*Austria-Belgium, c1955, Browning Hi Power (BHP) 9mm Pistol, Made by Fabrique National (FN) D’Armes de Guerre, Austrian Gendarmerie LGK (Police Issue), Deactivated*
Serial number 1008, marked on receiver and frame
9mm Cal, 4.75″
Marked on receiver: “Fabrique National D’Armes de Guerre, Herstal Belgique, Brownings Patent Depose”, Proof marks: “Belgian Lion over PV”, “* over R”.
Marked on ejection port: “Belgian Lion over PV” ((Poudre Vive) Smokeless Powder proof), “* over R”, Crowned ELG (Epreuve de Liège (Proof of Liège)), “CAL 9m/mP”
Marked on magazine: “LGK Nö, 0158″
Marked on inside Strap:”LGK Nö, 0158”
We believe that this BHP was made in Belgium around 1955. The Controller Mark “*over R” was the Belgian proof mark for Wagemans Sylvain who operated 1951-1965. The serial number 1008 – numeric only – suggests that it is a post ’45 Contract production sometimes referred to as “Classics” circa ’46-’66. Taken from FN Browning Pistols, “The Austrian Federal Gendarmerie started using the High Power in 1949. In 1955 the decision was made to standardize the High Power for the Federal Gendarmerie and a large order was placed for 10,000 pistols. Issued pistols were marked “LGK” (Landes Gendarmerie Kommando – State Gendarmerie) followed by a letter abbreviation for the province in which the pistol was used.” “Nö” refers to the province Niederosterreich (Lower Austria). According to Vanderlinden, (page 345). 9mm, 4 1/2 ” hidden barrel. Blackened top slide with front blade sight and rear V Sight. Marked “Fabrique National D’Armes de Guerre, Herstal Belgique, Brownings Patent Depose”. Rear exposed hammer. Blackened lower body, trigger guard and grip frame. Wooden chequered grip slabs. Removable magazine.
The Browning Hi Power 9mm Pistol is the most popular 9mm pistol ever produced. Used by around 96 countries for police & military use. It is a single action, semi automatic pistol fed by a 13 round magazine. Almost twice as many rounds as it’s contemporaries, the Luger & Colt 1911. Thanks to this innovative staggered stack magazine design, 13 rounds could be held without making the pistol grip too large to hold. John Browning a famous gun designer at the beginning of the 20th Century started it’s design in 1923. After his death in 1926 Dieudonne Saive from Fabrique Nationale (FN) took Browning’s initial design and completed it. The patent for the 1911 ended in 1928, enabling Saive to freely incorporate many of the design features of the 1911 in his design of the BHP. The French military were the first to place an order for the BHP. However, the Belgian FN plant was captured by the Germans, but not before the designs for the BHP were stolen by spies and smuggled to the UK. Therefore, this pistol became widely used by both Allied & Axis forces during the Second World War.
*Condition*
Excellent used condition. Deactivated, can be cocked but does not fire. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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