Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Altering A High Power?

So best I can tell I have a T model Hi-power in the gun safe, and it is damn fine shape.
The more I handle it, the more I like the feel of it, it points really nice for me, and feels solid in the hand. Been considering some new sights for it, my 60 year old vision is starting to fade.
Researching around, I' finding that the T model and the C model are the most desirable..for shooters or collectors.
Would it be a sin to alter this pistol, sights, maybe an ambi-safety, or would it still hold its value with modifications?

Thank you.

I’m not sure, but my guess is any mod that you can’t undo or that defaces the firearm will drop the value. Two offsetting ideas:

1. If you like the HP but want yours unaltered, use the money you were going to spend on mods to buy another that is setup the way you like. Browning made them with a nice ambi and better sights in the early 90’s (plus there are the clones).

2. If you really like yours, mod away. You only live once and it only hurts when you sell it. You aren’t planning on selling it, are you?

Yes, it would be a sin. No it would not hold its value.

I would do it anyway. The value means nothing as I would never sell it - heirs can complain about me after I die.

Novak sights with front tritium, C&S ambi.

Nobody in my family would know dick about it.

Researching it, I think best case worth right now would be around $1200, I'm thinking modified maybe $800

It points so well for me I'll have to go shoot it a bunch and see if I can pick up the sights, for some reason I see it pretty well, better than any other pistol I own. Would love to have a gold bead on the front sight, think that would be enough.

I’d put sights on it and shoot the schitt out of it. 🤠

I prefer to think that top notch work by a Big Name 'smith such as Novak's or C&S would preserve the value and maybe even add to it. I'm a shooter more than a collector so a T-series properly set up is worth more to me than a plain T-series. There's lots of guys like me so keep your receipts.

I had Bobby Tyler put adjustable sights on mine, also did a matte blue on it, if some one else is going to enjoy it they will have to wait until I'm gone because I'm going to shoot the heck out of it & enjoy every shot, that's why I have it. Yes it's a mid 70's Belgian made Hi Power, shoots great.

Dick

...a vote for sell it to a collector and buy a Practical...

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/851419254

Has everything you want in a nice factory package...

There are five dimensions of firearms ownership: investment; shooting; tinkering; collecting; accumulating. (The difference between collectors and accumulators is that accumulators don't go to the meetings.) Most of us have a certain amount of overlap in our motivation for firearms ownership. I think the one that makes the least amount of sense is investment. If you look at your guns as investments, then using them is like taking money out of your retirement fund to the casino.

Let's be reasonable here, too. Why modify it if you want to shoot it? No matter how you like the feel of the gun, for any purpose beyond just recreational shooting (read plinking), be it concealed carry, hunting, or competition of any kind, there are currently made pistols available that would be better choices no matter how you modify this one.

I'd love to have a HP like that. I'd shoot the schitt out of it with white box 115 or 124 grain ball all the time. If I wanted to carry a 9mm (which I currently do) it would be my Sig 365. If I just wanted an autopistol for a truck gun, it would be (is) any one of a number of full-size pistols in 9mm, .40, 10 mm, or .45.

Keep it like it is. Shoot it once in a while and enjoy it. Take good care of it. Stop worrying about all this "collector value" BS. You're not a collector. If you were, you wouldn't be throwing this out there for opinions.

I think RJM and cra1948 hit the nail squarely on the head.

Modifying guns is generally a subjective matter, so do what trips your trigger. However, most folks would agree that the Hi-Power could (at a minimum) benefit from better sights and thumb safety. Some would argue that more is just fluff, but fluff can be a good thing ….. personally speaking.

Had this one done awhile back (Novak sights, trigger work, repark the slide). It's a forged frame MK III that is a superb shooter. I have an unaltered '67 T series in the safe. They go well together. You can never have too many Hi Powers.
Bob

There is one other matter that hasn’t been discussed. I have owned their pistol for years, pre-magazine ban in CA.
I am not able to buy a new HP and feed it a 13 round Mag
I would be buying myself a 10 round pistol, the idea of sticking it to CA with 14 round pistol appeals to me.

That is sweet

Is that a 15 shot mag?

I'm a collector, so I would always recommend you sell it and just buy a Mk III. Used the extra money gained through the sale to fund your customization of a Mk III. But it's your gun, so you do with it as you see fit.

...well that sucks...

If this isn't going to be a carry pistol and just a shooter/target/plinker I would still sell it and instead buy a SIG P210. Reality is that a HP will never have the shootability of a 210 especially the trigger pull...unless you are willing to pay BIG bucks. A great 1911 trigger pull can be had for in the $150 area...last time I looked helping a friend with his HP its started at $350...

You will probably get a LOT more for it selling it locally in-state rather than selling it on GunBroker plus saving the 6% Seller's fee....

But if you just love the HP line then be prepared to pay for it....

Bob

https://cylinder-slide.com/Category/BHP9

Negative …. it's just a bumper pad.

There are just few gunsmith's who understand the Hi Power's trigger. I guess I have been radically under-charging for a HP trigger job. It's really no harder to do than a 1911, but you won't get the trigger down to 2.5lbs without compromising reliability. But 3.75 is quite doable and it's not hard. WOW $350 for a trigger job!!!

Happened to find a used mint HP for a friend that had one of the high dollar trigger jobs done... It isn't just stoning parts...the frame was drilled and a pin put in for whatever reason...

I talked to the guy who did the work on my carry Commander who is one of the more well know smiths in NE...he said the same thing...it is a whole nother level than a 1911 trigger job... $250 just to get it down to 5#...

By the time a trigger job is done, upgraded sights and refinishing is done you have the price of a P210...and out a collectors piece.