WWII Nazi Marked FN P35 M1935 Hi Power Fixed Sight 9mm Semi-Auto, 1944 C&R
SOLD FOR: $3101
LSB#: 210129DW09
Make: Fabrique Nationale, made under Nazi German Occupation
Model: P35 Hi Power WaA140 Fixed Sight Variant
Serial Number: 9153b
Year of Manufacture: 1944 (Page 330 of “FN Browning Pistols” by A. Vanderlinden)
Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “FABRIQUE NATIONALE D’ARMES DE GUERRE / HERSTAL BELGIQUE” and “BROWNING’S PATENT DEPOSE”. The left side of the slide and frame are marked with an Eagle holding a globe with swastika (test proof) and an “Eagle / WaA140” Waffenamt military acceptance stamp. The right side of the frame, slide, and chamber are marked “9153b”. The left front of the trigger guard and bottom of the chamber are marked “MR”. The front of the slide under the muzzle has “WaA140”. The left side of the barrel above the lug is marked with two “WaA140” Waffenamts. The bottom of the slide, sides of the grip frame, and the butt behind the magazine well have a series of inspection marks.
Barrel Length: 4 5/8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade fixed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a square notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece smooth wood panels with a red and white diamond inlay with a swastika on the right panel. The grips are proud to the grip frame. There are a few scattered light marks from handling. There are a couple little scratches on the right panel down at the bottom rear corner. The left panel has rotational movement. Overall, the grips are in about Excellent condition as not original.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray with sharp rifling. There is light erosion scattered throughout the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 90% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning and finish loss on some edges, more notable at corners. There are some infrequently scattered little marks into the finish and light scuffs. There are some scattered spots of surface oxidation, most noticeable on the top of the slide. There are some tool marks on the slide around the right side of the rear sight. The action shows light operational wear. The surfaces show some rough machining typical of late war production. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, some are shallow with soft edges. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The magazine disconnect has been deactivated, the action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp. The slide has light play to the frame. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with a flap holster and a pair of 13-round magazines. The interior of the flap is marked “ORLANE / 80 DIV / 317 INF / 3RD ARMY / 658-0718”. The holster is marked with an eagle holding swastika over “WaA920” and “cgn / 4” under the leather strap. The holster has some scattered spots of discoloration, scuffs, and creases. The stitching is intact and the holster rates in about Very Good condition. The magazines show light operational wear, a mottled brownish hue, intact feed lips and strong springs, in about Very Good condition. Please note, no magazines will be included for purchasers who reside where they cannot be transferred.
Our Assessment: The Browning High Power pistol is based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized. The Hi-Power is one of the most widely utilized military pistols in history, having been used by the armed forces of over 50 countries. The Hi Power name didn’t refer to the cartridge, but to its 13 round magazine, holding five more than the Luger and six more than the Colt 1911. Its magazine capacity and ergonomic grip frame have made it a favorite among civilian shooters as a carry pistol and for home defense. The High Power was adopted by the Belgian military and the early pistols were equipped with a tangent rear sight and a grip that was slotted for a wooden stock. When Germany invaded Belgium, they took over the FN plant and continued making the High Power, but soon dropped the grooved grip after stocks of pre-invasion parts were used-up. Guns made with tangent sights included WaA613, WaA103 and WaA140 inspection marks before the tangent sights were replaced with fixed sights to help increase production. This pistol was made in 1944 in the WaA140 inspection mark range after the tangent sights had been dropped in favor of fixed sights. The pistol has matching serial numbers on the barrel, slide, and frame. The bore has sharp rifling and minor erosion. This will make a nice addition to a Hi Power or WWII small arms collection. If you want to fire this pistol, be sure to have it inspected by a qualified gunsmith. According to Anthony Vanderlinden in his book “FN Browning Pistols”, sabotage performed by the workers in the FN factory increased proportionally with the portion which was forced labor. This was most prevalent in the WaA140 inspection range and some pistols are not safe to fire due to having poor heat treat or being out of tolerance standards. Please see our photos and good luck!