A Pair Of 75th Anniversary Browning Hi-Power's

[Bill T]

I’ve been wanting a Browning Hi-Power for quite a long time. Admittingly it hasn’t been way up on my list, because the version I wanted just seemed a little hard to come by for some reason. Like so many pistols, Browning has gone with quicker to manufacture, lower cost options. I wanted a polished blued finish with checkered Walnut grips. For the last several years the only new versions of this handgun I’ve come across were either matte finished, or else had the even cheaper black Polycoat finish, which is nothing more than a high tech paint job. Most also had cheap, plastic grips instead of the much nicer checkered Walnut versions.

The other day I got an E-Mail from Davidson’s showing some of their “New Arrivals” they currently had in stock, and I came across these beautiful 75th Anniversary Edition Browning Hi-Powers. They offered them in a beautiful highly polished, rich blued finish with both Target Adjustable, as well as fixed sights. They also have the original select Walnut checkered grips. And as if that wasn’t enough, both versions were on sale until the end of this month! I promptly ordered 2. One with adjustable sights, and the other with fixed. My local shop called me this morning to let me know they had arrived. I immediately drove over and picked them both up!

What I really liked about these 75th Anniversary Edition Models is the fact they not only retain the original bright blued finish with the Walnut grips, but they both have very tasteful roll engraving on the top of the slide stating “75th Anniversary - 1935-2010”. The roll marking is very sharp and clean looking. I’m glad they kept it subdued instead of going with an overpriced, fully pimped, “Barbecue Gun” to commemorate this Model’s 75th Anniversary. This gun costs no more than a similar, non commemorative Hi-Power, and can be shot without damaging any of it’s value if the shooter chooses to do so. Yet it still retains the roll marking which distinguishes it from the standard models.

What really impresses me about this gun is the fact it was one of the first of the double stack Hi-Cap 9 MM pistols, and today it’s still one of the best. In a modern age with everyone and their brother offering double stack, Hi-Cap nines, the Browning Hi-Power is still as graceful, well made, and solid as ever. These guns could go up against any of the newer Tupperware versions from Glock and H&K and still hold their own in the performance department. Not bad from a gun that first was designed in 1935. This was John Browning’s last design. In fact he died before a lot of the finishing touches were put on the gun. That alone makes it well worth owning.   Bill T.

[williamlayton]

My keyboard shorted out and I am having to use my wifes puter---she is making me wear a baby bib.
Blessings

[Lloyd Smale]

In my opinion the high power is the finest 9mm ever made. Not a big fan of 9mms and have never owned a highpower but ive shot enough of them to maybe sway my opinion on getting another 9mm someday.

[Bill T]

I really like the fact it is made from all steel. Yes, it's a heavy gun for a 9 MM, but it's solidness is worth the extra weight. It just "feels right" in your hands, if you know what I mean. In years past I have said many times I had zero interest in the 9 MM cartridge, and didn't own a single one. I now have a total of 10 counting these two new Hi-Powers. My reasoning has changed on this cartridge.

The reasons are several, but for the most part handgun bullet construction has changed for the better in the last decade. For years pistol bullets would simply not expand reliably. Some would, many others wouldn't. If you wanted knock down power with a handgun there was only one way to get it. Go with a high powered revolver shooting a Magnum cartridge with large diameter, heavy bullets. A .45 was considered to be better because it made a bigger hole. The 9 MM didn't have the soup back then for reliable stops. Stories were all but countless of police who shot suspects multiple times with various 9 MM weapons, only to have the bad guy run off, or else stay in the fight returning fire in the process.

Today that has all changed with the modern, totally reliable, expanding self defense pistol ammunition that is currently avaliable from literally dozens of ammunition manufacturers. Companies like Remington, Winchester, Federal, Cor-Bon, Buffalo Bore, and many others all produce ammunition in 9 MM that will reliably expand, greatly improving the effectiveness of that cartridge.

Another thing that attracted me to the 9 MM was shooting cost. Reloadable brass cased FMJ Ball practice ammo can still be had for around $10.00 a box. Other calibers like the .40 S&W and the .45 ACP are substantially higher. .45 ACP has near doubled while 9 MM has only risen a few dollars a box. Add it all up and the 9 MM has become much more appealing to shooters in a bad economy. Better performance and lower cost will always do a lot to advance the sales of most any product.  Bill T.

[Bill T]

I should mention the pictures themselves are kind of crappy. What appears to be marks and discoloration on the blued surface is actually remnants of a waxy film that Browning generously coats their guns with before they leave the factory. I didn't clean this very well before I took the photographs. Plus, my crappy 2.1 Mega pixel Sony Cybershot isn't exactly the best camera for this type of photography. I'm going to the range with them both today, and afterward I'll be giving them both a proper cleaning. The guns themselves are flawless.  Bill T.

[Mike in Virginia]

Nice guns.  Real nice.  You did the right thing. 

[1marty]

Bought my hi power about 6 years ago. Put some nice looking wood grips on them. My wife asked if I loved the hi power more than her.
Well.................I told her she shouldn't ask such tough questions.

[drdougrx]

Nice Catch Bill!!!  Love those old platform guns!

I have 2 as well...a standard Belgian 9mm and a 2 tone MKIII in 40sw.  I also had and sold a Belgian gun that I had Bill Laughridge of Cylinder and Slide rebuild with all kinds of bling....I found I'd rather them plain!