WWII Nazi Marked FN M1935 Hi Power Fixed Sight 9mm Semi-Auto, 1942-1943 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1500
LSB#: 210423DW12
Make: Fabrique Nationale, made under Nazi German Occupation
Model: P35 Hi Power WaA140 Fixed Sight Variant First Sub-Variation
Serial Number: 197695
Year of Manufacture: 1942-1943 (Page 329 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 a swastika (test proof) and an “Eagle / WaA140” Waffenamt military acceptance stamp. The right side of the slide, the frame, and the chamber is marked “197695”. The left front of the trigger guard and the bottom of the barrel just ahead of the lug are marked “MR”. The right side of the barrel at the port is also marked with an Eagle holding a globe with a swastika. 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 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 “U”-notch dovetailed to the rear of the slide.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered brown wood panels. The grips have moderate-heavy handling wear and show discoloration from age. There are scattered nicks and compressions on the smooth borders. The grains have slightly opened. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering shows wear but is well defined. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is scattered faint erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at leading edges. There is faint surface oxidation and the remaining finish is transitioning to a light patina. There is minor handling wear in the grip areas. There are infrequently scattered faint lines and little nicks. The action shows standard operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings range from clear to poorly struck. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp. The slide has very little 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: The pistol comes with a single 13-round magazine. The magazine shows light operational thinning and rates in about Fine condition.
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 is one of the first sub-variations and was made between 1942-1943 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 inspection marks and proofs are proper for this configuration and serial range. The pistol is in about Very Good condition with about 70% of its refinish remaining, a strong bore and strong mechanics. 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!