Browning Hi-Power age?

Txs

I recently saw a badly abused FN made Hi-Power and was curious about it's age. It looked to have been equipped with adjustable sights at one time and had a serial number that contained only four digits.

I don't have the serial handy at the moment, but any idea as to the time period when one with such a short serial would've been made?

EDITED:It's marked Fabrique Nationale D'Armes De Guerre-Herstal Belgique, Brownings's Patent Firearms Depose and the serial is 24XX. Three different proof marks aligned in a row are visible on the barrel, slide and frame.

I'm not much on Hi-Powers and how they're normally marked, but this pistol has a large symbol stamped on the top of the slide, between the ejection port and muzzle. For lack of a better description, it reminds me of seeing a blade front sight through a large rear sight notch.

perry shooter

Hello There were many model 1935 brownings made with tangent rear sight and also cut for shoulder stock could have been made any time 1935-?

rufe-snow

Your description regarding the very distinctive crest on the slide, seems to identify the High Power as being one of the pre W W II contract pistols made for Lithuania.






They were made in relatively small numbers, few have survived in any condition. Even though in bad shape the Browning is rare enough for a collector to have it professionally restored.

Txs

Thanks rufe-snow, you nailed it.

As I said, the one I saw was in really bad shape. Someone had milled the tangent sight block and front sight completely off the slide. I guess it's now just a rare paperweight.

Excuse me while I go kick something and cuss a bit.