Browning Hi-Power

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The Browning Hi-Power or 1935 Browning 9mm GP or Grand Puissance pistol is a single-action, semi-automatic pistol available in the 9×19mm Parabellum and .40 S&W calibers. It was based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at FN Herstal. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized. FN Herstal named it the "High Power" in allusion to the 13-round magazine capacity, almost twice that of other designs at the time, such as the Walther P38 or Colt M1911.

During World War II, Belgium was occupied by Nazi Germany and the FN factory was used by the Wehrmacht to build the pistols for their military, under the designation "9mm Pistole 640(b)".[1] FN Herstal continued to build guns for the Allied forces by moving their production line to a John Inglis and Company plant in Canada, where the name was changed to "Hi Power". The name change was kept even after production returned to Belgium. The pistol is often referred to as an HP or BHP,[2] and the terms P-35 and HP-35 are also used, based on the introduction of the pistol in 1935. Other names include GP (after the French term grande puissance) or BAP (Browning Automatic Pistol).

History

Development

The Browning Hi-Power was designed in response to a French military requirement for a new service pistol in the name of “GP” (Template:Langx; Template:Langx).

The French military required that:

  • The gun must be compact
  • The magazine have a capacity of at least 10 rounds
  • The gun have a magazine disconnect device, an external hammer, and safety catch
  • The gun be robust and simple to disassemble and reassemble
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FN commissioned John Browning to design a new military sidearm conforming to this specification. Browning had previously sold the rights to his successful M1911 U.S. Army automatic pistol to Colt's Patent Firearms, and was therefore forced to design an entirely new pistol while working around the M1911 patents. Browning built two different prototypes for the project in Utah and filed the patent for this pistol in the United States on 28 June 1923, granted on 22 February 1927.[3][4] One was a simple blowback design, while the other was operated with a locked-breech recoil system. Both prototypes utilised the new staggered magazine design (by designer Dieudonné Saive) to increase capacity without unduly increasing the pistol's grip size or magazine length.

The locked breech design was selected for further development and testing. This model was striker-fired, and featured a double-stack magazine that held 16 rounds. The design was refined through several trials held by the Versailles Trial Commission.

In 1928, when the patents for the Colt Model 1911 had expired, Dieudonné Saive integrated many of the Colt's previously patented features into the Saive-Browning Model of that same year. This version featured the removable barrel bushing and take down sequence of the Colt 1911.

In 1929, as an effort to find an alternative solution to the long-ongoing French trials, and with a pistol that they considered by then to be good enough to stand on its own to find other potential clients, FN decided to announce the "Grand Rendement", incorporating a shortened 13-round magazine, for sale in their commercial catalogue. They hoped to find a military contract which would in turn help them finance a production line, essentially through the same process as their previous FN M1900 pistol.

By 1931, the Browning Hi-Power design incorporated the same 13-round magazine, a curved rear grip strap, and a barrel bushing that was integral to the slide assembly. The Belgian Army showed a definite interest and bought 1,000 pistols based on this prototype for field trials.

By 1934, the Hi-Power design was complete and ready to be produced. Ultimately, France decided not to adopt the pistol, instead selecting the conceptually similar but lower-capacity Modèle 1935 pistol. However, it was good enough to stand on its own as a service pistol for the Belgian Army and other clients. These would become the Grande Puissance, known as the High Power, in Belgium for military service in 1935 as the Browning P-35.[5]

Decline and resurgence

In 2021, American firearms company Springfield Armory announced their own Hi-Power clone, the SA-35.[6] GİRSAN and Springfield Armory's clones began competing with each other by offering new design improvements that would help them compete in the oversaturated defensive handgun market.

The steady competition between the MCP35 and the SA-35 to make the original Hi-Power relevant to the market stirred up a great interest among both Hi-Power fans and new shooters.

In August 2024, another Browning Hi-Power clone, the Centurion 14, was announced by Century Arms. The Centurion 14 is built in Turkey by Alpharms Savunma Sanayi, and imported by Century Arms.[7]

Design

File:FN Browning High Power (right side).png
FN Browning High Power M46

The Browning Hi-Power has undergone continuous refinement by FN since its introduction. The pistols were originally made in two models: an "Ordinary Model" with fixed sights and an "Adjustable Rear Sight Model" with a tangent-type rear sight and a slotted grip for attaching a wooden shoulder stock. The adjustable sights are still available on commercial versions of the Hi-Power, although the shoulder stock mounts were discontinued during World War II. In 1962, the design was modified to replace the internal extractor with an external extractor, improving reliability.

Standard Hi-Powers are based on a single-action design. Unlike modern double-action semi-automatic pistols, the Hi-Power's trigger is not connected to the hammer. If a double-action pistol is carried with the hammer down with a round in the chamber and a loaded magazine installed, the shooter may fire the pistol either by simply squeezing the trigger or by pulling the hammer back to the cocked position and then squeezing the trigger. In contrast, a single-action pistol can only be fired with the hammer in the cocked position; this is generally done when a loaded magazine is inserted and the slide cycled by hand. In common with the M1911, the Hi-Power is therefore typically carried with the hammer cocked, a round in the chamber, and the safety catch on (a carry mode often called cocked and locked in the United States or made ready in the United Kingdom, or sometimes called condition one).

The Hi-Power, like many other Browning designs, operates on the short-recoil principle, where the barrel and slide initially recoil together until the barrel is unlocked from the slide by a cam arrangement. Unlike Browning's earlier Colt M1911 pistol, the barrel is not moved vertically by a toggling link, but instead by a hardened bar which crosses the frame under the barrel and contacts a slot under the chamber at the rearmost part of the barrel. The barrel and slide recoil together for a short distance, but as the slot engages the bar, the chamber and the rear of the barrel are drawn downward and stopped. The downward movement of the barrel disengages it from the slide, which continues rearward, extracting the spent case from the chamber and ejecting it while also re-cocking the hammer. After the slide reaches the limit of its travel, the recoil spring brings it forward again, stripping a new round from the magazine and pushing it into the chamber. This also pushes the chamber and barrel forward. The cam slot and bar move the chamber upward and the locking lugs on the barrel re-engage those in the slide.

Design flaws

The pistol has a tendency to "bite" the web of the shooter's hand, between the thumb and forefinger. This bite is caused by pressure from the hammer spur, or alternatively by pinching between the hammer shank and grip tang. This problem can be fixed by altering or replacing the hammer, or by learning to hold the pistol to avoid injury. While a common complaint with the commercial models with spur hammers similar to that of the Colt "Government Model" automatic, it is seldom a problem with the military models, which have a smaller, rounded "burr" hammer, more like that of the Colt "Commander" compact version of the 1911. Another flaw is that the original small safety is very hard to release and re-engage. This is because when cocked, the shaft the safety turns on is under hammer spring pressure. Later versions went to a larger safety to address this issue.[8][9][10]

File:Swedish Volunteer Corps weapons.JPG
Hi-Power artillery version with its adjustable tangent rear-sight and shoulder-stock in the upper right-hand corner

Variants

Belgium

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P35

The original P35, as noted earlier, featured an internal extractor. During World War II, it was manufactured by Inglis of Canada for Allied use, and by FN in occupied Belgium for German use. The P35s made under Nazi occupation were designated as the Pistole 640b. Most Canadian P35s were manufactured with a Parkerized finish, while most P35s manufactured in occupied Belgium had a blued finish.

Following the end of the World War II, the Hi Power went through several iterations in an effort to standardize and streamline the manufacturing process.Template:Sfnp The most significant of which was released in 1962, when the internal extractor was replaced with a more durable and reliable external design, alongside other modifications, including a 2-piece barrel, nylon grips, and modifications to the locking system for simplification of manufacturing and improved durability. Later barrels and frames are not interchangeable with earlier ones.

Working on these changes, FN manufactured a new standard Hi Power from 1963 to 1969. These are retroactively referred to as the T-Series, from the letter T serial number prefix found on pistols of this era. This design standard continued into the similarly named C-Series, produced from 1969 to 1975.[11]

Further iteration happened in the early 1970s. The Hi Power model of 1972 features several new modifications, including a spurred hammer to replace the previous ring design, a new electrolyte bluing process in lieu of the older rust and salt bluing techniques, and the provision for a rear adjustable target sight with raised front sight.[12] Available simultaneously with the adjustable sight model were two ‘standard’ versions;

  • The Vigilante featuring traditional fixed sights,
  • The Captain, equipped with a rear tangent sight.

The early 1970s is also when Hi Power first became available in the 7.65×21mm Parabellum caliber. Released for markets such as France and Germany, where the civilian use of military calibers was restricted.[13]

In 1973, due to rising labor costs in Belgium, production of the Hi Power was partially moved to Viana do Castelo, Portugal. FN would still continue to produce parts in Belgium, but finishing and assembly would henceforth be completed in Viana do Castelo.Template:Sfnp

Mark II

The Mark II, released in 1982, was the next significant iteration of the Hi Power series of pistols.

Designed in response to some of the long enduring criticisms of the Hi Power design,Template:Sfnp the Mark II features several upgrades, including ambidextrous thumb safety, 3-dot low profile sights, and a throated barrel.

The Mark II can be easily recognized by the rib atop the slide, as well as the water drain hole below the muzzle.

Mark III

The Mark III was another advancement over the Mark II released in 1989,Template:Sfnp which featured a firing pin safety, adjustable front and rear iron sights, and a black epoxy finish.

The Mark III is the first Hi Power variant available in .40 S&W. Early variants of the Mark III featured forged frames, as was the standard for all Hi Powers, while later Mark III’s switched to a cast frame.

This change was prompted by reports of failure in pistols chambered for the then new .40 S&W cartridge. Cast frames were used on all Hi Power variants from the early 1990s to their discontinuation in 2018.

Standard

The name given to the Mark III variant with walnut grips, gloss finish, and choice of sights. A Standard is a Mark III model, but a Mark III is not necessarily a Standard.

Silver Chrome

Featured a silver-chrome frame and slide, and Pachmayr rubber grips. The magazines for the silver chrome BHP had a dull finish and a black rubber Pachmayr basepad.

File:Hi-Power Practical.JPG
Browning Hi-Power Practical in .40 S&W

Captain

Mark III variant that features adjustable tangent rear sights, a "ring hammer" like the early model HP35, checkered walnut grips, and a blued finish. It was reintroduced in 1993.[14]

Practical

Mark III variant featuring a slide finished in black polymer with a contrasting silver-chrome frame. In addition, this model has wraparound Pachmayr rubber grips and a "ring hammer".

The Practical has fixed or adjustable sights, and is available in either 9×19mm Parabellum or .40 S&W. Magazines for all Practical models sport Pachmayr base pads; magazines feature a cartridge capacity of 13 rounds in 9×19mm Parabellum and a cartridge capacity of 10 rounds in .40 S&W.[15]

HP-SFS

The SFS (Safe-Fast-Shooting) is the latest Hi-Power Mark III variant with a modified firing mechanism. After the weapon is loaded, the hammer is pushed forward, which automatically activates the safety catch. When the shooter is prepared to fire, the safety is pressed down with the thumb, releasing the hammer to spring backwards into the usual, single-action position. A similar system is available for modifying Colt M1911A1s. Magazines are interchangeable with the Mark III and others.

Foreign production

Argentina

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Argentine Hi-Power[16] with various derivatives developed[16][17][15][16], including a machine pistol variant.Template:SfnpTemplate:SfnpTemplate:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp

Bulgaria

The Arcus 94 is a single-action semi-automatic pistol manufactured by Arcus as an unlicensed clone.[18] There is a compact version, the Arcus 94C.[19] It has been succeeded in production by the double-action Arcus 98DA.[18]

China

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Unlicensed copies marketed by Norinco.[20]

Canada

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Hungary

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India

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Israel

The Kareen was made by KSN Industries.[21]

  • Mark I variant is made with FEG parts, based on the Hi-Power.[21]
  • Mark II variant made with larger, squared trigger and ambidextrous thumb safeties.[21]
  • Mark III variant made with hogue pistol grips, dovetailed front sight and parkerized slide with serration cuts.[21]

Indonesia

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Nigeria

Hi-Powers were made under license by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria[22][23]Template:Sfnp

Philippines

Unlicensed clones made in various workshops.[24]

Turkey

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TİSAŞ made the ZIG 14[25] and the Regent BR9. Alpharms Savunma Sanayi made the Centurion 14.[26] Özerbaş Makina manufactures the Inglis L9A1, P-35 and GP-35 for SDS Imports.

United Kingdom

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British designation for the military version of the Hi-PowerTemplate:SfnpTemplate:Sfnp[27][28]

United States

Charles Daly firearms marketed the Charles Daly HP.[29] The first HPs were shipped by CD in 2003.[30]

On 25 October 2021, Springfield Armory launched a reproduction of the Hi-Power called the SA-35.[31] It has the features of the original Hi-Power, but has a capacity of 15 rounds while the pistol can handle +P 9 mm Luger loads.[32]

Adoption

Browning Hi-Power pistols were used during World War II by both Allied and Axis forces.Template:Sfnp

After occupying Belgium in 1940, German forces took over the FN plant. German troops subsequently used the Hi-Power, having assigned it the designation Pistole 640(b) (Template:Langx).[33]

Examples produced by FN in Belgium under German occupation bear German inspection and acceptance marks, or Waffenamts, such as WaA613. In German service, it was used mainly by Waffen-SS and Script error: No such module "Lang". personnel.

In the postwar period, Hi-Power production continued at the FN factory and as part of FN's product range, which included the FN FAL rifle and FN MAG general-purpose machine gun. It has been adopted as the standard service pistol by over 50 armies in 93 countries. At one time most NATO nations used it, and it was standard issue to forces throughout the British Commonwealth. It was manufactured under licence, or in some cases cloned, on several continents.

Former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein often carried a Browning Hi-Power. Former Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi carried a gold-plated Hi-Power with his own face design on the left side of the grip which was waved around in the air by Libyan rebels after his death.[34]

A Hi-Power was used by Mehmet Ali Agca during the assassination attempt of Pope John Paul II in 1981.

While the Hi-Power remains an excellent and iconic design, since the early 1990s it has been eclipsed somewhat by more modern designs which are often double-action with aluminum alloy frames and are manufactured using more modern methods. However, even to this day, the Hi-Power remains in service throughout the world.

Users

File:Browning Hi-Power Users.png
A map with Browning Hi-Power users in blue
File:Hi-Power.jpg
Browning Hi-Power made in 1961
File:Flickr - ~Steve Z~ - 1971 Browning Hi Power 10.jpg
A 1971 Browning Hi-Power 10

Former

Non-State Actors

Future

References

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  3. ↑ Gangarosa, Gene Jr. (1999). FN...Browning: Armorer to the World. Stoeger Publishing, New Jersey. pp. 63–65.
  4. ↑ U.S. patent 1618510
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  14. ↑ Michalowski, Kevin (ed.) The Gun Digest Book of Guns for Personal Defense: Arms & Accessories for Self-Defense Handguns - Browning, p. 48. KP Books: Iola, Wisconsin (2004)
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  23. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). Template:ISBN.
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  33. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  35. ↑ a b Gander, Terry J.; Hogg, Ian V. Jane's Infantry Weapons 1995/1996. Jane's Information Group; 21 edition (May 1995). Template:ISBN.
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  37. ↑ Bishop, Chris (1998). Guns in Combat. Chartwell Books, Inc. Template:ISBN.
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  45. ↑ Stevens, R. Blake The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol. Collector Grade Publications (1990). Template:ISBN.
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  64. ↑ Uruguay to produce Glock pistols Template:Webarchive - Janes.com, 28 April 2013
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Bibliography

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External links

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