FN Browning Belgian Hi-Power Practical 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol, MFD 1994
SOLD FOR: $1,050.00
LSB#: LSB250824GS023
Make: FN Herstal, Assembled In Portugal. Imported By Browning
Model: Mk. III Hi Power Practical
Serial Number: 245NW52286
Year of Manufacture: 1994 / Modern
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q.”. The right side of the slide is marked “MADE IN BELGIUM ASSEMBALED IN PORTUGAL”. The barrel is marked “CAL. 9mm LUGER / 245NW52286”. The right side of the frame is marked with the serial number “245NW52286” and the right side of the trigger guard bow is marked with a Belgian proof.
Barrel Length: 4.7”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a ramped blade with a white stripe dovetailed to the slide. The rear sight is a square notch with two white stripes dovetailed to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are a two piece checkered rubber Pachmayr set with thumb rests and brass Browning medallions. There is no notable wear on the grips. Overall, the grips rate in about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Silver Chrome
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10 and appears unfired outside of factory testing.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 99% of its metal finish. The action has minor operational wear. The screw heads are sharp, and the pins are unmarred. The markings are clear and legible. Overall, this pistol is in about Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this pistol. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Original hardcase, paperwork.
Our Assessment: This Belgian-assembled Mk. III Hi-Power Practical marries FN’s century-old geometry with late-20th-century ergonomic refinement, and this 1994 example reads as a thoughtful translation of that lineage into a service-grade, user-focused pistol. Assembled for Browning and finished in a crisp blued and silver chrome contrast, its 4.7-inch barrel, white-strip sights, and Pachmayr thumb-rest grips signal a pistol intended for controlled, repeatable shooting and comfortable handling. The crisp serial matching and Belgian proof mark add factory provenance to a pistol that presents itself as essentially complete from factory to hand. The 9mm Luger cartridge has long been the natural partner for the Hi-Power’s single-action geometry, balancing tame recoil with dependable terminal performance; in the Practical guise FN and Browning outfitted the platform with sights and controls tuned for consistent follow-up shots and everyday utility. Cosmetically and mechanically this pistol is exceptionally well preserved—the bore is bright and sharply rifled with a 10/10 rating, the finish shows approximately 99% retention, and controls and markings remain precise and legible—conditions that together emphasize original factory care and minimal service wear.
Presented with its original hard case, paperwork, and test-fire packet, this Mk. III Practical is both a tidy, complete factory set and a prime example of late-generation Hi-Power production. It rewards inspection with clear serial continuity, strong mechanical presentation, and the kind of preserved bore and finish that collectors prize in modern production examples. -R.E.
