Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, semi-automatic pistol available in the 9×19mm Parabellum and .40 S&W calibers. It was based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at FN Herstal. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized. FN Herstal named it the "High Power" in allusion to the 13-round magazine capacity, almost twice that of other designs at the time, such as the Walther P38 or Colt M1911.
"Hi-Power" redirects here. For the record label, see Mr. Capone-E.Browning Hi-Power
- Belgium
- United States
1935–present[1]
See Users
- World War II[1]
- Indonesian National Revolution[2]
- Chinese Civil War
- Korean War
- Vietnam War
- Rhodesian Bush War
- Falklands War
- The Troubles
- Lebanese Civil War
- Salvadoran Civil War
- Sri Lankan Civil War
- Tuareg rebellion (1990–1995)
- Yugoslav Wars
- Kivu Conflict
- Israeli–Palestinian conflict[3]
- Libyan Crisis
- Syrian Civil War[4]
1914–1935[1]
1,500,000+[6]
See Variants
1 kg (2.2 lb)[1]
197 mm (7.8 in)[1]
119 mm (4.7 in)[1]
Semi-automatic
335 m/s(1,100 ft/s) (9mm)[1]
50 m (54.7 yd)
During World War II, Belgium was occupied by Nazi Germany and the FN factory was used by the Wehrmacht to build the pistols for their military, under the designation "9mm Pistole 640(b)".[7] FN Herstal continued to build guns for the Allied forces by moving their production line to a John Inglis and Company plant in Canada, where the name was changed to "Hi Power". The name change was kept even after production returned to Belgium. The pistol is often referred to as an HP or BHP,[8] and the terms P-35 and HP-35 are also used, based on the introduction of the pistol in 1935. Other names include GP (after the French term grande puissance) or BAP (Browning Automatic Pistol). The Hi-Power is one of the most widely used military pistols in history,[9] having been used by the armed forces of over 50 countries.[1] Although most pistols were built in Belgium by FN Herstal, licensed and unlicensed copies were built around the world, in countries such as Argentina, Hungary, India, Bulgaria, and Israel.
After 82 years of continuous production, FN Herstal announced that the production of the Hi-Power would end, and it was discontinued in early 2018 by Browning Arms.[10] From 2019 to 2022, with new Belgian Hi-Powers no longer being built, new clones were designed by various firearm companies to fill the void, including GİRSAN, TİSAŞ, and Springfield Armory, Inc. These new Hi-Power clones began competing with each other by offering new finishes, enhanced sights, redesigned hammers, bevelled magazine wells, improved trigger, and increased magazine capacity.[11][12]
In 2022, FN announced they would resume production of the Browning Hi-Power. The 2022 "FN High Power" incorporated a number of entirely new features such as a fully ambidextrous slide lock, simplified takedown method, enlarged ejection port, reversible magazine release, wider slide serrations, different colored finish offerings, and 17-round magazines. In contrast to popular belief, the new FN High Power might resemble a modern Hi-Power, but it is, in fact, a different design. One of the noticeable details is the lack of Browning-style locking lugs.[5]
Genuine Browning Hi-Power P-35s were manufactured until 2017 by FN Herstal of Belgium and Portugal and under licence by Fabricaciones Militares (FM) of Argentina. The Hi-Power remains one of the most influential pistols in the history of small arms. It has inspired a number of clone manufacturers (including Charles Daly of the Philippines & the US, FEG of Hungary, Arcus of Bulgaria, IMI of Israel, and others). Many modern pistols borrow features from it, such as the staggered column high-capacity magazine and the Browning linkless cam locking system (which on modern pistols is often simplified so that the barrel locks into the ejection port, meaning the barrel and slide do not have to be machined for locking lugs). Until recently, FEG made an almost exact clone in 9×19mm Parabellum and .40 S&W, but the company now manufactures a version with modifications to the barrel, linkage, and slide stop that are incompatible with genuine Hi-Powers. Arcus has also superseded its Arcus 94 Hi-Power clone with the Arcus 98DA, a model that draws heavily from the Hi-Power but is capable of double-action operation.
: Mark III is the general-issue pistol for the Australian Defence Force,[37][38][39] to be replaced with the SIG Sauer P320.[40]
Australia
Austria
: Canadian Forces use pistols made by the John Inglis Co. of Ontario, Canada as their primary service pistol.[9][37][38][42] It has begun being replaced by the SIG Sauer P320 (C22) as of mid-2023.[43][44]
Canada
: 2,400 Pistols imported from Belgium in 1939–1940, used during the last stages of Winter War, common usage during Continuation War, mostly issued to pilots. Retired in 1980s.[51][38]
Finland
: Used by Gendarmerie Nationale and French Air Force during first Indochina war and Algerian war.
France
: Produced locally as Pistol Auto 9mm 1A by Indian Ordnance Factory/Ishapore Arms using stamping dies from the former John Inglis manufacturing facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[37][38][47]
India
: General-issue sidearm for Indonesian Armed Forces, especially by Komando Pasukan Katak (Kopaska) naval tactical diver group and Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) army special forces group.[54] Made under license by Pindad as the P1.[55]
Indonesia
: Used in limited numbers by British airborne and commando units as well as the Special Operations Executive during the Second World War. Formally adopted by the British Army and Royal Air Force as the L9, a replacement for Webley and Enfield revolvers in 1954[1][37][38] and by the Northern Ireland Security Guard Service in 1998.[73]. Replaced by the Glock 17 Gen 4.[74]
United Kingdom
: Used by the FBI Hostage Rescue Team as of 1999,[57] and standard military issue to SOG during the Vietnam War.[75]
United States
: A small quantity, brought into the country by the Australian Army during the Vietnam War, can still be found at Vietnam People's Army's shooting ranges.
