Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Picked up a Hi Power I had never seen before

After selling my only Hi Power about 20 years ago, I have recently been looking for another one.

I came across this one. I had never seen or heard of a Tangent sight Hi Power before. The finish is flawless, any marks in the pics are just smudges from fingerprints. Sorry, shoulda wiped it off before I took the pics.

This one came with its browning bag and does not appear to have been fired. I believe the sight increments are in meters.

If anyone has any additional details on these models, I'd appreciate your input.

It's an El Capitan model and quite common.

Nope, it's not a Capitan model. This one is a "T" prefix and was made in the 60's. Capitan's were made from 1993-2000. Been doing a little digging since I first posted this.
Found this info on this one:
"9mm Para. cal., manufactured from 1965-1978. 50-500 meter tangent sight. A total of approx. 7,000 were imported by Browning Arms Co. Early pistols are designated by "T" prefix and were mfg. 1964-69,"

Didn't figure it was rare, I just hadn't seen this version before and thought it was kinda cool.

Yep, I had one for a brief time. Sold it pretty fast. Mine was bought new. Nothing wrong with it. Just realized the sights weren't ideal for most purposes. Just bought it because I thought it was cool looking.

Yours could be one of them that the Capitan was a reintroduction of. Mine was one of those made in the 1990s.

Pretty much the reason why I bought this one. And, the price was too good to pass up (less than the price of a new Glock). You're right, the sights are not very practical. In fact, I really don't like the little triangular front sight and the tiny notch in the rear, very hard to pick up with my eyes.

Probably stick it back in the back of the safe for a while and either give it to one of the kids or pass it along eventually. Haven't really decided. Ha.

Have Novaks installed...big difference.

I hope you're joking. The T-series tangent is very collectible and will bring a premium to a BHP collector.

Lovely Browning. Enjoy it, wipe it down and put it back in the safe.
Bob

50 to 500 meters. That IS a special pistol.

Thanks RGK.

It is kinda funny that they would put sights on a pistol that are set for 50-500 meters (I wonder using what weight bullet?) I know some of the versions came with a slot in the rear of the grip to use with a shoulder stock. This one doesn't have that. I certainly wouldn't think of using a pistol when shooting out to 500 meters.

Since you live in Texas this would make a great carry gun for Jacks in the Desert

Nice pistol! Don't sell a pistol short to 500 meters with 124 grain original loafing which I believe would be what the sights are regulated

The tangent sights were the original Hi Power configuration. Back then a shoulder stocked pistol was the "PDW" issued to many support soldiers. The sights were for the original 115 grain loading but they were not regulated with any great precision, just gets you into the ball park.

The tangent sight version of the T series was never imported into the US in any numbers, so it is an uncommon pistol here in the US. Your gun is worth easily 3x what you paid for it. You did well sir.

Thanks Kevin and jwp475, appreciate the info!

Now you need a Browning-marked holster to be complete...
Bob

Is that a mirror image?

look at the mag release.....

I'm a lefty.
Bob

I know. Just kidding.

That was from Browning? That's a nice piece of dead cow right there.