Why no Browning Hi Power Re-Makes?

[92G]

Couldn't find the answer to this question so figured I would ask you knowledgeable folk:

So obviously 1911 designs are all over the place, super available. Why is it that the Hi Power isn't the same? Or why don't various companies show up making newer "remakes" of the Hi Power design? Is there a patent issue or something.

All the Hi Power models seem to be old school like at least before 1970s. While the 1911 is of course cool (and historically important), I kinda prefer what I have seen of the Hi Power so this is why I am asking about it.

Thx people.
-squib308

 

[jar]

Couldn't find the answer to this question so figured I would ask you knowledgeable folk:

So obviously 1911 designs are all over the place, super available. Why is it that the Hi Power isn't the same? Or why don't various companies show up making newer "remakes" of the Hi Power design? Is there a patent issue or something.

All the Hi Power models seem to be old school like at least before 1970s. While the 1911 is of course cool (and historically important), I kinda prefer what I have seen of the Hi Power so this is why I am asking about it.

Thx people.
-squib308

The CZ75 shares a lot with the BHP design wise, and there are tons of CZ75 copies. I'd guess the much larger popularity of 1911 descendants are due to the place the 1911 has in the popular consciousness due to it's long service with the US military. Also, the BHP trigger kinda sucks, whereas the 1911 is one of the better trigger designs out there as far as shootability.

 

[atilla]

it ain't broke, doesn't need fixin'.

FEG made a copy, but the BHP mk.III is still currently in production.

 

[ColdDayInHell]

The CZ75 shares a lot with the BHP design wise, and there are tons of CZ75 copies. I'd guess the much larger popularity of 1911 descendants are due to the place the 1911 has in the popular consciousness due to it's long service with the US military. Also, the BHP trigger kinda sucks, whereas the 1911 is one of the better trigger designs out there as far as shootability.

Yeah my FN hi power trigger is awful. But then again it's not known for good triggers and it's 70+ years old. The history surrounding them makes them great collectors' pieces and are really accurate.

 

[DarrenL]

I am guessing FN does not license others to make it? FM in Argentina made licensed copies for 30 years, the FEG was an "unlicensed copy". I had a Mark 3, but sold it (I was young and needed the money).

I love the BHP, but I think it is not as popular now, because there are dozens of 9mm guns that are lighter, with more capacity, close in ergonomics, and do not have a stupid magazine disconnect, which causes the trigger to be much worse than a SAO should have (e.g a 1911).

 

[atilla]

pull out the magazine disconnect. it was stupid and i don't need that "feature" anyway.

 

[drgrant]

BHP fell out of favor "Cause CZ-75". The CZ75 took anything good from the BHP design and jettisoned the rest of it.

-Mike

 

[atilla]

godless heathen!

disclaimer: CZ gets fapped to regularly.

 

[DarrenL]

BHP fell out of favor "Cause CZ-75". The CZ75 took anything good from the BHP design and jettisoned the rest of it.

-Mike

So basically a BHP without the mag disconnect in its natural state? What else did it keep or jettison?

 

[drgrant]

So basically a BHP without the mag disconnect in its natural state? What else did it keep or jettison?

They kept the idea of the barrel lockup design, more than anything, as well as the weight distribution (the slides on BHPs and CZs put a fair amount of weight right under the muzzle, which makes the gun really controllable) and low bore axis. The pistols also point very similar to BHPs. They added DA (most CZs are DA/SA, some can be run SA only if you want in C1) and put a better safety on the gun, too. (the safety lever/nub on a BHP is small and terrible). CZ slides also ride -inside- the lower of the pistol instead of the other way around, which helps in a few different ways.

-Mike

 

[eo1bart]

The CZ-75 is a nice pistol, more like a Beretta than
a Hi Power. IE; double action, de-cocker etc.

 

[jar]

The CZ-75 is a nice pistol, more like a Beretta than
a Hi Power. IE; double action, de-cocker etc.

Controls wise, sure, but the barrel lockup and tilt-barrel linkless cam operation are straight off the BHP. The Beretta's straight barrel travel locking block system is totally different.

 

[Gammon]

The High Power's day has come and gone. It was heralded as JMB's "new and improved" semi auto pistol, but this is simply not true. When Browning attempted to design this pistol he ran into his own patents which he had sold to or developed for other manufacturers. This limited his options which resulted in a pistol that was less than "state of the art" and really only had a high cap (13 round) mag to offer as an improvement. Some great versions of this pistol have been made which will make great collector's items, but I see no reason to revive it. Your run of the mill 9mm Glock will do the same job for a lot less money. If you want to invest a little more $, a 9mm 1911 is still superior to the high power, as long as you will settle for 10 rounds in the mag.

 

[Picton]

Once you disconnect the mag safety, the trigger improves; the earlier FEG copies are fantastic guns, and the BHP's ergonomics are far better than the 1911's IMO. Safety still sucks, though.

I suspect the 1911 got a lot of clones partly because it had been made by many companies in WWII; it was a government design, and the idea that various manufacturers could tool up and build copies was always something folks were comfortable with. Not so with the BHP. Plenty of armies used it, but none of them "owned" it. Browning always controlled the design, other than the Inglis copies after the Germans took over production.

 

[eo1bart]

I would not trade my Hi Power for a Glock or any of the other new plastic pistols. There were a few things I changed to get it perfect for me. Removed the mag dis-connect, swapped the old thumb safety with the new version one, changed the grips, and had novak sites installed. Also found a few 13 round pre-ban mags.

 

[hminsky]

I have a friend's Browning BDM , which was a variant of the Hi Power made in the 90's, and while it's design is beautiful, the trigger does suck.

 

[drgrant]

I have a friend's Browning BDM , which was a variant of the Hi Power made in the 90's, and while it's design is beautiful, the trigger does suck.

I almost bought a BDM, but the safety was "backwards" (you would decock and the gun would be on safe, if I remember correctly) and that's what pushed me away. The trigger was nothing exciting but I don't remember it being completely unusable, either.

-Mike

 

[DarrenL]

I would not trade my Hi Power for a Glock or any of the other new plastic pistols. There were a few things I changed to get it perfect for me. Removed the mag dis-connect, swapped the old thumb safety with the new version one, changed the grips, and had novak sites installed. Also found a few 13 round pre-ban mags.


View attachment 100686View attachment 100687

Now you have made me sad I sold mine. Can you get them used in NH (or elsewhere )for cheap(er)? Like ~500? I know a used one in MA almost goes for what a new one does in other states.

 

[eo1bart]

Now you have made me sad I sold mine. Can you get them used in NH (or elsewhere )for cheap(er)? Like ~500? I know a used one in MA almost goes for what a new one does in other states.

Here's your best bet for used Hi powers if you don't live in Mass. He has alot of Israeli M&P surplus;

http://www.gunbroker.com/Semi-Auto-Pistols/BI.aspx?IncludeSellers=2621012

 

[Gammon]

Once you disconnect the mag safety, the trigger improves; the earlier FEG copies are fantastic guns, and the BHP's ergonomics are far better than the 1911's IMO. Safety still sucks, though.

I suspect the 1911 got a lot of clones partly because it had been made by many companies in WWII; it was a government design, and the idea that various manufacturers could tool up and build copies was always something folks were comfortable with. Not so with the BHP. Plenty of armies used it, but none of them "owned" it. Browning always controlled the design, other than the Inglis copies after the Germans took over production.

The 1911 has been copied many times over because it is one of the best semi auto pistols ever built. The fact that a pistol is made by the government, or several contractors under license has nothing to do with its proliferation on the commercial market. The patent is the controlling factor and the holder of this patent can license others to build the gun as he chooses. The life of a patent is 20 years. After that anyone can use the design and many have.