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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35 |
We inherited a browning hi power from my wife's father. She believes it was purchased by him in the late 1950's. Been in the safe ever since. Still in box and appears to have seen little/no use. Our question is should we shoot and carry this gun ? Is it more value to a collector? Thanks .jd
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1 |
Guns are meant to be shot.
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044 |
High Power Browning are not real collector guns, carry and shoot it.
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35 |
Thanks. Kind of what I thought, just wanted to hear from the experts
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,827 Likes: 1 |
Browning Hi Powers ARE collectable - Even models from the 50's in pristine condition are very sought after by collectors.
Determine it's value, by model and condition first and then decide what YOU want to do with it.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35 |
Any help determining value would be appreciated. Serial number indicates it is from 1954. In original box with manual. Pretty much looks unused. Have lots of rifles, shotguns to use, but interested in getting a handgun for everyday use and carry. Would post pictures if I knew how Thanks .jd
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Joined: Oct 2010
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,328 |
To answer both of your questions......yes.
If you are into guns at all, then you will be hard pressed to find a finer handgun than an older Belgian BHP....IMO.
"If dogs don't go to heaven, when I die I want to go wherever they went." -Will Rogers
"If you have a lot of self control you don't need a lot of government control" - Thomas Sowell
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 25,950 Likes: 7 |
On the other hand, one mught sell the Browning and purchase several Glocks.
People who choose to brew up their own storms bitch loudest about the rain.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 13,827 Likes: 1 |
I'd die for it, but you'd better hurry, I'm almost there now.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,548
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,548 |
We inherited a browning hi power from my wife's father. She believes it was purchased by him in the late 1950's. Been in the safe ever since. Still in box and appears to have seen little/no use. Our question is should we shoot and carry this gun ? Is it more value to a collector? Thanks .jd Pretty easy for a Hi-Power of that stripe to be worth a couple grand. Firing and carrying the pistol a moderate amount will knock $500-$1,000 off the value.
Forgive me my nonsense, as I also forgive the nonsense of those that think they talk sense. Robert Frost
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,823 Likes: 30
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,823 Likes: 30 |
We inherited a browning hi power from my wife's father. She believes it was purchased by him in the late 1950's. Been in the safe ever since. Still in box and appears to have seen little/no use. Our question is should we shoot and carry this gun ? Is it more value to a collector? Thanks .jd It has (as a Belgian Browning High Power) collector value, especially in its condition, but not so very much that I wouldn't put it to use.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35 |
Thanks a bunch for the input. We'll keep it, shoot it, and give it to our grandson .jd
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Joined: Oct 2010
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,328 |
Thanks a bunch for the input. We'll keep it, shoot it, and give it to our grandson .jd Perfect solution
"If dogs don't go to heaven, when I die I want to go wherever they went." -Will Rogers
"If you have a lot of self control you don't need a lot of government control" - Thomas Sowell
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,304
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 7,304 |
The way I look at is that your untouched Hi Power will never be worth as much as it is right now, and if money has any value to you then sell it to a collector for an appropriate price and go buy something else. Guns don't often survive 60 years in new condition so that makes it a rare commodity. Shoot it and you may as well torch a couple bills. I can't afford to throw away money so that's what I would do with a pristine 60-year old Hi Power if one fell into my lap.
Last edited by S99VG; 01/31/16.
"The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." John Stapp - "Stapp's Law" "Klaatu barada nikto"
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 16,000 |
i have collected various things for many years. Have this guy i know always telling me i need to sell these things because they have appreciated so much in value. If i would have done so, i would have lost a lot of additional appreciation. Funny thing is after telling me i should sell them multiple times he was shocked at what a run of the mill K frame is going for these days, then wanted to buy one of mine for what i paid for it. Yeah sure.
advice is cheap, but older firearms with the name reconition of a P35 in pristine condition are not found all that easily.
THE BIRTH PLACE OF GERONIMO
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 10,718 |
We inherited a browning hi power from my wife's father. She believes it was purchased by him in the late 1950's. Been in the safe ever since. Still in box and appears to have seen little/no use. Our question is should we shoot and carry this gun ? Is it more value to a collector? Thanks .jd If you don't know much about the gun, and don't care much one way or the other, you'd probably benefit by selling the gun to someone who does. With a decent pile of cash in your pocket, you could then buy any pistol from a long lineup of possibilities, and probably a case or two of ammo to go with it, depending on specifics.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,548
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,548 |
Pretty easy for a Hi-Power of that stripe to be worth a couple grand. Firing and carrying the pistol a moderate amount will knock $500-$1,000 off the value. Also, a Hi-Power of that vintage has a humped feed ramp and internal extractor. The feed ramp was changed in the early '80's on the Mk II Hi-Power to better feed hollowpoint bullets (current Hi-Powers are Mk III). Some, not all, pistols with humped feed ramps only reliably feed FMJs. The internal extractor was changed to external around 1962 and the internals are hard to find. A worn or broken extractor can happen on ANY pistol, but with an old Hi-Power you'll probably have to find someone to make one.
Forgive me my nonsense, as I also forgive the nonsense of those that think they talk sense. Robert Frost
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453 |
Sell that one, buy another BHP (or clone) if that's what you want to shoot, and have money left over for plenty of ammo.
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 35 |
Thanks again for the advice. Recent posts have me reconsidering hanging on to this gun. Could be better appreciated by others it seems Probably make the long drive to the nearest Cabelas to see what we can get for the gun. Never sold any guns, always been a buyer, then usually give to my sons. Looking for a carry gun to use and enjoy without worrying about screwing up an heirloom .jd
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 23,453 |
Cabelas is VERY likely to low ball you to a ridiculous degree. Gunbroker is your best bet to get your full value from the BHP.
America needs to understand that our troops are not 'disposable'. Each represents a family; Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Cousins, Uncles, Aunts... Our Citizens are our most valuable treasure; we waste far too many.
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