Syrian contract Browning Hi Power

Prusakowski · Jan 7, 2015

Charlie - - keep your day job - - if you have one. This thread is about contract Browning HP pistols -- not looted art from WWII or the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Now - - back to the topic of this thread. Nirvana - you are correct. The Israelis do not waste a single firearm they confiscate from Palestinians or others crossing their borders illegally. After 30 years and three wars, Iraqi contract HPs are scattered across the globe. Cole's Distributing out of Scottsville, KY has brought in more Browning HPs than just about anyone from Israel. The big mistake they made in 2013, that I'm sure they won't make again, was advertising the Iraqi HPs as Egyptian.

cpw · Jan 7, 2015

You really do not know Hi Powers or the law. Where I come from a contract in the 1980s would have been made after the Gun Control Act of 1968. Since it was a military pistol, it would not have been importable under that laws - therefore illegal. I strongly suggest that you read the law.

If it were a commercial pistol or a police pistol, it would be importable and then should, by law, be import marked. Some Iraqi contract pistols were brought in by Cole as they had been re-designated as police pistols by reason of their capture. They will be import marked as required by law.

Im amy event, if a 1980's pistol is not import marked, it is in the country illegally.

By the way, I do have a couple Hi Powers. Here is a picture of my Hi Power display at the Missouri Valley Arms Collectors show in July of 2006.

gurn blanston · Jan 7, 2015

Yeah, just a couple

sammlermws · Mar 10, 2015

Here is my Syrian I recently purchased from MACH 1 Arsenal. They imported a large number of HPs from Israel and have more coming. I asked for an early C&R and just got lucky with this one!

cpw · Mar 10, 2015

Very nice condition, you did well. Pre 68.

Nirvana · Mar 11, 2015

Great gun. Does the barrel match as well?

usmc25 · Mar 11, 2015

Welcome to the club GREAT SCORE,

Scorpion8 · Mar 11, 2015

Great HP!

sammlermws · Mar 16, 2015

Nirvana said:
Great gun. Does the barrel match as well?

Yes, all matching. Even the grips have a boxed 3, so I'm assuming that's for 1953 and they are original.

eli · Mar 26, 2015

Prusakowski said:
Cole's Distributing out of Scottsville, KY has brought in more Browning HPs than just about anyone from Israel. The big mistake they made in 2013, that I'm sure they won't make again, was advertising the Iraqi HPs as Egyptian.

Why is that a big mistake, aside from incorrectly identified? in other words, what are the implications other than offering an apology?

Just_Me · Mar 26, 2015

They left a lot of money on the table with the incorrect description. Anything Iraqi commands a big premium from all the returning vets wanting a momento to substitute for the souvenirs they weren't allowed to bring back.

for example, the Helwan is a $250 pistol version of the beretta brigadier, the Tariq is the same pistol but will sell for $1000

eli · Mar 26, 2015

Just_Me said:
They left a lot of money on the table with the incorrect description. Anything Iraqi commands a big premium from all the returning vets wanting a momento to substitute for the souvenirs they weren't allowed to bring back.

for example, the Helwan is a $250 pistol version of the beretta brigadier, the Tariq is the same pistol but will sell for $1000

Got it.

Well, I follow CDI religiously to see what cool stuff they offer up and it seems in the last week they changed their marketing. No liger do they offer "buy now" and it seems they've raised their prices to reflect distinctive characteristics vs simply "hi power"

Prusakowski · Mar 27, 2015

Eli - - I apologize to CDI for knowing more about Browning High Powers than their sales staff do and that I paid under $1,000 for an Iraqi contract HP.....that CDI legally imported. Oh, by the way, the last Tariq that came up on Gun Broker sold for $2,800.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSFfhS4pKHg

eli · Mar 27, 2015

Prusakowski said:
Eli - - I apologize to CDI for knowing more about Browning High Powers than their sales staff do and that I paid under $1,000 for an Iraqi contract HP.....that CDI legally imported. Oh, by the way, the last Tariq that came up on Gun Broker sold for $2,800.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSFfhS4pKHg

Why apologize ?

Shooter5 · Apr 28, 2015

A buddy captured this Iraqi contract BHP in Mess-O-potamia years ago. Too bad they all had to get sliced up by the cutting torch. He thinks its a 1982 contract. Before the American invasion, I would guess the BHP was the most popular pistol for Iraq. Next would be the Makarov and the CZ52 types. After that, Iraqi's wanted Glocks, CZ75s, and SIGs. A fair amount of M1911A1s were to be found, as well.

Nirvana · Apr 29, 2015

What a shame. That was a lovely gun. Too bad it had to meet the torch.

Prusakowski · Apr 29, 2015

Shooter5 - - thanks for posting the serial number of the Iraqi contract HP. Our small sample still has a 32,000 spread between the high and low reported serial numbers.

Shooter5 · Jun 4, 2015

Prusakowski said:
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.

I would guess arms mfg's would be loathe to disclose the terms and conditions of their contracts as a matter of 'trade secret' policy so to speak and the purchasing entity would rather not advertise the number of arms acquired: doing so would reveal or indicate a wide variety of factors to any military adversary/analyst such as the potential size of the force, state of the economy, future intentions, condition of re-arming/re-equipping the force; etc, the list can go on. Therefore, it is unlikely FN or Iraq will supply this info to collectors, even as a historical artifact.

Prusakowski · Aug 14, 2015

Iraqi contract HP SN 245 PY 73410 - - image snatched off of another site - - very close to the pistol shooter5 posted of pistol SN 245 PY 73414.

KalashniKEV · Aug 27, 2015

Prusakowski said:
Iraqi contract HP SN 245 PY 73410 - - image snatched off of another site - - very close to the pistol shooter5 posted of pistol SN 245 PY 73414.

View attachment 925105

Yes.

That one is mine.

Syrian contract Browning Hi Power

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