Posted: 12/20/2008 11:49:15 AM EDT
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Well, about 2 months ago, I finally was able to add this elusive (to me at least) firearm to my High Power collection. After searching for one ever since I learned of their existence over 15 years ago, I had only seen one on sale on Gun Broker and this one in person. Being in the PRK and the time and unable to bring one in from out of state, I figured this was my only option. I paid though my nose for it but it is mine. The problem is that the finish is in poor shape. There are numerous scratch marks on the finish where the polymer coating has flaked off. In fact, on some portions, you can scratch it off with a finger nail. I have a High Power MkIII and the finish has stood up for almost 20 years now. I don't know if this was just a bad finish or if the pistol was exposed to some sort of solvent, but I have never seen a pistol wear as badly. The person I purchased the pistol from said that he tried to get it refinished but that Browning would not do it since it wasn't a "Browning" and that none of the local smiths would do it because of its rarity. I have contacted FN USA and they are not able to refinish it either. According to FN, less than 1000 of them were imported to the US. My contact at FN-USA has suggested trying to contact FN-Herstal, but as of yet no reply.
So do any of you know who out there would be able to put a "FN-Spec" finish back on this pistol? The photos I have seen of Finnish DF HP-DAs show them without a polymer coating and just parkerized (this pistol looks to be parkerized under the polymer finish). Who out there would have the familiarity with the HP-DA to be able to take it down for the refinish? Given the relative rarity of the gun, should I even bother with a refinish? Thanks |
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Not exactly the overwhelming response I was hoping for.
I'll try to get some photos of it up along with the rest of my BHP family. As far as the pistol itself goes, like I mentioned, I have been looking for one for years but had never seen one. To this day I have seen one for sale on Gun Broker, seen mine, and saw a DAO version a couple months ago at a shop in New Mexico. The HP-DA is really not as much of a HP than the name implies. The lines of the pistol and ergonomics are without doubt inspired heavily by the High Power and it shares the same Browning locking mechanism and very similar (but not interchangeable) slides, barrels, and recoil guide rods. The frame however is totally different and looks to me to be the basis for the later BDM. The magazines are interchangeable with the BDM although the floor plates are different. The pistol is a good shooter. It hasn't proven as accurate from the rest as a Beretta or CZ but is about on par with my other High Powers, however its "practical" accuracy is quite good. I have shot several "impromptu" action pistol courses with it and it does quite well in my hands. Reliability has been 100% with maybe 300 rounds through the pipe by me (would guess the previous owner put about 1000 rounds through it). It is NOT an easy pistol to find much information on. I know it was designed in the 1980s and one or more variants were entered for the M-9 trials. It would be interesting to see how it did in those trails and what its shortcomings were. As far as I know, the Finnish Defense force is the only military to have adopted it, and I have read some (again not much information) mixed reviews of it in military service. I also understand that several European police departments issue it or have issued it in the past but don't have any specifics. As I mentioned, it looks to me that this pistol served as the starting point for the BDM which also was not a commercial success. From my view, it is a good shooting and reliable pistol that I would feel confident using it for serious business. The DA/SA action is about on par with other DA/SA autos with the DA pull being fairly light, but the SA not being super crisp (I would say Sig like). The best thing about it is that it is an important part of the BHP history and evolution and a nice gun for me to have. From what I understand, FN only imported about 1000 of them and it appears that FN is no longer manufacturing the pistol due to them shifting there emphasis to the new polymer line. |
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The problem is that the finish is in poor shape. There are numerous scratch marks on the finish where the polymer coating has flaked off.
So do any of you know who out there would be able to put a "FN-Spec" finish back on this pistol? The photos I have seen of Finnish DF HP-DAs show them without a polymer coating and just parkerized (this pistol looks to be parkerized under the polymer finish). Who out there would have the familiarity with the HP-DA to be able to take it down for the refinish? HI those pistols do not have the same finish as a MKIII. It is not ploymer. Its engine paint. It is then same paint used to paint engine blocks. F.N. use a real cheap paint. It will just not hold up. One reason people do not want to refinsh your pistol is because they do not know how to take it apart. You can refinsh it yourself. Go a Auto Parts store and but Dupli Color engine paint. If you want a flat type of finish buy DH1634 low gloss black, if you want a semi gloss black buy DH 1602 high heat black with ceramic. This will allow you to duplicate the type of finish use by FN for that contract. If you want a more military (deep black)type finish use British Black Gun Spray paint imported by INterport, INC. Tel. 801-864-3700. This is the type of finish that the British use to touch up their FN L9A1s and GMPs and the L85 rifle. |
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Quoted:
HI those pistols do not have the same finish as a MKIII. It is not ploymer. Its engine paint. It is then same paint used to paint engine blocks. F.N. use a real cheap paint. It will just not hold up. One reason people do not want to refinsh your pistol is because they do not know how to take it apart. You can refinsh it yourself. Go a Auto Parts store and but Dupli Color engine paint. If you want a flat type of finish buy DH1634 low gloss black, if you want a semi gloss black buy DH 1602 high heat black with ceramic. This will allow you to duplicate the type of finish use by FN for that contract. If you want a more military (deep black)type finish use British Black Gun Spray paint imported by INterport, INC. Tel. 801-864-3700. This is the type of finish that the British use to touch up their FN L9A1s and GMPs and the L85 rifle. Thanks for the reply. Black enamel paint eh? You know, that makes a lot of sense and that is exactly what it seems like. Probably the reason why the Finn pistols are parkerized is because the paint wore off? Still, the pistol is parkerized underneath the paint. So much for legendary FN quality eh? You are right, the main reason nobody wants to refinish the pistol is that they don't know how to take it apart and are afraid that replacement parts will not be available. I guess nobody knows of any gunsmiths that would have knowledge of how to take it apart? If I do go the route of refinishing the pistol myself, I might just go with something like Allumihide and bake it (it can't be any worse that what is already on it). If it is just black paint, it should come off with paint remover and I won't have to sand blast the pistol. |
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Just wanted to add a photo of my pistol. I intend on getting a more flashy photo of it along with the rest of the collection, but haven't gotten around to it yet. Still, I figured I'd post this one as some of you have not seen one before.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/wyorca/Firearms/DSCF0451.jpg |
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I have one also that needs a refinish, if you find someone willing to do it, let me know. I will. I'm guessing your finish is flaking the same as mine? I've been trying to get more info on the pistol but really have not had much luck on any of the websites. The best info so far has come from here from scubajoe. I've seen a couple more photos of the pistol and it really does look like a simple painted finish. At this point, I think I'm going to try and do the job myself. I will take it down as far as I'm comfortable with and then use brake fluid to strip off of the paint coating. Probably will use Brownell's Allumihide on it. |
| I have not found any HP-DA magazines. There are plenty of HP-DA compact mags for sale but I have not found many full sized. The solution however is to use BDM magazines which are still readily available. The base plate is a little different and I have cut off the little flange in the back of the BDM magazine to get a good fit in the HP-DA. Since I also have a BDM it works well. |
| Norrels Moly-resin semi-gloss black over park is an exact match for original FN parts on my FAL, guessing it would be for the Hi Power as well. I have an original NIW top cover other small parts which were enameled, used semi-gloss black to refinish the other parts I had from a parts kit. They look identical, even how they reflect the light and hold oil. |