Ww2 browning high power serial number lookup

#Ww2 browning high power serial number lookup serial numbers#

The Belgians were first armed forces to adopt the High Power as an official sidearm, they did this in 1935. The High Power pistol was designed by John Moses Browning and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN) in Herstal, Belgium. Finish on third variation pistols is a poor quality military grade, sights are non-adjustable 50 meters and grips are either wooden or brown plastic.

#Ww2 browning high power serial number lookup serial numbers#

Third variation pistols were manufactured towards the end of the war, they have serial numbers over 145000 or serial numbers with letter suffix. These pistols are just about the same as first variation pistols with walnut grips, a high polish commercial grade finish, a tangent 500 meter rear sight but they are not slotted for a holster/shoulder stock. Second variation pistol serial numbers are in the 53000 to 145000 range. These pistols have walnut grips, a high polish commercial grade finish, a tangent 500 meter rear sight (this is the sliding sight that you mention) and slot for a holster/shoulder stock attachment. Collectors recognize 3 variations of High Power pistols manufactured under German occupation.ДЇirst variation models are the most valuable, they have serial numbers under 53000, and were manufactured from pre-occupation parts that were in stock at the FN factory at the time of takeover. In 1940, the Germans seized the Fabrique Nationale factory and continued to produce High Power pistols for the Wehrmacht.

ItвЂ™s in good condition as well & still another example of a weapon the NaziвЂ™s took advantage of, in supplying pistols to their troops in the field of battle. I also own one of the Nazi marked Polish Radom 9mm pistols. Therefore, based strictly on production output, their Hi-Power will always be in high demand. Yet, the Nazis were only able to manufacture roughly 320,000 of the Hi-Power model. Keep in mind that over 2 Million Lugers were produced for WW1 & 2, and over 1 Million Walther P-38s were made in WW2. As a collector, all of us who own one of the Nazi produced models can take satisfaction, in that the Nazi stamped IвЂ™m partial first & foremost to our beloved 1911, but the Hi-Power is a close second place. As a military historian, I love the Hi-Power. The Nazis provided their Hi-Power to both the SS and Paratrooper units, since each branch was promised by Hitler, to be equipped with the very best equipment, including weapons. It was a souvenir brought home by a US Army vet. and the pre-war Belgium black leather army holster, which has a large flap covering the entire rig, with a spare mag. ItвЂ™s in the same condition as the example above. I also own one that was produced early in 1943. JasonвЂ™s Hi-Power in the photo above, was made in the latter part of 1943, based on the serial number.

This pistol has a matching serial number in the barrel, frame and slide. WaA140 waffenamt and swastika eagles visible on both slide and frame Unfortunately I forgot to photograph the headstamps on the ammunition it came with. Jason was kind enough to let me photograph this interesting pistol. His grandfather brought the pistol with him when he returned home from fighting WWII, along with a holster and loaded magazine. His pistol has a WaA140 waffenamt in it, which indicates it was produced in Belgium between 19 and inspected by the Wehrmacht inspectors in Luttich, Belgium. My friend Jason owns one of these war-production Hi-Powers. When in early вЂ™42 the pre-war inventories ran out, the German led war-production was started up, and most Hi-Powers after that had wooden grips, unlike the synthetic grips used on prior production guns. The pre-war inventories of parts at the FN were used to produce more of the Pistole 640(b), all bearing Nazi Waffenamts and the typical swastika-eagle stamps.

The Hi-Power was immediately liked by the Germans, and reassigned the designation Pistole 640(b) When the German forces invaded and occupied Belgium in 1940, they also took over the FN (Fabrique Nationale, in Herstal Belgium) plant. For comparison, the German issued P.08 Luger and P.38 held 8 rounds of 9mm each. Designed by John Moses Browning, and completed by Dieudonne Saive, the pistol was chambered in 9mm and had a 13 round capacity, and was a desirable military firearm. The FN P35 вЂњHi-PowerвЂќ had been in production since 1935.