Old T Series Hi Power. What to do?

[Tokarev]

I just picked this up from a local dealer. A T Series Hi Power with a serial number in the 1965 year of production according to Browning's website.

Overall I think the pistol is in fairly decent condition. The grip screws aren't all jacked up and the grips aren't cracked or badly chipped although some varnish has flaked off and some of the checkering is flattened. The mag safety is intact and the gun appears unmolested and original. The recoil spring guide is the old style with the slotted spring cap. The feed ramp is humped but nicely polished.

The issue is the overall finish. There is some light pitting under the grips and general small spots of patina on many surfaces along with some holster wear. The frame's gripping surfaces are showing through and have some light rust.

Probably not a bad sample of a pistol that's nearly 60 years old but probably also not a fine collectible speciman.

So what to do with the old gal? My initial though it to have it cleaned up and refinished with maybe something like matte rounds and polished flats. Maybe, just maybe, have the feed ramp flattened and have a general action tune done.

Another option that might be fun and different is to have the above done but have a new serrated front sight installed and have a S&W revolver rear sight put on to accompany. Something that looks like it was done in the 1970s or 1980s.

And of course another option would be to make it a bit more modern. C&S extended safety, no bite hammer and Novak sights.

Any and all would be fun and interesting. What's the hive mind think?



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[vcdgrips]

Great Pistol.

For me, I do not own pistols that I cannot carry out in the world (nor do I own anything that nice.) To that end:

1. I would make sure it was safe and functioned well
2. I would put sights I could see on it.
3. I would put a hammer that does not bite me on it
4. I would put grips on it that will help me to control the pistol
5. I might refinish it with whatever was dark, cheap and would stay -Parkerization? Having said that, I love a gun that wears the patina of life.
6. If needed-action work and tuning as needed to reliably function with a std pressure self dense load and it FMJ cognate
i.e. 124 g Gold Dot and 124 g Lawman. I am completely good with 4 inch @25 yrd accuracy so long as it is 100% reliable when properly lubed.

[JAD]

I would do what I did with the last Izzy I picked up. Hardball 1911 sights (front serrated with a vial), C&S safety, action job less mag safety, cerakote, slim VZs.

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[Trooper224]

Honestly, I'd leave it as is. Now that the HP is out of production prices will start to climb. If you have to have an HP to tart up, I'd find a newer one with a cast frame (stronger than the forged), like a newer MkIII. Hang onto this one in its original condition. If you don't, you may regret it in a few years.

[sparkyv]

Honestly, I'd leave it as is. Now that the HP is out of production prices will start to climb. If you have to have an HP to tart up, I'd find a newer one with a cast frame (stronger than the forged), like a newer MkIII. Hang onto this one in its original condition. If you don't, you may regret it in a few years.

Same here. Clean it up, lube it up, shoot it!

[Tokarev]

Honestly, I'd leave it as is. Now that the HP is out of production prices will start to climb. If you have to have an HP to tart up, I'd find a newer one with a cast frame (stronger than the forged), like a newer MkIII. Hang onto this one in its original condition. If you don't, you may regret it in a few years.

T series guns aren't really uncommon and nice ones are pretty easy to come by. I don't necessarily think mine will ever be a sought after collector's piece.

If the gun was cleaner I'd likely leave it alone and enjoy as is.

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[JonInWA]

Better sights, new springs( see BH Spring Solutions), better grips(I find G10 gives good grippability) are my basic suggestions. If it shoots reasonably accurately and reliably with your carry loads of choice, and the trigger's reasonably decent, I'd probably leave well enough alone there. Possibly replace the safety lever if you have any struggles with accessing and using it. Cosmetics are whatever you like/want for weatherproofing. Best,Jon

[revchuck38]

Great Pistol.

For me, I do not own pistols that I cannot carry out in the world (nor do I own anything that nice.) To that end:

1. I would make sure it was safe and functioned well
2. I would put sights I could see on it.
3. I would put a hammer that does not bite me on it
4. I would put grips on it that will help me to control the pistol
5. I might refinish it with whatever was dark, cheap and would stay -Parkerization? Having said that, I love a gun that wears the patina of life.
6. If needed-action work and tuning as needed to reliably function with a std pressure self dense load and it FMJ cognate
i.e. 124 g Gold Dot and 124 g Lawman. I am completely good with 4 inch @25 yrd accuracy so long as it is 100% reliable when properly lubed.

+1. For number 5 above, I'd pull the grips off, go over the gun with 0000 steel wool and light oil to get off the rust, and either put the original grips back on or some of the Pachmayr wrap-around grips if they're still made. And stop there.

[Tokarev]

Taken from another forum. This is a pistol that was somewhat similar to mine. A T series with some significant finish wear. The owner sent it to Ford's Guns in FL for a refinish.

Mine does have a couple dings that will need some attention but if I can get it looking like this I'll be darned happy.


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[Drifting Fate]

Heirloom Precision and build a legacy piece.

[Tokarev]

Heirloom Precision and build a legacy piece.Cylinder and Slide can do one of their Pathfinder models since the serial number is on the side of the frame.

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[Spartan1980]

T series guns aren't really uncommon and nice ones are pretty easy to come by. I don't necessarily think mine will ever be a sought after collector's piece.

If the gun was cleaner I'd likely leave it alone and enjoy as is.

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Well, S&W forged internal, no-lock revolvers aren't rare either and have you seen the prices on them lately? But that out of the way, your gun looks to have what I call "honest wear". I.E. it ain't really hurt.

If it were mine I'd detail strip it, probably send it out for dovetail cuts (if needed) and install some Dawson or Novak steel sights that would be a huge improvement, and polish it up and use Brownell's Oxpho Blue on it. Done right it'll look nice and will be easy to touch up when needed. That stuff is pretty good for cold blue. It won't look like that Ford's specimen you posted, but you won't feel guilty about carrying it or running it regularly either. I wouldn't be bashful about shooting it one bit. Just my [/twocents]

[Sigfan26]

I would do what I did with the last Izzy I picked up. Hardball 1911 sights (front serrated with a vial), C&S safety, action job less mag safety, cerakote, slim VZs.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190824/50098f448b5e650f4512fb92d9d2fb87.jpg

Who did those sights?


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[JAD]

Steve. See Tokarev’s last sort of high power thread for deets and pics.

[Tokarev]

Steve. See Tokarev’s last sort of high power thread for deets and pics. Sigfan26

Scroll down towards the end:

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpistol-forum%2Ecom%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D35731&share_tid=35731&share_fid=18787&share_type=t

Hungarian Hi Power back from The Action Works

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[JAD]

Posts 100&112. Thanks toke.

[theJanitor]

I look at every pistol as a base gun. It’s one of my character flaws

[Tokarev]

I look at every pistol as a base gun. It’s one of my character flawsI do too. At least to a certain extent.

This gun caught my eye because of its worn condition and for the fact that I wouldn't be ruining a clean collector grade pistol by getting some work done.


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[Rock185]

Were it mine, I wouldn't hesitate to refinish a T Series in that condition. Since it's not a collector grade example, I'd add good sights, a more usable safety, etc. The barrel feed ramp and chamber opening has obviously already been polished. If it functions reliably, I wouldn't worry about the "humped" feed ramp. I owned several T-Series guns, and still have one, with unthroated, unpolished feed ramps,etc. They all fed hollow points without issue. The S&W revolver sights mentioned are a practical addition to a Hi Power IMHO. I had three Hi Powers with S&W adjustable sights at one time or another. Wish I had photos, but that was before we took digital photos of everything and put them on the internet:rolleyes:

[Tokarev]

S&W revolver sights mentioned are a practical addition to a Hi Power...

Any noted durability issues, etc? And what did you have for front sights?

Something like a Smith rear paired with a gold bead front should make a nice classy combo. Plus I don't have a Hi Power with this sight combo so it would be different from my others.



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[JonInWA]

If you're going to pay custom bucks for an adjustable sight installation and are concerned about durability, why not call Hamilton Bowen and see if he'd be willing to install one of his Rough Country sights? He makes 'em for Smiths, Rugers, etc., so I'd imagine he'd be able to do one up for your High Power.

Otherwise, either Colt or Ruger adjustable sights seem to provide a bit higher level of protection for the rear sight blade compared to S&W adjustables.

Best, Jon

[theJanitor]

Adjustables are great, but the most beautiful rear sight for semi-autos is the Heinie, made for Hipowers

[Rock185]

Tokarev, My Hi Powers got carried off duty some, but otherwise led an easy life. I was never in a situation while carrying a Hi Power where the S&W sights were at risk of being damaged. I did carry a S&W revolver for years, with the same basic adjustable sights. There were times that I was rolling around on a barroom floor, asphalt, sidewalk, etc,etc. with some combative suspect. The S&W adjustables survived just fine.

For fronts on two of the guns, the gunsmith silver soldered in a serrated ramp. One of the three had been a factory adjustable sighted Hi Power, with the taller front ramp sight. He machined the ramp and front sight to the right dimensions for the lower S&W adjustable, and it came out looking as if it was originally designed that way. Bead blasted the top of the slide, and reblued the whole thing. Just beautiful work. Very "Old School" now days, but I believe Don Williams/Action Works in
Arizona will still do the S&W sights on Hi Powers.

BTW, Janitor, Don Williams installed a set of Heinies on a High Power for me. I agree, the Heinies on a Hi Power are a very good looking, and practical, set up.

[Tokarev]

Very "Old School" now days, but I believe Don Williams/Action Works in Arizona will still do the S&W sights on Hi Powers.


I have a 1911 and a FÉG Hi Power that Mr. Williams worked on. He does nice work and I wouldn't worry about using him again.

Regarding S&W rears; he doesn't list this mod on his site (I may have missed it) but he told me he does offer this service. Said he actually does installs on Commanders and Government 1911s fairly often.

I am just thinking of various stuff here. S&W rear, dovetailed brass bead front. Cylinder and Slide extended safety that's smoothed up and radiused a bit. Undercut the ring hammer so it doesn't bite. New blue and new grips. Should be a nifty package.


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