View Full Version : Israeli FN Hi-power
Picked one up. Just couldn't resist.
Belgium made by FN. Kind of an odd duck as Hi-powers go. Has a lot of the MkIII features but lacks the firing pin block that I thought was pretty much standard starting on the MkIII models.
It is an Israeli police trade in and the finish is pretty rough. Like most of the police trade ins here in the states, it appears to have been carried a lot but probably has a relatively low round count. Everything fits together nicely and the action and trigger are very smooth.
I gave it a complete disassembly and thorough cleaning. I was a bit surprised to see how clean the internals were and there is little wear on the working parts. Hell, the first patch I ran through the barrel came out darn near spotless. It seems the police in Israel must take pretty good care of their stuff to keep it reliable.
The right side of the frame has a star of David with something that looks like the letter "n" Inside of it stamped on it. Not all of the trade in pistols have this stamp. Not sure if it represents a specific unit or why some have it and some don't. Going to have to research that.
I initially thought I was going to strip it down and refinish it to return it to it's original glory. I might just leave it alone and enjoy the genuine character of the piece.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/1582d101af167c2cb31d0620f67cecff.jpg
Here are a few shots of how rough the finish is on it.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/618d284fd097f2632948f4bf774825f2.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/19ea66c5a9e9fa90429e93e9120f8cea.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/b62a6fb4bdcea25cd8f015237af206cd.jpg
And here are a couple of pictures of the star of David marking.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/f9dafc7cfc21a02116f5b497720fecbf.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/a7349c09cd8fa5f0a02ce844658a94f6.jpg
I will be swapping the grips out. I don't care for the ones that are on it and they are a little warped and don't fit right any more.
Also, I don't think hammer bite would be an issue for me as I have small, non pudgy hands but I took about 3/16" off the hammer spur while I had it apart. Just in case.
Hopefully she's a shooter. Hope to take it out around Christmas time and find out.
buffalobo
11-29-2015, 00:00
Nice snag. Pics before hammer bobbed?
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Nice! I have a "Kareen" HP clone, says Israel on it, presumably made there.
Nice snag. Pics before hammer bobbed?
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Yes. I didn't take any afterwards. Looks pretty good. Still has a spur. I took less than 1/4" off of it. Might get a picture tomorrow and post it up. Maybe outside where I can get better lighting.
Nice! I have a "Kareen" HP clone, says Israel on it, presumably made there.
I think the early ones were assembled in Israel from FEG parts (Hungarian). The later ones were made in Bulgaria I believe. I could be wrong.
Here are a few shots after the hammer modification.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/1f5ca863003ecc92d97d5a09df9bb313.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/b82f00d39888803b75879493861aac9e.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/5e674a92e1b21c67827f4cea0cf58061.jpg
I didn't want to take too much off of it. Tried to preserve the original look as much as possible and didn't want to take too much weight off the part and run the risk of ignition reliability since everything else is stock.
The only other thing I might do is put all new springs in it. Not too worried about that for now though. I really think the round count is pretty low on this thing.
That looks pretty unique. I like it.
Great-Kazoo
11-29-2015, 11:00
Of course they kept their sidearms clean. I have it "On reliable sources" The Israelis used bacon grease in place of CLP
StagLefty
11-29-2015, 12:15
^ licking your gun could result in "hammer tongue" [ROFL3]
Nice pick-up . . . I love my Hi Power. Not sure what kind of grips you are looking for, but I just picked a Hogue grip recently and really like it so far.
http://www.amazon.com/Hogue-Browning-Hi-Power-Rubber-Grooves/dp/B000STDIEI/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1448826343&sr=1-1&keywords=Hogue+Browning+Hi-Power+Rubber+Grip+with+Finger+Grooves
http://i.imgur.com/dd0TSqb.jpg
Also have a pair of wood grips that a friend gave me . . . they are super sharp looking, but they make the grip REALLY fat. Wasn't that enamored with them for shooting.
http://i.imgur.com/uFKSAFo.jpg
Thanks for the pictures. I'm probably going to get a set of VZ grips for mine. If I leave it unfinished I'll just go with something in black to keep it somewhat original looking. If I end up refinishing it I'll likely have it cerakoted in burnt bronze and do the small pieces in a brown color and get the VZ grips in some sort of brown color.
If I refinish it I'm going for a look like this one.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/29/ed9b283640763721287e22221a2f55b6.jpg
^^^
That's really sharp looking!
longrange2
11-29-2015, 15:45
I like the "been there, done that" look, but a refinish like the one above would be great too.
I like the "been there, done that" look, but a refinish like the one above would be great too.
So... Either way I can't go wrong? Lol.
Refinish, if it was wood I'd say keep the patina but pic of the tan/brown one is sweeeeet
So... Either way I can't go wrong? Lol.
Correct.
I have a T Series and an FN alloy, really like them.
Great-Kazoo
11-30-2015, 17:37
So... Either way I can't go wrong? Lol.
Not at all. Those are nice pick ups.
buffalobo
11-30-2015, 22:18
Project! Project! Project! Project! Project!..
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buffalobo
11-30-2015, 22:25
Competition spring kit, slick it up so it looks fast, refinish, fav sights, custom grips, see you at the match in March. Hell yeah.
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Whatever route I decide to go it's definitely getting brought out to the next match. You and I will be going head to head in the same division.
[Awesom]
buffalobo
11-30-2015, 22:40
Hi Powers are cool, especially at matches.
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If you were going to refinish it, could you just cerekote it or do you have to strip down the current finish (sand blast ?) and then refinish.
wctriumph
12-01-2015, 17:54
Nice pick up. I like the High Power a lot. I have had two Belgians and one FEG, still have one Belgian and it stays with me.
If you were going to refinish it, could you just cerekote it or do you have to strip down the current finish (sand blast ?) and then refinish.
I'm pretty sure it would have to be blasted for the cerakote to stick properly. I have access to sand blast and glass bead cabinets but would probably just let the guy that was going to cerakote it do that stuff. I had colorado_hack do a Glock slide for me and it turned out awesome and his price was very fair. All I had to do was drop it off with him and tell him what color I wanted. He did all of the work. I didn't even have to pick it up when he was done. He was kind enough to ship it to me.
Ray, CDNN has some factory Browning rosewood grips for $30. Is this a local find or an online find like the ones AIM is selling? I think it would be fun to pick up a beater to play with and not worry about hurting the value. Mine is a Browning from 75 and too nice to modify. Be sure to post pics when you finish your mods whatever they are.
Ray, CDNN has some factory Browning rosewood grips for $30. Is this a local find or an online find like the ones AIM is selling? I think it would be fun to pick up a beater to play with and not worry about hurting the value. Mine is a Browning from 75 and too nice to modify. Be sure to post pics when you finish your mods whatever they are.
Thanks for the heads up on the grips.
I did get mine from Aimsurplus. And I'll definitely post pictures as the project comes along.
Good to know the AIM guns are mechanically sound as described.
Good to know the AIM guns are mechanically sound as described.
Well, I can only vouch for my one particular example. Lol.
So, since I'm still up in the air with what to do about the finish on this thing and the crappy, scratched up epoxy coating was bothering me I decided to do something for the time being. I'll spare you the gory details and just say that I stripped the finish, applied a patina, and replaced the hideous grips for now. Still shows use and character but no longer has the crappy, scratched paint.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20151217/eccd361db20f612cc621e51fe046a9f1.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20151217/e885d8b56cf81a9ab3d4a529a27893cb.jpg
How do you expect to sell it if you don't include a price? ;)
Nice
Agree with the others, I think this look compliments its history.
Now you just need to distress a set of wood grips a make up a story about the battlefield you found it in.
Just kidding, I really like that look.
hurley842002
12-16-2015, 23:09
Looks great Ray, VZ grips?
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Looks great Ray, VZ grips?
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Yes. VZ.
I'd leave it like that. Only other option personally, would be to do a really nice Belgium blueing job on it.
Grant H.
12-17-2015, 10:10
The right side of the frame has a star of David with something that looks like the letter "n" Inside of it stamped on it. Not all of the trade in pistols have this stamp. Not sure if it represents a specific unit or why some have it and some don't. Going to have to research that.
And here are a couple of pictures of the star of David marking.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/f9dafc7cfc21a02116f5b497720fecbf.jpg
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/28/a7349c09cd8fa5f0a02ce844658a94f6.jpg
It's actually the Hebrew letter "mem".
It's an Israeli Police mark.
argonstrom
12-17-2015, 16:27
Should you grow tired of it, let me know.
So, since I'm still up in the air with what to do about the finish on this thing and the crappy, scratched up epoxy coating was bothering me I decided to do something for the time being. I'll spare you the gory details and just say that I stripped the finish, applied a patina, and replaced the hideous grips for now. Still shows use and character but no longer has the crappy, scratched paint.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20151217/eccd361db20f612cc621e51fe046a9f1.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20151217/e885d8b56cf81a9ab3d4a529a27893cb.jpg
Should you grow tired of it, let me know.
I actually thought about you when I got it. It would be a good candidate for some engraving.
You'll have to start a bidding war if you want to sell it
Tell me more about how you removed the original finish and did the patina look?
Tell me more about how you removed the original finish and did the patina look?
Sure. I'll post it up later. Trying to get Christmas packages ready to ship.
Have you considered having the front strap checkered?
Considering changing the sights?
How does it shoot?
ClangClang
12-17-2015, 22:50
It's actually the Hebrew letter "mem".
It's an Israeli Police mark.
Yup, it stands for the word "mishtarah" which literally means "police."
Have you considered having the front strap checkered?
Considering changing the sights?
How does it shoot?
Checkering the front strap on a HiPower can be tricky as there isn't a lot of metal there. Most people stipple them.
Once I decide to have it professionally finished I'll probably install a set of Meprolights.
I don't know how it shoots yet. Hoping to find out next week sometime.
argonstrom
12-17-2015, 23:19
I actually thought about you when I got it. It would be a good candidate for some engraving.
I'm a HP slut.
http://i.imgur.com/vkxmy0j.jpg
Tell me more about how you removed the original finish and did the patina look?
Stripping the old finish was easy. I simply disassembled it and tossed the parts I wanted stripped into the glass bead cabinet.
The finish was kind of an evolution of sorts.
First, I thought I'd do a rust blue job on it. Turns out making things rust around here is damn near impossible so I gave up on that pretty quickly.
Thought maybe I'd give it some sort of spray finish so I picked up a can of Brownells Alumahyde II from Bowers. Turned out really good looking but apparently the thickness of the coating made reassembly impossible.
So, back in the blast cabinet it went.
After that I just decided to experiment. Took a solution of selenous acid, copper nitrate, and nitric acid (simple "cold bluing" compound) and coated everything. Once it was all crusty and whitish looking, I ran the parts under warm water in the sink and buffed everything with fine steel wool. Then I coated it with plenty of CLP.
I might just enjoy shooting it just like it is for a year or so and see how the (lack of ) finish holds up. If it starts developing a nice patina from use I might just keep enjoying it. If it looks like surface rust is going to be a problem I'll find someone to give it a professional finish.
Awesome. Looks great as it sits. Makes me want to get one!
Awesome. Looks great as it sits. Makes me want to get one!
If you put it off long enough they'll sell out and then you won't have to spend the money. [Coffee]
Just like I did with the Sig 228 trade ins. [facepalm]
Took her out to the range today. Functions just fine. Due to the snow and mud, I refrained from setting up multiple targets at various ranges and really putting it through it's paces. Instead, I just did some static work at 25 yards. Took about five or six shots for me to get a feel for it. The single action, hammer fired pistol isn't something I'm accustomed to these days. Lol.
I was actually a little surprised how much perceived recoil there was compared to my Glock 19. I would have thought a heavy, all steel gun would be a real pussy cat but muzzle flip was more than I expected and getting back on target from shot to shot was a bit slow. I guess the whole polymer frame and low bore axis thing really works well for the Glock.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20151221/3b04c682e9e3d3d7c53c76958a8ecd4e.jpg
....but she sure does look better than a Glock. She really looks sweet.
Well, here's another picture. Don't freak out. It isn't loaded. I just wanted a picture of it in condition one for looks. Empty mag, empty chamber. Had the entire range to myself. Nobody was in any danger.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20151222/ad9ef14ceb14d7a8cae73cf348b0e756.jpg
My buddy sent me the link to these Aimsurplus Hi-Powers a few weeks back, knowing I've always wanted a Hi-Power.
Now I see this.
Had to have Santa order me one. Hope it comes in as nice a shape as yours, Ray.
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/10/a392876e15f346312f0da427959b3039.jpg
Other than the finish, mine was in excellent shape. Hopefully yours is too.
Picked it up today from SG-Tactical in Colorado Springs - plug for a great place to do transfers for $30 total.
It is very nice. Finish is a bit worn, but mostly looks like holster wear on all the corners - no scratches or gouges. Grips are scratched up, but fit well. Bore looks great.
Just needs a good cleaning.
Thanks for making me "pull the trigger" on this purchase, Ray.
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