9mm Pistol Browning
The Browning High Power was initially designed in 1925 by John M. Browning. It was however not mass produced until 1935, some 9 years after Browning's death. IN the US it is still often referred to as the 1935 Model. When introduced the first year, there were two versions available, the "ordinary model" which had fixed sights and the alternative, which had a tangent rear sight graduated to 500m and a dovetail slot in the rear of the pistol grip for the attachment of a wooden shoulder stock, was known as the "adjustable rearsight model". The High Power is chiefly manufactured for worldwide sales by FN Herstal SA but is also maufactured by The John Inglis Company in Canada for distribution to Canadian Forces, the British, Australian and Chinese troops.
Obviously, over the years there have been many variations of the High Power produced. This is not a list of the minor differences, but a note on the major differences.
Early models were produced with a detachable stock and adjustable sights. The stocks were often wood and doubled as a holster for the gun. It appears these were designed for cavalry use. The pistols designed for the detachable stock have a groove cut into the rear of the pistol grip. Some models have a lanyard ring at the base of the grip. Late models often have an ambidextrous safety. The finish is usually blued. Some models have been made in nickel and chrome plate and many have been phosphated (Parkerised). One finish that has also been used by FN is Parkerising with black enamel paint over the Parkerising. This finish is designed for military use. Guns made for the civilian marker by FN are usually blued.
As currently manufactured, the High Power comes with a magazine safety. This means that when the magazine is withdrawn, the gun will not fire. The FN company put this in the gun so that if the shooter touched the trigger while inserting a magazine the gun would not fire if there was still a round in the chamber. Many owners remove this safety. It is done for two reasons. First of all, many owners want to gun to be in fireable condition without the magazine so a fresh magazine can be inserted during combat. The other reason is that the magazine safety prevents the empty magazine dropping freely out of the magazine well.
The German military during WWII, told the FN company to leave the magazine safety out. They did this so the gun would always be in fireable condition. When FN took back the factory at the end of WWII, they continued making guns without the magazine safety for a while. These guns have an "A" in the serial number prefix.
The High Power is easily field stripped. It can be done in the dark. When disassembled, it should consist of the following pieces:
The frame, the slide, the barrel, the magazine, the slide locking lever, the main spring and the main spring guide. Seven pieces including the magazine.
To strip the weapon do the following:
1) Remove the magazine by pushing the magazine release lever which is on the left side of the gun behind the trigger guard.
2) Pull back the slide. This will eject a round if there is one in the chamber. Then look through the ejection port on the right side of the gun to visually check that the chamber is empty.
3) Pull the slide back again and engage the safety lever (usually on the left rear of the gun above the grip) in the second - forward - notch of the slide. The gun should now have the slide held back, the chamber exposed and the front of the barrel exposed.
4) Push the rear toggle of the slide locking lever up to the top of the slide. Push the the pin end of the lever that protrudes on the right side of the gun. From the left side of the gun, grab the now protruding slide locking lever and remove it.
5) Push the safety catch down and push the slide forward over the front of the gun and lay it aside.
6) The slide will now have the barrel, mainspring and mainspring guide inside it.
7) To disassemble further. Hold the slide with one hand and push the mainspring toward the front of the slide. Then lift the mainspring and mainspring guide. Lift and the barrel away from the slide and lay aside. The mainspring and mainspring guide can then be separated.
To reassemble the unit, reverse the above procedure.
Because of the long and varied history of the High Power, there are many sources of parts. There is not as much "Customization" as there is of its cousin the Colt 45. Some companies sell special grips, but there are no fancy knobs and bits worth mentioning.
As there have been engineering changes over the years, there are some parts interchangeability problems. A gunsmith familiar with the High Power should have no problems. The differences are well documented. At the owner level, all magazines are interchangeable.
Below is a list of companies that sell parts for the High Power:
* Sherwood International (818) 349-7600 (800) 423-5237
* Brownells (515) 623-5401
* Cylinder & Slide (402) 721-4277 (800) 448-1713
* Quality Parts (207) 892-2005 (800) 998-7928
* Gun Parts (Numrich Arms) (914) 679-2417
* Olympic Arms (Safari Arms) (206) 459-7940 Olympic Arms only sell barrels.
More informatoin can be found here
| Cartridge: | 9 x 19mm |
| Operation: | recoil, semi-automatic |
| Locking: | projecting lug |
| Feed: | 13-round detachable box |
| Weight: | empty, 882g. |
| Length: | 200mm |
| Barrel: | 118mm |
| Rifling: | 6 grooves, right hand, 1 turn in 250mm |
| Sights: | fore, adjustable barley corn; rear, square notch |
| Sight Radius: | 159mm |
| Muzzle Velocity: | 350 m/s |
| Chamber Pressure: | 212 MP |
| Manufacturer: | John Inglis Company Toronto, Ontario |
