Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe first version of the classic pistol, developed by John Browning and Dieudonné Saive, and adopted by Belgium in 1935, the FN P-35 - 9x19mm. During World War II, the Germans would occupy the Belgian firearms factories and continued to produce this gun, called the "Pistole 640(b)" (whereas the "(b)" meant "belgische", "Belgian") with Waffenamt stamps. The Design would be adopted by other countries and manufactured abroad with the generic designation simply as the Browning High Power or the Hi-Power. The "High Power" / "Hi-Power" designation was actually meant to indicate the higher round capacity of the gun (13 rounds) when compared to other contemporary semi-autos like the M1911 series (7 rounds), rather than the "power" of the weapon itself.
The Inglis Hi-Power is the Canadian-manufactured version of the original Belgian HP, produced while Belgium was under Nazi occupation, utilizing blueprints provided by FN staff who had fled to England. It remains the standard service sidearm of the Canadian Armed Forces to this day. It can be identified by the distinctive 'humped' fixed rear sights. A version with adjustable rear sights and a detachable shoulder stock/holster was also produced for export to China during World War II. Some of the Chinese contract pistols ended up Canadian service after China defaulted on its payments.
A competition version of the Browning HP Mark III in 9mm or .40 S&W (Wt=39 oz or 1,1 kg); it is most distinctive in that it has a two-tone finish and the traditional "ring" hammer rather than a spur hammer.
The Fegyver Es Gepgyar PJK-9HP is a Hungarian manufactured clone of the the famous Belgian Browning Hi-Power. The company is more commonly known as FEG. Not very well known to Americans for many years, FEG began importing its various models into the United States in the 1990's with the end of the Cold War. FEG has supplied firearms to the Hungarian military and police for many decades. While FEG might not be as flashy as other companies the company's products have a reputation for being solid, well made firearms which are also affordable. The P9R version (US imported version of the PJK-9HP) is Double/Single Action and has a modified trigger guard and shorter grip profile. The FP9 version is Single Action only and can easily be identified by the ventilation ribs that run across most of the length of the slide.
