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

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

Post by billt » Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:11 am

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.

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blue68f100
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Post by blue68f100 » Tue Mar 08, 2011 2:29 pm

Nice pair.

I like my BHP and shoot it better than my Sig.

Now are you gong to shoot then or are they going to be "Safe Queens"?
David

SS MKIII 6 7/8" Fluted Hunter. Mueller Quick Shot, Bushnell 2x Scope, Hogue Rubber Grips
Custom Built 1911

billt
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Post by billt » Tue Mar 08, 2011 5:19 pm

I'll shoot them some, but for the most part I think I'll just hang on to them. At least for the time being. Bill T.

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Post by Bullseye » Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:28 pm

I have one of these circa 1980. It has the target sights that you unscrew one side and tighten the opposite to move the windage. The pistol is the bright blue finish with the checkered walnut grips. The only thing I don't like is the hammer manages to bite the fleshy part of my hand with the hammer spur. Since I have big hands that part of my skin is a little more accessible to the hammer. As far as shooting, I really like the feel of it.

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Baldy
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Post by Baldy » Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:40 pm

Oh, how sweet it is. Real nice pair of pistols. Good luck with them. :)

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