picked up a FN Hi-Power! Question?

[crotter]

Hello,
I
recently picked up my first Browning Hi-Power, what I believe to be a war time German occupation gun. Unfortunately that is the extent of my knowledge and was wondering if the experts here could chime in with what I've picked up!

It has WaA140 stamps on the frame and slide, but unlike most other Hi Powers I have seen the barrel on mine is not stamped with the serial number... would that make the barrel aftermarket?

Also could anyone help me date the manufacture of the pistol?

Anyways here are the pictures:
(sorry they are poor quality, iPhone camera is all I have at the moment)

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Thanks!

[bodes]

Is the barrel WaA'd?.....Bodes

[crotter]

Is the barrel WaA'd?.....Bodes

None that I can see... just a smooth steel barrel. Which I know is not right as all the pictures I have seen of these FN's have the serial number stamped on the barrel...

???

[bodes]

None that I can see... just a smooth steel barrel. Which I know is not right as all the pictures I have seen of these FN's have the serial number stamped on the barrel...

???

Yeah, it should be serial numbered with a WaA above it (SN).....Bodes

[46IR]

As its not stamped I would say its one of the Olympic arms made barrels you can check this by stripping it down and seeing if its made from 2 bits or 1 if the later its an Olympic one

[crotter]

As its not stamped I would say its one of the Olympic arms made barrels you can check this by stripping it down and seeing if its made from 2 bits or 1 if the later its an Olympic one

Thanks for the info will check this out later tonight...

Any idea on a date based on the serial on the frame/ slide?

Thanks!

[46IR]

WAa140 means it was made any time from late 1941 to 1943

Check this very good website for more http://www.ai4fr.com/main/page_milit...y_hipower.html

[Bigdibbs88]

WAa140 means it was made any time from late 1941 to 1943

Check this very good website for more http://www.ai4fr.com/main/page_milit...y_hipower.html

WaA140 ran to the end of production. this pistol was made in 1944.

[46IR]

WaA140 ran to the end of production. this pistol was made in 1944.

yes WAa140 did run till 1944 when the factory was liberated however at the beginning of 1943 a new serial code numbering system was introduced which began at number 01a until number 99999a was reached.
this means the pistol show should be prior to 1943 and should have been made mid 1942 as it lacks the tangent sight and shoulderstock catch

[Bigdibbs88]

yes WAa140 did run till 1944 when the factory was liberated however at the beginning of 1943 a new serial code numbering system was introduced which began at number 01a until number 99999a was reached.
this means the pistol show should be prior to 1943 and should have been made mid 1942 as it lacks the tangent sight and shoulderstock catch

If it was made in 42 it would likely have been WaA103 or WaA140. the b suffix means it was made in 1944. a suffix was 1943. No suffix was before that.

[crotter]

very interesting, thank you so much for the comments on the serial number/ dates....

much appreciated!

[Frank De Smedt]

Crotter,m
Do you have pics of the barrel itself with possible markings?


Frank

[crotter]

Crotter,m
Do you have pics of the barrel itself with possible markings?


Frank

I can snap a photo of the barrel if you like, but no markings that I can make out on it... I'll be back with a photo soon!

[crotter]

Here are a couple photos of the barrel:

I did find a "MI" stamp... any idea what that could be?

[Kris]

Nice HP.
MI on the barel is a wartime German FN marking.