? Its -15C here this AM

 

[mauser]

Good info, canuck, thanks!

That little Tobin still fascinates me. Not even Canadians seem to know anything about it. I lived in BC for 18 years, collecting and dealing in guns all that time, and I never even heard of the little guy. I didn't learn about it until I stumbled on this one and bought it with little or no info about it. Reason I bid on it... It went cheap, mainly 'cause nobody knew what it was - I believe!

Like an idiot, back when I received the Inglis I was really into using that white paint stick thingy to highlight stampings for photography purposes. I very soon stopped that practice.

The stampings were NOT "in the white" but had received the same finish as the flat surfaces. (That's why I painted 'em!) I'm not sure I understand what that indicates to you. (?)

As for temps here on the big sandbar, it opened here in Daytona at sunrise over the Atlantic with 68 degrees. It's just noon now and nearing 90 now. Been above 90 for the last several days. We're looking forward to some cooler weather.

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser

A Liberal is someone who will give away everything they don't own.

 

[john@]

If the SN engravings were in the white it would mean it was original factory finish. As its been refinished or suncorited, that may indicate it was one of the CH pistols sent to the Brits that Canuck mentioned, but it could also have been refinished by someone in Canada / or USA.
Either way that tells you why its darker than the ones with the parking.

If you're using this as your house gun, you might want to look into removeing the dodad that keeps the mag from falling out when you eject it, sort of a friction/spring bit in the back of the mag well. Lots of guys remove that from their HP's when they use them in IPSC etc... Will not affect the functionality of the pistol at all.

 

[mauser]

Hey, John@, I'm just going by an old and fuzzy memory of what was there when I put that white stick to it. I've slept since then, and I think my memory banks drain out each night.

The serial number is engraved on the barrel, but all other markings appear to be roll-stamped. Some are a little on the light-side in hard to reach spots.

It's kind of a backup "house gun." Stashed right next to it is a loaded Auto-Ordnance 1911A1 .45acp. Both have their mags out about 1/2", slides back and locked. When you get older 'n dirt - like me - cocking these hand-cannons becomes more difficult due to weakened hand and arm muscles.

My preferred method is to lock the slide back when gun's empty. And on external hammer guns like these you can more easily pull the hammer back to full-#### to lessen the amount of strength needed to pull the slide against the recoil spring. Got a Walther 9mm P-1 stashed the same way.

And, in case I need one. it's much more easy to just push the mag home, push the button to release the slide and get on with your business. Extra mags are there as well.

Your comment about the mag well "dodad" I'm not familiar with. I've shot other HPs in the past, and don't understand what this accomplishes. (?)

Also have a Beretta .380, Colt 38spl. Detective special (with speed loaders) and nice old Stainless S&W 66 in .357mag (with loaders), and I feed all of them Dynapoints, Hydroshocks, hollowpoints, etc.. The solid lead is in the 12ga pump standing in the corner, loaded with 00buck...

Best regards ~ ~ ~ mauser

Citizens should NOT have to fear both their government and the criminals. It should be that the criminals fear the people and the government.

 

[paulz]

I read somewhere that some were refurbed by FN and got a new finish (teflon?)that was dark green, but I can't site any source. Canadian made and issued pistols were parkerised (dark grey). The Indians made (still make?) and unlicensed copy of the Inglis, which could have been painted.