If you shoot one....you will probably WANT one.
Mine is actually an Israeli State Security surplused pistol, made in the early 90s. It does not say "Browning on it anywhere, but only reads "Fabrique Nationale Herstal Belguim" on one side of the slide. On the barrel, in the part visible through the ejection port, it reads "9mmNATO" and has the serial number. The serial number also appears on the slide and frame. It wears checkered walnut grips and has a very flat bluing that looks like parkerization.
This HP also has a cast frame, but the Israelis spec'd them that way, because the HP cast frames were actually harder than the milled ones and would stand up to their very hot IMI made 9mm rounds that they also use in the Uzis.
I bought it back in the late 90s, from Aim Surplus for 250 bucks (!!!).
A plain jane looking 9mm that shoots like the devil. Made a believer out of me.
The Hi-Power is not very popular in the USA, however, it is probably the most widely issued military 9mm in the world. All the British commonwealth countries issued this pistol for many years, as did several African countries and mid-eastern countries. There are photos of Saddam Hussein and Prince Harry carrying and shooting the Hi-Power! Novak also put together several customized HPs for the FBI Hostage Rescue Team in Quantico many years ago. The British SAS used this pistol for decades as well.
The Hi-Power HAS proven itself the world over....even if it is not that popular in the states.
Now...go get one and see why we love it! LOL
- brickboy240