Browning Hi-Power Italian Market 7.65mm Para SA Semi-Auto Pistol 1981
SOLD FOR: $1289
LSB#: 210923SS08
Make: Browning; Made by FN in Belgium
Model: Hi Power
Serial Number: 245PZ50271
Year of Manufacture: 1981 (https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/hi-power-pistol.html)
Caliber: 7.65mm Parabellum
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 / BY FABRIQUE NATIONALE HERSTAL”. The barrel is marked “CAL. 7.65m/mP. / 245PZ50271”. The front strap is marked “245PZ50271”. The right bow of the trigger guard is marked with a Belgian proof and a “* / A” inspector’s mark. The right side of the barrel lug is marked with a “* / A” inspection mark and a Belgian proof mark and the left side with some small factory markings. The bottom of the firing pin housing is marked with a Belgian proof mark, “* / A” inspection mark, and small factory markings. The butt of the grip is marked “C.A.T. / 1086”.
Barrel Length: 4 5/8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade atop a rectangular base that is fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a square notch leaf that is dovetailed to the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered black synthetic panels. There are some light handling marks on the smooth borders. There are no chips or cracks and the checkering is sharp. Overall, the grips rate in about Fine-Plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore but there is some faint fouling in the grooves.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 97% of its metal finish. There is some hardly notable oxidation on the back strap. There are a few faint marks sparsely scattered on the slide. The action has minor operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Fine-Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp. The magazine disconnect is present and functional. There is slight play between the slide and 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 in a browning soft case with a manual and one 13-round magazine. Please note, no magazine will be included where prohibited by law.
Our Assessment: The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, semi-automatic handgun. It was based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Herstal, Belgium. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized. FN Herstal initially named the design the “High Power”, which alludes to the 13-round magazine capacity, almost twice that of other designs at the time, such as the Luger or Colt M1911. This example was manufactured in Belgium in 1981 and is chambered for 7.65 Parabellum. The 7.65×21mm Parabellum is a pistol cartridge that was introduced in 1898 by German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) for their new Pistol Parabellum. The primary developers of the pistol cartridge were firearms designers Georg Luger and Hugo Borchardt, who developed the round from the earlier 7.65×25mm Borchardt while working at DWM. Since its introduction, 7.65×21mm Parabellum ammunition has been manufactured in several countries for both domestic use and for export, including Germany, Switzerland, Finland, France, Portugal, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The bottom of the grip is marked “C.A.T. 1086” indicating that it was made for the Italian market. Ron Shirk Supply imported 1800 of these guns in 1988 for US sales. This is a beautiful pistol with about 97% of its original finish in about Fine-Plus condition. Please see our photos and good luck!