Here in the U.S. many consider the 1911 to be the greatest handgun design by John Browning. Globally speaking, the 1911 never achieved much success in military and law enforcement circles.
The Hi-Power was Brownings last handgun design before passing away in 1926. By 1935 the Hi-Power was well on its way to becoming the most successful military/police handgun - ever. It was adopted by over 50 countries and countless police agencies. To this day is a highly cherished handgun around the world. It’s a shame he didn’t live to see how great his final pistol would become.
Great video as always. I always enjoy your uploads. One thing about the hi-power though, is that the hammer tears up the web space between my thumb and index finger
I would love to get another Hi-power, but not until I can afford to have some smithing done to it. They absolutely make hamburger meat of my hand. I have looked into some of Novak’s custom work on the P35, maybe someday.
I’ve owned a 1980 production High Power since 1984. Carried it for the most part of the 80’s. But I’ve always been to understand that the pistol was a lot more of Dieudonné Saive’s finalized design than John Browning’s actual influence.
The Hi Power design was started by John Moses Browning, but it was Dieudonné Saive who brought to fruition after Browning’s death.
The 1911 did not do well globally, but it is still one of the most, if not the most, influential pistol designs in all of history. The 1911 is easily the most recognizable pistol around the world. This does not take away from the importance of the Hi Power, which arguably has had as much influence as the 1911 on other designs. I would say there is not a single successful selfloading pistol that does not owe their origins to either the 1911 or the High Power, or both.
If I had to pick which had more influence, the 1911 or the Hi Power, based on impact on other handgun designs, the firearms industry in general, it’s ruggedness and iconic impact, the 1911 easily tops the list
I assume you are referring to the rather short tang under the hammer that bites me too. I really like my Hi-Power, and often have wonder why a grip maker like Hogue didn’t make a replacement grips that also had an attached beaver tail type grip safety if you know what I mean.
The HP was my 1st pistol. I bought it with my 1st paycheck out of boot camp. It served me well for many years, but the accuracy was never great and I got the hammer bite frequently. I’d love to have another one someday, but I’d have to have one with the Novak beavertail and a Bar-Sto barrel.
Dieudonné Saive deserves more of the credit for the design, IMO. The pistol was completely different when Browning was alive, and Dieudonné designed the magazine, which is what was ground breaking about the Hi-Power.
I have an Israeli contract FN Hi-Power that I re-built with Cylinder & Slide internals and gave it a flat black teflon finish and cocobolo Herrett grips.
One of my favorite pistols to shoot…very accurate.
My hands are moderately fat. A little polishing of the REAR of the hammer tang eliminated bite from the hammer for me. Hammer bite is NOT about pinching, but he high speed hitting of the rear of the hammer on the skin - when smoothed a little, it is greatly reduced if not eliminated, and without removing mass.
BUT… I do get some irritation from the rear of the reciever tang - which is a bit sharp.
