[Nirvana]

My Syrian contract gun. I believe it to be original matching numbers and with largely the original parts. The finish is in pretty bad shape, so bad that I can't tell whether its just worn or if it was rebuilt and then worn. Pics on the next post to escape the ad monster.

 

[Nirvana]

Left Side

Ride Side

Markings

Disassembled. I believe the wood grips to be original.

Matching numbers

NO hole for a lanyard loop

 

[Just_Me]

Nice, and great photos. I will have to keep an eye out for one of those on gunbroker.

The crest says Syrian Army on the flanks of the eagle.

 

[gurn blanston]

I love the looks of this one. Beautiful crest.

 

[Nirvana]

Thanks for the interest guys. I believe this is the second model crest, though I'm open to corrections. Proof marks date the gun to the third quarter of 1953.

 

[usmc25]

Not a Eagle it's the Hawk of Qureish and the banner reads The Syrian Arab Republic. I have one mine's from 1954

 

[Clyde]

Never that easy to tell from photos, but I would JUDGE (to the extent i can) that it has the original finish, with a lot of wear.

The grips are almost certainly FN originals, but don't seem to be nearly as worn as the rest of the pistol, suggesting they may have been exchanged for some off another pistol at some point, one newer and with less wear.

 

[cpw]

Never that easy to tell from photos, but I would JUDGE (to the extent i can) that it has the original finish, with a lot of wear.

The grips are almost certainly FN originals, but don't seem to be nearly as worn as the rest of the pistol, suggesting they may have been exchanged for some off another pistol at some point, one newer and with less wear.

The 'red' on the back of the grips is too deep for an early pre war Hi Power. (The inside coating/coloring would be the same color as that on the pre war grips.)

 

[Nirvana]

Not a Eagle it's the Hawk of Qureish and the banner reads The Syrian Arab Republic. I have one mine's from 1954

Ah, Hawk. thank you.

Regarding the grips: They may be replacements, anything is possible. I believe it left the factory with wood grips, and it came into the US with these wood grips, so I'm happy enough. At least they didn't get swapped with plastic ones.

 

[cpw]

The grips were likely changed when the original one were worn smooth or were damaged. Those people were not collectors and were concerned only with the proper function of the pistol. And the existing drips are a part of the history of the pistol.

If you are so interested and so inclined, it is possible to find the early grips. Not easy, but not all that hard. But like you said, plastic ones were not used, but even those are a part of the history of the pistol.

 

[Prusakowski]

Always good to see the military contract HPs with a crest. Here's a couple of mine.

 

[Nirvana]

Nice examples there. Are those original factory/contract holsters? Looks like one is blued as well?

 

[Prusakowski]

Yes - - those are the FN supplied holsters for the early 1980s contract. One HP has an earlier SN and is "stoved" and the later SN example is blued.

 

[gurn blanston]

Wow, amazing pair!

 

[Nirvana]

When you say early and late serial numbers, can you give a range? I believe mine is from 1982.
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?341069-Iraqi-contract-FN-Highpower

 

[Prusakowski]

Well - "early" is all in my perspective since I have yet to see any real data on these contract HP pistols for Iraq. The lower serial number is 245 PY 81XXX and the other is 245 PY 96XXX. It would be nice if FN would tell the world how many HPs Iraq purchased under the contract and the serial number range. At this time, with the limited research, it may be unwise to conclude there are 15,000 pistols between these two specimens since we don't know if FN sold the pistols in sequential order or in blocks intermixed with other pistols.

 

[Nirvana]

Mine is 245 PY 64XXX. I recall seeing a 1983 dated gun once. I would guess they were a sequential block. FN is nothing if not orderly.

 

[Prusakowski]

I hope more folks will chime in and report their Iraqi HP serial numbers. Our small sample has a 32,000 spread between the high and low serial numbers. I'm sure some of these HP were consumed in the Iran / Iraq war that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988 and then the two Gulf Wars between Iraq and the Western Coalition - - who knows how many were destroyed in the military conflicts and post-war by the occupying forces.

 

[cpw]

I hope more folks will chime in and report their Iraqi HP serial numbers. Our small sample has a 32,000 spread between the high and low serial numbers. I'm sure some of these HP were consumed in the Iran / Iraq war that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988 and then the two Gulf Wars between Iraq and the Western Coalition - - who knows how many were destroyed in the military conflicts and post-war by the occupying forces.

You know that the ones you are referring to are contraband as (1) the Gun Control act of 1968 makes their importation illegal, and/or (2) they were brought back by members of the military in contravention of the military rules.

In the latter instance, it would be similar to having possession of a Monet that was stolen by the Germans under Hitler which could get you jail time and the Monet being returned. So imagine the fun ATF can have if they decide to enforce the law.

 

[Nirvana]

Legally imported Syrian, UAR, Iraqi, FEG fake and even Nazi HP's came out of Israel in the past five years. They were imported by several companies, and there are records to reflect this.