FN BROWNING HIGH-POWER
Nation of origin: Belgium
Ammunition: 9 x 19 mm
Operation: short recoil
Weight: loaded 1.1 kg
Length: 197 mm
Length of barrel: 120 mm
Magazine capacity: 13 rounds
Muzzle velocity: approx. 350 m/s
When considering the FN Browning High-Power pistol, one has to remember that it is a design that dates back to 1925, when John Moses Browning turned his hand to designing a pistol that could be deemed an advance over other pistol designs of that time, including his M 1911, designed when he worked with Colts. It was 1935 before the new pistol actually went into production at the Fabrique Nationale (FN) plant at Herstal, near Liege, and the High-Power has not been out of production since then.
There is no sign that the venerable High-Power will ever pass out of production or service in the foreseeable future. It is in ser vice with the armed forces of well over 50 nations and is likely to be encountered in virtually any part of the world. High-Powers even turned up during the 1982 Falkland Islands campaign when numbers of examples that had been license-produced in Argentina fell into British hands. During the Second World War, the type was produced in Canada and many of them were sent to China, where they still crop up from time to time. Between 1939 and 1945 the High-Power was used by both sides in Europe (the Germans using captured examples and more that were turned out for their own forces using captured production facilities in Belgium); the British used Canadian-produced examples. The British Armed Forces continue to use the High-Power as their standard service pistol; it is designated the 9 mm Pistol Automatic L9A1.
Fig. 2-24: The 9 mm Browning High-Power, one of the most widely-used
of all present combat pistols.
Fig. 2-25: A British military policeman practicing on the ranges with
his Browning High pistol.
Over the years the High-Power has been given many names. Originally it was known as the Model 1935, but it has been known as the HP (for High Power) and the OP (Grand Puissance). It has also appeared in many forms, from a basic ser vice pistol with no frills, fixed sights and a simple finish, to refinements such as a wooden holster that doubles as a butt to convert the weapon into a form of single-shot carbine. Other embellishments have included complex sights, high quality finishes, commemorative and engraved ‘editions’, and changes to the trigger mechanism to permit fully automatic fire. There have been lightened versions with various items cut away or replaced by lighter materials, and even some rather odd variants (that were not very successful commercially) that have attenuated butts and shortened barrels to enable them to be used as undercover ‘pocket’ pistols. Many other variants have been produced, but the above listing covers the main types.
Exactly why the High-Power has been so successful over the years is not difficult to determine, for by many accounts it is the service pistol par excellence. It is robust, reliable and safe to an ex tent that many other pistols can only aspire to. Good as the original Colt M1911 design was, John Browning took his design principles one stage further and produced a pistol that continues to use his falling-barrel locking system allied to a cam to produce an even better design mechanically. The cam modification also proved to be easier to manufacture and is less prone to wear over a long period of use. By adopting the widely-favored 9 mm Parabellum cartridge, not only did the Browning design become more attractive to many users outside the United States, but the cartridge dimensions made it possible to pack no fewer than 13 rounds into the box magazine. At the time of its introduction, a 13-round magazine capacity was quite a combat innovation, and it is still a feature that appeals to many soldiers.
The external hammer is also a carry-over from the Ml91 1 and it remains as useful with the High-Power as it does with the M1911. The user has a definite indication of the state of readiness of his pistol, and if the worst comes to the worst and a misfire occurs, the hammer can be re-cocked ready for another at tempt at firing.
The weight of the High-Power can be something of a hurdle to the novice pistol user, and the pistol is something of a handful for the untrained. Once the weight and bulk of the weapon have become more familiar, the High-Power can prove itself to be an accurate and reliable weapon at the usual pistol combat ranges, and the strength of the weapon is such that, if all else fails, the pistol can still be used as a club. It is unlikely to be used as a missile, for many military High-Powers make use of that most useful of military attachments, the lanyard. This is connected to a ring at the base of the butt to prevent the pistol being snatched away from the owner at close quarters, and also keeps the pistol connected to the user, should it be dropped.
Having listed the attributes of the High-Power, it would be as well to mention some of its shortcomings. One is the absence of the various sophisticated safeties that are now commonplace on more modern designs. The main safety is the usual slide catch, and there is a barrel locking device that ensures that the pistol will not fire if the slide is not fully home or if the magazine is not in position. There is also a notch (known as a half-bent) on the hammer which ensures that the cocked pistol will not fire if it is accidentally dropped on to its muzzle. If this happens, the sear will engage the hammer notch and ensure that the hammer does not fall on to the firing pin. Instead, it falls into a safe ‘half cock’ position.
Fig. 2-27: A commercial version of the Browning High Power fitted with
ramp rear sights.
Perhaps the biggest drawback for many is the pistol’s weight and bulk, but again this can be turned to advantage by the robustness and reliability that comes with solid construction, although several attempts have been made to lighten the design over the years. But the bulk of the weapon is such that many users find it difficult to use accurately at anything other than y short ranges. To Counter that, many experienced pistol users swear that the High-Power is more accurate than many ers, quoting the weight of a full magazine in the wide butt t makes for a steadying factor when aiming. So perhaps the wer to the weight and bulk problem is a modicum of training. While pistol buffs are happy to argue the demerits and merits any pistol, one thing is certain. The High-Power is in widespread use all over the world and there is no sign of its being laced by anything else. Production continues at Herstal, and latest production model has some up-dating features, such as ized grip plates for a more comfortable hold, wider sights that easier and quicker to use in action, an ambidextrous safety channel and an anti-glare plating finish. There is also a slightly ised series derived from the High-Power that includes the shortened version mentioned in the text. While this model continues to use the 9 x 19 mm Parabellum cartridge, its magazine ids only seven rounds.