Is Springfield Armory Bringing Back the Browning Hi Power

wvsig said:
Take a look at this pic. There are some serious clues in it telling me that Springfield Armory is bringing the Browning Hi Power back to the US market. This was in the Nov 2021 issue of Guns and Ammo.

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Other than a pic of JMB, what other clues are there?
 
Get Off My Lawn said:
Other than a pic of JMB, what other clues are there?
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The clock show 1935. The BHP was adopted by the Belgains as the P35 in 1935. There is also what looks to be a BHP on the bench to the right of the gunsmith. If you look closely near the left legs of the bench there are double stack magazine in pouches. The BHP was the first double stack 9mm. Saive designed the original mag at the request of FN to start work on the French Pistol trials. They originally asked JMB to do it but he declined because he did not think a military sidearm need more than 8 rounds. Once the 15 round mag was completed it was brought JMB in Utah and he signed on to the project. He died before the gun was completed and IMHO it is more Saive than JMB but most US pistol shooters don't see it that way.

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wvsig said:
The clock show 1935. The BHP was adopted by the Belgains as the P35 in 1935. There is also what looks to be a BHP on the bench to the right of the gunsmith. If you look closely near the left legs of the bench there are double stack magazine in pouches. The BHP was the first double stack 9mm. Saive designed the original mag at the request of FN to start work on the French Pistol trials. They originally asked JMB to do it but he declined because he did not think a military sidearm need more than 8 rounds. Once the 15 round mag was completed it was brought JMB in Utah and he signed on to the project. He died before the gun was completed and IMHO it is more Saive than JMB but most US pistol shooters don't see it that way.

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To add more detail to your great info in this thread…

Browning was found dead at his work table, working on what would become the Hi Power. Saive, who had been Browning’s assistant and was the designer of the revolutionary magazine for the pistol, definitely did most of the heavy lifting to Browning’s work and make the Hi Power we know today. Two of the greatest firearms minds in history worked on the project, so it is hard to NOT love the Hi Power.
 
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cubrock said:
To add more detail to your great info in this thread…

Browning was found dead at his work table, working on what would become the Hi Power. Saive, who had been Browning’s assistant and was the designer of the revolutionary magazine for the pistol, definitely did most of the heavy lifting to w Browning’s work and make the Hi Power we know today. Two of the greatest firearms minds in history worked on the project, so it is hard to NOT love the Hi Power.
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He was actually working on a superposed shotgun but the rest is spot on!
 
wvsig said:
He was actually working on a superposed shotgun but the rest is spot on!
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Huh. I’ve read in more than one source that he was working on the Hi Power. That is interesting. You are gonna make me read some more.

I am always reticent to talk Hi Powers in your presence. Lol
 
cubrock said:
Huh. I’ve read in more than one source that he was working on the Hi Power. That is interesting. You are gonna make me read some more.

I am always reticent to talk Hi Powers in your presence. Lol
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No worries there are so many versions of development of the BHP. The main sources I reference are R Steven Blakes The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol, Stephen Camps Website and Anthony Vanderlinden FN Browning Pistols. I have seen many references to what he was working on when he died by I fall back to R Steven Blakes account which states it was a shotgun. The Grand Rendement was the last pistol patent by JMB but it is not the gun we shoot today as the BHP.

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Hopefully they will leave the mag disconnect off and make a nice sleek rear sight. Those were my only gripes about the old ones. Love the way they felt in my hand. Sold my practical to a buddy for $700 12 years ago.🤦‍♂️
 
MacEntyre said:
Why is the cubicle to the left, in the picture, totally trashed? Is that significant?
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It's Springfield? They totally trashed their rep years ago with that political stunt and mostly just import others work?



SAC aside, I'd keep the BHP in retirement/safe queen mode and take the Tisas as a shooter if that goofy rear site is easily replaced. Maybe it's not so bad in person. Maybe even that Girsan if it's cheap enough.

Assuming 3rd party BHP parts 'drop in'.
 
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I agree, I really like the look. TFB did a very favorable review on it.

Here lately (at least around me) a $699 MSRP means $849 shelf price. We'll see what it stickers for when it starts showing up on shelves. I'm also interested in the country of origin.
 
My.lgs.checked.today.lipseys has this on their website with none in stock MSRP was 699.00.
15.roind magazine.
I'm first on the waiting list at the lgs
 
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rufrdr said:
Amazing price for a domesticly made firearm
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Indeed, but I am willing to bet, at that price, many to all of the components are imported and the gun is finished enough here to make it legally US production. I could be wrong. Doesn't matter to me. Either way, I am getting one.

American Rifleman review looks pretty good:

www.americanrifleman.org

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Springfield Armory SA-35 High Power: Classic, Modern, American

It’s been several years since the venerable Browning Hi Power was imported by its original European manufacturer. Now the classic is being made by Springfield Armory right here in the United States— at a surprisingly reasonable price.
www.americanrifleman.org www.americanrifleman.org
 
I’m in; in about two years. I never buy a first-year anything (car, gun, tv, etc…).
By that time, prices will be down to 500 and I won’t feel bad about milling the slide for optics. I had to get rid of my last one after cataract surgery, gotta use optics now and just couldn’t carve up a pretty gun like an original BHP.
The closer for me: putting a 1911 thumb safety on it. The original was too small for me to hit consistently on a drawstroke.
Yes, I’m definitely in !! Especially if BHP mags work in the new one.
 
Looks like a nicely done version of the BHP. Improvements where they need to be but they did not wreck what makes the BHP what it is. To my eyes the best improvements are the sights and the thumb safety. I am glad to hear they removed the mag disconnect. $699 is not bad MSRP. I would bet it settles out under $600. NIB
 
@RS will be putting up some pictures before too long of "THE Don" Carroway's personal P35. Extensive frame modifications....You have to hold this gun in your hands to then try to figure out "What tha Hell Is Going On With This Pistol"? I visited with my Old Pard last week...he didn't know me from Adam's house cat.....Today @Etruett went by to check on him and he said Don was talking about me and Old Times like it was yesterday. He recognized Eddie from shooting with him 40 years ago...An insidious disease.
Enjoy the pictures of the Old man's best "mortifications".;)

ETA: This pistol has fired more 9mm ammo than Hercules could drag....not an exaggeration.
 
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Looking at RS’s I can see the SA 35 being a nice foundation for some to “make it their own” on. A little milling … flatten and serrate the top of the slide along with some checkering and serrations on the front and back strap of the frame. A nice finish … NP3 type (to bad Robar is gone) … for look and protection. Maybe a little polishing on the innards and you would have a nice shooter that would not have cost you a kidney.
 
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Didn't see where anybody posted the link yet:

Based on first impressions, it looks good. Supposedly USA made... I'm skeptical.
Hopefully it's a big enough seller to get some other models, like a Detective and one with rails for the gadget crowd.

www.springfield-armory.com

SA-35™ 9mm Handgun - Springfield Armory

www.springfield-armory.com www.springfield-armory.com
 
The high power always slipped through me hands. My uncle has one from WWII with the GERMAN MILITARY stamped markings. He won it in a basement poker game in the 60’s . Every time I was going to buy one , I purchased something else. Then they quit making them and the prices went way up. Just here in the past so years I been close to buying one from Wyatts, .Normally $1100 for a MK2 . Used. Deals was out there but I always missed out. But not this time. I in like sin. WarDawg
 
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