No expert here, but with the frame's "L" serial number letter prefix, I believe yours is a pre-1954 (there doesn't seem to be data available for this letter prefex) Belgium made Hi Power. Like my recent purchase, a Hi Power made during the German occupation of Belgium between the years of 1940-1944, the reason for it's current condition, having a reblued slide and a dark green parkerized frame, is a mystery.

*edit to add: FN did at times use letter prefix's, i.e., the letter "E" prefix was used to identify British contract guns manufactured during the 1951-1953 time period.

If it could only talk

I've been threatening to buy examples of the Israeli police versions available on occasion from AIM, but have missed out. These examples all seem to have been painted black over parkerization, with appreciable exterior wear, neither of which bothers me.

 

That sucker is a nice piece of history. Good one to have in your collection. I’m jealous.

 

I'm jealous you can't even get an off brand Hi power for 300 bucks these days.

 

Here's the kicker. From my research, FN never made an L series so this is not an FN. This appears to be a FEG forgery/counterfeit produced in the '70's for the Iraqi Army when FN would not contract to produce arms for Iraq/Saddam. Probably was captured by Israel after all, or possibly captured during Desert Storm?. From what I understand Saddam loved the Hi-Power so much he commissioned a total counterfeit, down to the markings and proof marks.

I haven't decided whether I am happy about this new found information or not. I suppose now I don't have a true Hi-Power, but I have a pretty interesting pistol with a story.

 

Here's the kicker. From my research, FN never made an L series so this is not an FN. This appears to be a FEG forgery/counterfeit produced in the '70's for the Iraqi Army when FN would not contract to produce arms for Iraq/Saddam. Probably was captured by Israel after all, or possibly captured during Desert Storm?. From what I understand Saddam loved the Hi-Power so much he commissioned a total counterfeit, down to the markings and proof marks.


I haven't decided whether I am happy about this new found information or not. I suppose now I don't have a true Hi-Power, but I have a pretty interesting pistol with a story.

Don't think it is a counterfeit looks more like a contract gun built under license , I have an Argentina Colt 45 built the same way very similar markings got it years ago from a refurbishing armory thru I believe CDN !

 

This is one of a few sources from my research.

https://www.ar15.com/forums/handguns/My_FEG_counterfeit_FN_Hi_Power/39-142795/?

 

I don't know for sure, but from what I have seen there are other counterfeit Hi-Powers out there with the L pre-fix. So apparently there is something to that story of FEG counterfeiting Hi-Powers for a middle eastern country/countries.

 

If it were pre 1962, it'd have an internal extractor. It certainly looks like an FEG pjk.

 

Commentary redacted, noting Berto's internal extractor reference.

Good call Berto!

 

FI; you are correct, your pistol IS an FEG counterfeit...no doubt what-so-ever...

 

There WERE a bunch of (reported and marked) Israeli Hi-Powers hit the US a few years back. IDF turn-ins, so claimed. Picked one up, it has been great.

 

The FEG models were good pistols, no worries there

 

FEG is shameless about ripping of designs, I have an FEG AP7 Hungarian PP clone in 7.65 (.32ACP) and the PA-63, a “tribute” to the PPK- both work very well, thank you!

 

I am not an expert, but why would a counterfeiter build a fake with an L letter as an identifier? Wouldn’t they go out of their way to make it more difficult to identify their product as a fake? Or am I missing something?

 

The counterfeiter is not selling it to the Smithsonian Institute. They only have to fool Saddam or Bubba or whoever the customer is. L can stand for Luxury or whatever.

 

Besides the serial number, those particular slide markings were used by FN/Browning long before they went with the external extractor.

 

its missing the magazine disconnect...

 

I had one of these years ago. I sure wish I still had it. It functioned flawlessly.

 

It’s still a cool gun. I think it’s a awesome find. Congrats!

 

I used to have a FN Browning but, it looks a bit different.
It had a pressed piece of steel going across the frame, right in front of the trigger pin.
This one looks solid.

 

The idea of a counterfeit hi-power seems pretty interesting. I think for under $300 it's a cool gun with a good story.

 

Interesting. Lately we were flooded with the inexpensive Turkish Hi Powers. Was even thinking about buying one, but of course there are some more important things to deal with first. I always felt like those Belgium/Portugal pistols were terribly overpriced.

 

You should see what the older all Belgian models are bringing on the used market.

 

I ,D LIKE TO HAVE IT

 

So much for the counterfeits! I will say that although my pistol inventory consists of numerous 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 acp Glocks and an FN Five Seven, the one pistol that I loved shooting during my training was the Browning Hi-Power!

 

I have a Browning Hi-Power I bought about 50 or so years ago, since I am a lefty and it has ambi-safeties. It is a great shooter. My first pistol.

 

Next to an old Colt 1911 a Hi-Power is my all time favorite semi-auto pistol. My Dad had an old Belgian made one when I was about 14, but I have no clue what happened to it over the years. He used to carry it when he went to collect on unpaid credit accounts, granted that was 50+ years ago.

 

No expert here, but with the frame's "L" serial number letter prefix, I believe yours is a pre-1954 (there doesn't seem to be data available for this letter prefex) Belgium made Hi Power. Like my recent purchase, a Hi Power made during the German occupation of Belgium between the years of 1940-1944, the reason for it's current condition, having a reblued slide and a dark green parkerized frame, is a mystery.

*edit to add: FN did at times use letter prefix's, i.e., the letter "E" prefix was used to identify British contract guns manufactured during the 1951-1953 time period.

If it could only talk

I've been threatening to buy examples of the Israeli police versions available on occasion from AIM, but have missed out. These examples all seem to have been painted black over parkerization, with appreciable exterior wear, neither of which bothers me.

As far as I know, FN didn’t go to external extractors until 1962

 

Yes, I didn't notice the extractor until Berto's post later in the thread.

 

Beat me to it.

If it were pre 1962, it'd have an internal extractor. It certainly looks like an FEG pjk.