FN marking?

[pdstout]

Guys, how much does this marking hurt the value of this FN Highpower? Why was it done?
Thanks, P. Stout
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...t/PA260015.jpg

[Jimmy]

Probably as an import it was mandatory to mark the caliber.
Note the red paint on the non matching hold open. Reminiscent of the English way of marking non standard calibers (red paint) early in the war. Of course when the Inglis Hi Powers came on line in 1944 the caliber became a standard English handgun caliber.
To some collectors it would be a varient to others a deal breaker.
Jimmy

[james m]

Jimmy is right. This was another assinine government requirement that any imported handgun be marked with the appropriate caliber. IMO it's never prevented idiotic users from trying to use the wrong ammunition in them.
"You can't legislate stupidity out of existence". Yours truly.
"You can't fix stupid" Ron White.
Jim

[pdstout]

Fn

I know it would be tough to tell with out seeing the pistol, but would it be worth $500.00
Thanks, P. Stout

[Jimmy]

I think "yes". Nazi Hi Powers in any condition are getting hard to find. From what little I can see that gun has a great finnish as Nazi fixed site HP's were very thinly blued.

[pdstout]

fn marking

Guys, here is what a FN Hipower colector sent me. What do you think?
The markings are correct-some German occupation Hi Powers have the 9MM marked on them for the HP was a new design to many Germans and all other FN designed pistols were for smaller calibers. WaA140 is the most common of all German occupation Hi Powers. For reference FN made only 58,000 pre-war Hi Powers, the Germans made 319,000 Hi Powers under the occupation-so pre-war HPs are far less common then German occupation HPs. Hope this helps. Jack.

[Jimmy]

I;ve never seen a Nazi proofed Hi Power with that 9mm mark.

[Josh Beckett]

Actually, it cant be an import mark just because of one thing, FN High powers with Nazi marks are banned from importation, just check the ATF website.

[pdstout]

Fn

More pitcures, There are no more markings on the FN just the tipical WW II German markings.
P. Stout
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...t/PA260015.jpg
http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/c...t/PA260011.jpg

[pdstout]

fn marking

Here is what a FN guy said.
Pete

That marking is very uncommon and was not done at the factory but at lower nunit levels. There are a lot of arguments about the marking so it would probably be best to passs on it. I've only seen 2 other marked that way and since it is not a factory marking it would be best to pass on it. Nearly every German occupation Hi Power I've ever owned, handled , or shot seens to have been sabatagued by the Belgiums somehow so they are far from my favorite. Jack.

Who knows?
P. Stout

[Jimmy]

If that gun is for sale to you for $500 dont pass it. That is a good buy. And the 9mm marking may have been made for inpotation into any country. No telling where that gun has been. Or how it got to the US. If a German had done that marking (which I doubt) it would not be so lopsided and crude, lower unit or not. And I have never seen one marked like that and I have owned and handled many dozens of Nazi hi Powers. Buy it.

[pdstout]

fn marking

Here is another post from the FN guy.
Pete
That 9MM marking-some thinks it's postwar-some wartime. The marking isn't a import mark-the two Hi Powers I've seen with the marking have no import markings on them-both were G.I Vet bringbacks. The units who were issued them were non-german troops working with the Germans-markings were applied at troop level as a quick reminder as to the caliber of the pistol for the troops using them. Again if you want to avoid controversy you may want to look for one with strict factory proofs only. Jack

Thanks, P. Stout

[peter u]

Hello,

Some close ups of the markings on a Belgian army issue HP35 prior to 1940:





Cheers,
Peter