*SOLD* FN Hi-Power 9mm Blue 4 3/4" *PRE-WAR CHINESE MILITARY CONTRACT* 2nd Batch

Bryant Ridge's Analysis:

Mention the name “John Moses Browning” to knowledgeable American gun owners, and their usual reaction is profound respect and great appreciation. This is for good reason: though he died over 90 years ago, John Browning either created or influenced the design of many of the most iconic pistols, lever-action rifles, semi-automatic shotguns, and machine guns in use today. Despite his considerable fame and recognition, there is another facet of Browning’s life that is less well-known to American gun owners yet critically important. That story involves Mr. Browning’s intricate and prolific relationship with an upstart Belgian arms factory now known as Fabrique Nationale Herstal (a.k.a. “FN Herstal” or simply “FN”). The partnership between Mr. Browning and FN began in 1897 and has continued long past Browning’s death in 1926 to today. That partnership has had profound impacts for both FN and Mr. Browning, influencing firearms history for years to come.

The Browning Hi-Power is a 9mm semi-automatic handgun made by FN Herstal based on John Browning's designs. It was used by several armies worldwide. Initially, the "High Power" pistol was designed by John M. Browning in 1925 and was patented in the USA in 1927, soon after the death of Browning. The design was acquired by Belgian state-owned company FN Herstal and improved by FN designer Dieudonne Saive. The resulting pistol was shelved until 1935, when the Belgian army was ready to adopt a new sidearm. The HP was offered for trials and won, and was adopted as a Model 1935 pistol. Soon after that, it was also adopted by Belgian police and by many foreign countries, including British Commonwealth ones (UK, Canada, Australia, etc.). The High Power is the only sidearm that served both sides in WWII - Germany used many HPs manufactured in occupied Belgium, while the Allies used HPs manufactured mostly in Canada by the company Inglis. 
 
The FN Hi-Power Chinese Pre-War Military Contracts were produced and shipped in two batches. The Chinese Contract guns were produced with a slotted frame, providing the option to mount a shoulder stock that also works as a holster. The first production batch of the Chinese Contract Hi-Powers had serial numbers that ranged from 6000 to approximately 9500. The first batch of Hi-Powers was delivered with FN flat stock holsters, which the Chinese really didn't like as they preferred storage stocks like those for the Mauser C96 Broomhandle. This explains why the later Canadian Inglis shipments to China had Broomhandle-type stocks. The first batch also featured a Type 1 tangent rear sight. Later, in 1938, the Chinese placed an order for additional units, known as the 2nd batch, and had serial numbers that ranged from 9500 to 11,000. 
 
They differed from the 1st batch because they sported the Type 2 tangent sight and were delivered without shoulder stocks. That was the extent to which the FN factory delivered High Powers to the Chinese Nationalists. After the war, the China Military Contract pistols stayed in China and, by all accounts, led a hard life, with repairs made using Inglis High Power parts. In the early 90s, Kengs Firearms Speciality, KFS, imported the majority of those Chinese Contract Hi-Powers that survived.
 
Specifications:
  • Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale (FN) 
  • Model: Hi-Power “Pre-War Chinese Military Contract”
  • Serial: 10219
  • Caliber: 9mm
  • Finish: Blue
  • Barrel Length: 4 3/4"
  • Optics/Sights: Blade Front with Adjustable Tangent Rear 
  • Stock/Grips: Walnut Grips with Checkering 
  • Action: Semi-Automatic 
  • Markings: Standard / The left side of the frame is stamped “Fabrique Nationale D'Armes De Guerre Herstal Belgique Browning's Patent Depose” with Belgium proof marks. The right side frame is also stamped with Belgium proof marks. The right side slide is stamped with Chinese markings. The Ejector port is stamped with Belgium proof marks and "Cal.9M/M P". The bottom of the butt is stamped “KFS/ATL/GA”.
Mar 6th 2025 Bryant Ridge

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