"Portuguese Hi Powers"
Hello. I
recently read a post in which a fellow referred to the "Portuguese Hi Power",
saying that they were "built" in that country. Now and again, I've seen this
same thing written about by others. Such claims are simply in error.
The fact is that no FN or Browning Hi Power has ever been
manufactured in Portugal.
For the last several years, Browning-marked Hi Powers usually have the familiar
"Made in Belgium" on them along with "Assembled in Portugal" but so far
absolutely none have been made in Portugal. (FWIW, since some may
not be aware of it, FN makes the Browning Hi Power. Browning does not
make it. Browning has never manufactured a Hi Power. FN (Fabrique
Nationale in Belgium makes the Browning Hi Power. Browning is the US importer.)
Kurt Wickman, who was one of the early 'smiths at Novaks, told me that some of
the very best Hi Powers he'd ever seen were early "Assembled in Portugal" guns.
When I asked why, he advised that FN sent folks to Portugal to make sure that
their tolerances were held. Since I own both early and later-run "Assembled in
Portugal Hi Powers", I examined examples of each. I can find no major
differences at all! It would appear to me that either the Portuguese assemblers
take pride in their work or have their "feet held to the fire" by FN, but I find
no consistently measurable differences; the work remains very nice
indeed. (As I understand it, the original reason for having the guns assembled
there was simply lower labor costs.)
I shoot a lot of 9mm Hi Powers and have for right at four decades now. In my
observation, current guns do not usually have trigger pulls that are
either as light or break quite as cleanly as the older guns from the '60's,
'70's, and even '80's but they group just as well or better! They definitely
feed a much wider variety of blunt-nosed ammunition, ie: JHP's.
This is
fairly typical of what I expect Hi Power Mk III 9mm pistols to do at about 15
yards. For me, this is accurate enough. These pistols were never intended as
Camp Perry match guns. That said, I think that they offer very excellent service
accuracy. This gun used to shoot the group in this picture was also assembled in
Portugal.
Some of the T-series Hi Powers had a fine a polished blue as could ever be in my
opinion but I am in no way convinced that they grouped any better or were any
more reliable than current Hi Powers. I like both the "old classic" Hi Powers
and the newer Mk II and Mk III pistols. I actually prefer the Mk III for a
heavy-use Hi Power.
The older guns are getting harder to find to be sure and will only continue to
do so. Find 'em while you can and buy them if you want examples of the earlier
Hi Powers. I find them as gorgeous a pistol as has ever been made! Having said
that, do not think that you have a "second-rate Hi Power" if you happen
to have a "C" series, Mk II, Mk III or one of its variants.
You don't...and it wasn't "made in Portugal"!
Best.