Browning Hi-Power
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The Browning Hi-Power is based on a semi-automatic 9 mm pistol conceived and patented in the United States in 1922 by American John Browning, who eventually took his ideas to Belgium and the arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal. The design was fully developed and realized through the efforts of Belgian arms designer Dieudonne Saive working at FN. This pistol was noted for having the first functional double-column magazine of 9 mm Parabellum rounds, capable of holding 13 cartridges, and allowing a 14th loaded in the chamber. (Modern "flush fit" magazines are now available which hold 15 cartridges, allowing a 16th to be loaded in the chamber, and magazines which extend beyond the grip can hold considerably more.)
The Grande Puissance
The P-35 Models were first produced in 1935 as the "Grande Puissance". [link] Browning's initial concept was for a striker-fired pistol with a single-stack magazine; consultation with Dieudonne Saive at FN apparently convinced him to revise his design to incorporate a hammer mechanism and a higher capacity, double-stack magazine. Most of the salient features of this design were finalized before Browning's death in 1926 but economic conditions in Europe delayed its introduction.
Browning Hi-Power pistols were originally made in two models: "Ordinary Model" with fixed sights and an "Adjustable Rear Sight Model" with tangent type rear sight and a slotted grip for attachment of a wooden shoulder stock.
After WWII, the design was modified to replace the internal extractor with an external extractor for an incremental reliability improvement.
This pistol is often referred to as an "HP" (for "Hi-Power" [link] or "High-Power") or as a GP (for the French term, "Grande Puissance"). Another common nickname is the "King of Nines." [link] It is most often called the "Hi-Power"; in Belgian military and police circles the name "GP" is the most common.
This gun, like many others of Browning's design, operates on the short-recoil principle, with the barrel being cammed down and away from the locking lugs in the slide (which surrounds the barrel). Unlike his earlier Colt M1911 (the famous Colt .45 automatic), the barrel is not moved vertically by a toggling link, but by a hardened bar which crosses the frame under the barrel and contacts a slot under the chamber (the rearmost part of the barrel). The barrel and slide recoil together for a short distance but, as the slot engages the bar, the chamber and the rear of the barrel are drawn downward and stopped. The downward movement of the barrel disengages it from the slide, which continues rearward, extracting the spent case from the chamber and ejecting it. After the slide reaches the limit of its travel, the recoil spring brings it forward again, stripping a new round from the magazine and pushing it into the chamber. This also pushes the chamber and barrel forward. The cam slot and bar move the chamber upward and the locking lugs on the barrel reengage those in the slide.
It was the first successful pistol design to utilize a double-stack magazine, meaning that the cartridges did not ride directly on top of each other, but instead were housed staggered, so that more could be fitted within the length of the pistol grip. This necessitated an increase in the width of the grip, but this is not a problem for average hands. The grip of the Hi-Power is ergonomically balanced and comfortable in most hands, and the pistol is renowned for its accuracy and reliability, and cursed for its penchant for "biting" its user in the web of the hand, between the thumb and first fingers, with its excessively long stock hammer. Many HP owners replace the stock hammer with a smaller one.
Military service
Browning Hi-Power pistols were used during WWII by both the Allies and the Axis powers. The pistols the Allies used were produced in Canada by John Inglis and Company. The pistols used by the Germans were produced by FN in Belgium under German occupation. The P-35 remains popular among militaries, over 50 armies have issued the P-35 since its invention. It is also quite popular in covert operations. The famed British special operations regiment SAS (Special Air Service), the FBI - HRT (Hostage Rescue Team), and the WWII era U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) are among some of the organizations that have made use of the Hi-Power. Many Iraqi officers (including generals) were relieved of their elegant customized Hi-Powers during the invasion and occupation of Iraq. The MK1 version is currently in service with the Canadian Forces, and the weapon is the standard sidearm of the British Army, Australian Army, the Venezuelan Army, among others.Example technical description (Mark III)
A locked breech, semi-automatic, single-action recoil-operated pistol. The Browning Hi-Power Mk III uses a 13-round staggered magazine.Specifications:
- Caliber: 9 mm Parabellum or .40 Smith and Wesson
- Length: 7.9 in (200 mm)
- Barrel length: 4.6 in (118 mm)
- Weight: 2 lb (930g)(unloaded); 2.3 lb (1.085 kg) (with loaded magazine)
- Capacity: 13 + 1 or 10 + 1
- Feed device: 10, 13, or 20 round box (larger capacities available)
- Modes of Fire: SA
- Muzzle velocity: 1160 ft/s
- Safeties: Half-cock notch, ambidextrous manual safety, firing pin block, and magazine safety
- Sights: Blade front w/ notch rear (dovetailed to slide), white high visibility markings standard (3 vertical bars), 6.2" (159 mm) sight radius
- Trigger pull: 7.5 lb
- Maximum Effective Range: 50 m
Models
Genuine Browning Hi-Power P-35s are still manufactured by FN Herstal (imported to North America by Browning) of Belgium and Portugal, and by FM (licensed to Fabricaciones Militares) of Argentina; remaining one of the most influential pistols in the history of small arms. The Hi-Power has inspired a number of clones (including Charles Daly of the Philippines & USA, and FEG of Hungary), copies (including Arcus of Bulgaria), and other firearms that borrow features from it (chiefly the linkless cam system). FEG used to make an exact clone, but has now modified the barrel, linkage, and slide to be incompatible with genuine Hi-Powers (most other parts are compatible though).
- The Browning L9A1, a military version of the P-35 Hi-Power, is still utilized by several branches of the UK military forces. The Hi-Power was the pistol of choice for the British Special Air Service (Special Forces), throughout the Cold War era. In Britain, the pistol is often referred to as the Browning 13-shot.
- The Mark I, Mark II, Mark III, Hi-Power Standard, Hi-Power Practical, and Capitan are among the best known models of the P-35 developed over the last 50 years. A wide variety of options and features are available on the P-35 models. Recently, Hi-Power pistols have become available in the .40 S&W and .357 SIG loadings. However, the use of these calibers in guns designed and built for 9 mm Parabellum has created cases of broken or warped frames. Only Hi-Powers specifically built for these rounds should be used to fire them. The pistols manufactured for these two rounds are easily identified by examining the left side of the slide--a groove is machined into the side of the heavier slide to allow clearance for the slide release.
- The HP-SFS (Safe-Fast-Shooting) is a current variation on the Hi-Power Mark III with a modified firing mechanism. After loading the weapon, the hammer is pushed forward which automatically activates the safety catch. When the shooter is prepared to fire, the safety is pressed down with the thumb, releasing the hammer to spring backwards into the usual, single action position. A similar stystem is available for modifying M1911A1's. Magazines are interchangeable with the Mark III and others.
- The Detective is a short slide HP produced by FM. The Detective slide group is also available without the frame, and is interchangeable with other FM and FN Hi-Power P-35s.
The BDM Model was first produced in the late 1990s by FN. The Browning Double Mode pistol incorporates many features of the DA model, but can be switched from double action to single action at the flip of a lever. These models do not strongly resemble the classic design of the P-35, lacking its sleek lines. The performance of this model is excellent though. Magazines are usually interchangeable between the full size DA, DAO and BDM models.
- Both the DA / DAO models and the BDM model borrow features from the SIG-Sauer SIG P220 pistols marketed under the name Browning Double Action (BDA) in the 1970s. Beretta 84 has also been marketed by Browning under the name BDA 380.
Fiction - movie and pop culture
- Al Pacino used a Hi-Power in the movie role Serpico.
- Eddie Murphy was seen in Beverly Hills Cop and Beverly Hills Cop II using a Hi-Power (the movie poster had him holding a Colt M1911).
- Colonel John "Hannibal" Smith (George Peppard) used a Hi-Power throughout the TV series "The A-Team".
- The villain in the Charles Bronson film Death Wish 3 had a 1960s-manufacture Hi-Power, and in New Jack City (1991), Ice-T was seen with a Hi-Power when Chris Rock was portraying a crack addict.
- James Bond as portrayed by Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day uses an FN Hi-Power in the hovercraft scenes (although the movie poster shows him holding a Walther P99 that was used in other scenes.)
- Lionel Luthor, father of Lex Luthor on the Smallville (TV series) is fond of the DA model Hi-Power. (the producers may have selected this model due to its "sinister" streamlined appearance)
- Alec Trevelyan, played by Sean Bean, also uses a DA model Hi-Power in the 007 film GoldenEye.
- Anita Blake, the fictional heroine of the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton, owns a Browning Hi-Power, which is one of her favorite guns.
- Claire Redfield of Capcom's survival horror video game, Resident Evil 2, uses a Browning HP during her side of the game's story, as does Ada Wong.
- Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark uses a Browning HP. It can be viewed in the bar scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, and later just before Katanga's ship is boarded. [link]
- Switch in The Matrix used a nickel plated Hi-Power Practical throughout the film. Can be seen clearly during the alley scene with Neo and Trinity in the rear of the old Lincoln.
- Kevin Costner uses one as a sidearm throughout the movie The Bodyguard.
- Players on the Opposition team in the Desert Combat modification for the computer game Battlefield 1942 use the Browning HP.
- Bodie and Doyle from The Professionals were often seen sporting hi-powers, especially in later seasons.
- Several soldiers in the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist use Hi-Powers, as well as the older Browning M1910. Riza Hawkeye often switches back and forth between the two, and even used both at once on one occasion.
- Rally Vincent from the manga Gunsmith Cats modifies a Browning High Power for her informer friend Becky in the last chapter.
Notable incidents
- Two of the four handguns used by Thomas Hamilton in the Dunblane Massacre were 9 mm Browning HP Pistols.
- A Browning HP was involved in the accidental death of Australian Private Jacob Kovco in Iraq April 2006.
- Saddam Hussein carried a Browning Hi Power.
See also
External links
- [Nazarian`s Gun`s Recognition Guide]
- [HiPowers and Handguns]
- [F.N. mod. G.P. (Grande Puissance) pictures]
Manual
| British & Commonwealth small arms of World War II |
|---|
| Side-arms |
| Webley Mk IV & Mk VI Revolvers | Enfield No. 2 Mk I Revolver | Browning GP35 Semi-Automatic Pistol | Smith & Wesson "Victory" Revolver |
| Rifles & submachine guns |
| SMLE No.1 Mk III* & Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.I | Lee-Enfield No.5 Mk.I "Jungle Carbine" | DeLisle Commando Carbine Sten SMG | Lanchester SMG | Austen SMG | Owen Gun |
| Machine-guns & other larger weapons |
| Bren gun | Lewis Gun | Vickers MG | PIAT | Boys Anti-tank Rifle | SBML 2inch Mortar | Ordnance ML 3-inch Mortar | No.2 "Lifebuoy" Flamethrower |
| Grenades |
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