WW2 FN High Power

[Ramjo]

Bought this old war horse Friday. I shot it yesterday and experienced some jams/stovepipes. It appeared that the slide was possibly not making it all the way back to eject the rounds...idk

 

Neat old gun though... Has iron eagle proofs on the frame and slide as shown in the picture.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Edited August 24, 2014 by Ramjo

[RED333]

:up:

[hipower]

Great find.

[DMark]

Great patina and nice Military Acceptance stamps on the frame and slide.  The numbers above the one of the frame is the WaffenAmts that identifies the inspector.  There should be a couple more in other places of the firearm.

 

My guess is that the jams/stovepipes that you are having could be a weak recoil spring and/or weak mag springs.  Also these HPs seem to dislike light 115g loads.   

[Ramjo]

Great patina and nice Military Acceptance stamps on the frame and slide.  The numbers above the one of the frame is the WaffenAmts that identifies the inspector.  There should be a couple more in other places of the firearm.

 

My guess is that the jams/stovepipes that you are having could be a weak recoil spring and/or weak mag springs.  Also these HPs seem to dislike light 115g loads.   

Well the UMC 115 is what I tried firing in it....so that could be the problem...it's definately the easiest thing to try to turn the problem off by switching to 124 grain.

 

I found this info about the German occupied production pistols:

German occupation variation (fixed sight; approx. 228,000 pieces; Military-finish)

Charakteristics:

Legend:

FABRIQUE NATIONALE D´ARMES DE GUERRE

HERSTAL BELGIQUE

BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE

Finish: military-finish Grips: walnut grips; chequered Serial number:

4-digit number with suffix right on frame

4-digit number with suffix right on slide

4-digit number with suffix right on chamber

Acceptance stamp:

E/WaA 140 left on frame

E/WaA 140 left on slide

E/WaA 140 below muzzle

E/WaA 140 left on chamber

Test proof stamp:

E HK left on frame

E HK left on slide

E HK right on chamber

[Ramjo]

Im having problems figuring out when exactly the pistol was made. The serial number has some weird suffix at the end...kinda looks like a messed up 5 or 6...but according to the info I found, the serial numbers start at 45000 and mine is 45709_ and then whatever that thing is that goes in that last space.

[TrickyNicky]

Great find. I'd like to have one as well, but most of my buys are done spur of the moment when I happen to have enough $$$ saved and happen to come across something I want.

Maybe I'll get lucky and AIM will get a handful or two in again...

[Ramjo]

Great find. I'd like to have one as well, but most of my buys are done spur of the moment when I happen to have enough $$$ saved and happen to come across something I want.

Maybe I'll get lucky and AIM will get a handful or two in again...

This was about as spur of the moment as you can get...I hadn't walked into this gun shop in a long time, hadn't even thought about wanting a hi power either considering i have no other guns in 9mm. The historical significance sold me...and I can't pass up a JMB design.

[Ramjo]

This picture is of a round already fired and still in the chamber.

 

 

 

This picture is of the last round in the mag and it did not eject...so I think I have an extractor problem....

Edited August 24, 2014 by Ramjo

[DMark]

It might be a good idea to replace all of the springs throughout the firearm.

[bucnball]

I got a deal on a Polish Radom last year and found that it functions flawlessly with 125 gr. fodder.. Wolff springs are available and cost less than a spare magazine.. Congratulations !

[1gewehr]

Try using decent ammo.  That UMC 115gr is the weakest 9mm on the market.  Also use a new magazine with a strong spring.  If it's still causing problems, then it's probably the extractor.

 

Extractors for those older HPs are getting hard to find.  You might want to remove it and give it and the channel it fits into a really good cleaning.  75 years of gunk can cause problems.  A new set of springs is always a good idea for these older pistols.

 

Clean it up, but do not reblue it or replace the original grips if you want to keep it's collector value.

 

It's rare to find a HP that doesn't function well with decent ammo if it's clean.  Enjoy!

[MrBrian]

I'll bring you some 124 gr ammo!!!

[LCPfraTN]

Nice find. I picked one up from AIM when they had a batch of C&R eligible High Power pistols recently. It's not WWII era like the one you picked up, but I think I'll keep it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Ramjo]

Try using decent ammo. That UMC 115gr is the weakest 9mm on the market. Also use a new magazine with a strong spring. If it's still causing problems, then it's probably the extractor. Extractors for those older HPs are getting hard to find. You might want to remove it and give it and the channel it fits into a really good cleaning. 75 years of gunk can cause problems. A new set of springs is always a good idea for these older pistols. Clean it up, but do not reblue it or replace the original grips if you want to keep it's collector value. It's rare to find a HP that doesn't function well with decent ammo if it's clean. Enjoy!

 

Yessir good advice. I wouldn't know how to get the extractor out though. And I know better than to refinish this thing...I like em old and worn out. The checkering on the grips is almost smooth in places. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

UPDATE: I stripped and cleaned out the entire slide assembly. There really wasn't much gunk on the extractor...it came out without a fight.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Ramjo

[Ramjo]

Try using decent ammo.  That UMC 115gr is the weakest 9mm on the market.  Also use a new magazine with a strong spring.  If it's still causing problems, then it's probably the extractor.

 

Extractors for those older HPs are getting hard to find.  You might want to remove it and give it and the channel it fits into a really good cleaning.  75 years of gunk can cause problems.  A new set of springs is always a good idea for these older pistols.

 

Clean it up, but do not reblue it or replace the original grips if you want to keep it's collector value.

 

It's rare to find a HP that doesn't function well with decent ammo if it's clean.  Enjoy!

Used some sellior and bellot 124 grain and the problem did not turn off. :/ It appears it is the extractor though because casings aren't making it out of the chamber. 

[Trekbike]

[quote name="Ramjo" post="1183607" timestamp="1409100198"]It appears it is the extractor though because casings aren't making it out of the chamber. [/quote] Any signs of buildup or rough areas in the chamber?

[Ramjo]

Any signs of buildup or rough areas in the chamber?

Not in the chamber, no. There is some damage to the slide rails...let me post a picture.

It looks bad but its smooth as glass racking the slide.

Think I found the reason for the slide damage...it's the retaining pin.

.

Edited August 27, 2014 by Ramjo

[1gewehr]

WOW!!! :stunned:   I have to admit that this is a new one for me!!!  I've never seen that before and I thought I'd seen about every form of abuse ever meted out to a HP!!!

[LCPfraTN]

That doesn't look too good! :( Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ramjo]

Yeah...I took the gun back to the shop and the owner and his gunsmith are gonna look at it for me. Hopefully it will work when they are done! 

[MrBrian]

I hope it gets fixed soon.... I want to shoot it

[Ramjo]

UPDATE!!!!!!

 

I have been informed that this gun was not ejecting the shell casings due to oversized tolerances in the chamber. They are looking for me a barrel, and will be covering all of the cost, since it was sold as a functional firearm. Kinda bummed about needing the replacement, but I will at least keep the old barrel around to have all the matching parts on hand.

[MrBrian]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_6xLKQWkdg

[Ramjo]

Thanks, Brian.