FN Belgium Browning Hi-Power 9mm 4.7” Semi Auto Pistol 1950s C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,875.00
LSB#: LSB251205MB011
Make: FN Belgium / Browning
Model: Hi-Power
Serial#: 52923
Year of Manufacture: Circa, 1950-1954 / C&R
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Semi-Automatic Pistol, Exposed Hammer, Internal Extractor, Single Action with Detachable Magazine.
Markings: The frame, slide and barrel are all marked with the serial number, “52923”. The left side of the slide is marked with the Fabrique Nationale D’Armes de Gurre Herstal Belique rollmark. There are Belgian Liege proofs throughout with a “*A” inspectors mark.
Barrel Length: 4.7”
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a half moon blade fixed to the slide. The rear sight is a V-notch dovetailed to the back of the slide.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: This pistol includes 1 x 13 round original magazine in Very Good to Excellent Condition.
Stock Configuration & Condition/ Grip: The grips are two piece checkered wood. There are faint handling marks throughout. There are no chips or cracks. Overall the grips are in Fine condition. The inside of the panels are painted red.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright, the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 99% of its metal finish. There are a few spots of thinning and wear to the leading edges. The action has light wear. The screw heads are sharp, the markings completely clear. Overall the pistol is in 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 and Accessories: This pistol includes one 13 round magazine.
Our Assessment: This FN Browning Hi-Power, manufactured in Belgium during the 1950–1954 era, is a classic early production variant of one of the most enduring and influential military sidearms of the 20th century. Designed by John Browning and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale (FN), the Hi-Power became the first widely successful double-stack 9mm pistol, with its 13-round capacity and slim frame influencing nearly every modern semi-auto design that followed. The presence of matching serial numbers on the frame, slide, and barrel, along with Belgian Liege proof marks and the *“P” inspector stamp, further confirms its early FN production lineage. This example is in Excellent overall condition, retaining approximately 99% of its original blued finish. There’s some light edge wear, minor thinning, but the finish remains rich and even. The bore is bright with sharp rifling, which earns it a 9/10 by our estimation. The wood grips are in Fine condition, with sharp checkering. The action is tight and functions correctly, and this pistol retains its early “thumbprint” slide profile with internal extractor, a collector-desirable trait.
C&R eligible and widely respected for its elegant lines, mechanical reliability, and battlefield pedigree, this early Hi-Power would be a welcome addition to any WWII or Cold War-era sidearm collection. These early Belgian Hi-Powers are getting harder to find in clean, original condition—and this one, with matching numbers and sharp proofs, represents a prime example of the iconic design in its purest form. -C.M.