Posted: 1/10/2013 1:40:25 PM EDT
| I keep seeing post about different High Powers. Browning, FN, FEG, Aegentine, and Israelie. Is there a difference? To me it seems like the design and the componets are all the same. Where does quality come into play? Thanks to those that respond!! |
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Browning and FN (Fabrique Nationale) are the same gun, made in the same factory and are the original, gold standard of Hi-Powers
They're available in 9mm and .40 The Mark I & I believe MK II guns have forged frames, the MK III (current production) have cast frames, larger thumb safeties and and a feedramp designed to feed hollow points which can be a problem on the older guns The current Israeli guns that are floating around are milsurp FN's, primarily MKIII's and some MK II's The others are all clones. The FM's are Argentinian clones that are no longer made. The FEG's are Hungarian clones that are no longer made. The Kareen's are Israeli guns that look different but use the same internal design. The Inglis are Canadian clones made to SAE rather than metric measurements during WWII Metalurgy on the clones varies in quality and most use the older style feedramp that's suspect with hollow points as well as the smaller thumb safetey. They can also be had for half the price of what you can expect to pay for a Browning / FN marked gun. They point incredibly well, shot softly in 9mm, are quite reliable, have stock triggers that are "OK", better if you remove the magazine safety but still not 1911 grade and field strip very easily. On the con side, hammer bite is an issue with some people, particularly with larger hands, parts are stupid expensive and there are far fewer good gunsmiths who work on them than many other pistols. ETA - most parts are interchangeable but require fitting / smithing regardless of whose frame it is. Parts are not really drop in like modern polymer weapons. |
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The above post is a great summary.
If you are thinking of trying a BHP, get one of the ones from Coles on gunbroker. These are military trade ins from Israel and are a very good value. Most of these are the real BHP from Fabrique Nationale in Belgium. Not a clone. I have a Hungarian clone and I love t. It just feels "right" in your hands. |
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The FEGs can be confusing given the various model numbers used on the same and/or different models by FEG, KBI and TGI.
For example: The FEG P9 is a straight copy of a pre- Mk II Hi Power with a humped feed ramp, small safety and small u-notch sights. It is a very faithful copy of the Hi Power and parts interchangeability is near perfect with only minor fitting needed. KBI imported it as the PJK-9HP. FEG P9 = KBI PJK-9HP (we're ok so far) KBI also sold a US made Hi Power through Charles Daly. These were FEG P9s made by FEG but assembled in the US by Magnum Research. Thankfully it was just called the Charles Daly Hi Power. FEG P9 = Charles Daley Hi Power and KBI PJK-9HP The early FEG P9M is a modified P9 with different slide stop and slide stop cuts along with much more useable 3 dot sights - so it differs slightly from the pre- Mk II Hi Power. Parts compatibility is still very high with the exceptions being the slide stop lever and safety. However I've replaced the hammer, sear and safety on mine with Browning SFS parts and only very minor fitting of the safety was needed along with a minor modification to the profile of the slide stop where it engages the slide to match the different slide cut. Unfortunately, this was imported by KBI as the PJK-9HP as well. TGI imported it as the P9M. FEG P9 and FEG P9M = KBI PJK-9HP and TGI P9M (umm ok, they're still all basically Hi Powers, along with the P9/Charles Daley Hi Power) The later FEG P9M was markedly different with a S&W style operating system. Part commonality with a high power is fairly low. KBI, true to form imported these under the same PJK-9HP model number and it was also imported by TGI as the P9M. FEG P9, FEG P9M (early) and FEG P9M (late) = KBI PJK-9HP and TGI P9M (ahhh, this is getting confusing...) The FEG FP9 is a P9 with a ventilated rib, so again it's basically a Hi Power but with a vent rib. KBI, perhaps due to a shortage of new model numbers, or just originality, called it the PJK-9HP FEG P9, FEG P9M (early), FEG P9M (late) and FEG FP9 = KBI PJK-9HP, while the FEG P9 and FEG P9M versions still = TGI P9M and the Charles Daly Hi Power is still an FEG P9 ____ In terms of quality the Browning/FN Hi Power is generally tighter fitting than an FEG P9, but the P9 and P9Ms are still very nicely finished with a high polish and deep blue. |