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Monday, March 28, 2011
Mmmm... Custom High Power...
The guy on the left is gunsmith Ashley Emerson, of Big Dot Express Sight fame, and the guy on the right is Denny Hansen, editor of S.W.A.T. Magazine, and the tasty, tasty gun in the middle is a sweet Novak Custom Browning High Power...
I've got a cylinder and Slide worked High Power and a 1961 Buenos Aires Police contract gun that lives in the car. Both have lost their mag safetys over the years and shoot pretty well. Always loved High Powers. Owned an extended slide model at one time, plus a practical model and five Israeli surplus pistols.
Very nice. Loves Me my High Power too. It's such a fun gun to shoot, natural pointer with just the right amount of heft. I never get tired shooting this pistol. Neat beaver tail. I don't recall ever seeing one on a High Power. Sweet!
"Neat beaver tail. I don't recall ever seeing one on a High Power. Sweet!"
Welding one up and grinding it to fit is not something that just any gun plumber can do. Wayne Novak is probably the top of the heap when it comes to doing this and making it look factory.
NP3 finish is pretty fabulous. I had an old Sig done and it's awesome. Bonus is that they can do aluminum receivers in it. Never have run it "dry" but I believe those who say you can, it's some slick shit.
I bought an original 1973 vintage High Power a couple of years ago. I want to make it into something very, very much like that Novak custom, but I feel like someone with a perfect, showroom-original Camaro SS that wants to turn it into a hot-rod.
It's almost like blasphemy.
I keep thinking I should trade it for a Mk III and build that.
I've seen a sweet "Commander-length" custom High Power done on a Waffenamt-marked wartime gun.
(I never tell people that it had been badly re-blued before we had it customized. Like the bubba'ed pre-Series 70 Colt I bought to build out as a carry gun, you can't unring a bell...)
Wow, that shaky-cam action made the interview as exciting as the Bourne movies! I only wish it had better sound. However, it is funny to watch people who actually care about muzzle discipline displaying a gun in front of a camera and friends.
There are good pictures of the gun in the new S.W.A.T. magazine.
I thought about putting $2,000 of custom work into my Hi-Power, but then realized I could get a Sig X-Five Tactical for $1300 with all that already there, besides the NP3.
Robert, I believe I've seen your C&S HP, unless it was Peter's (don't recall, as there were about 40 pistols on the counter at Phlegmmy's and Kelly was trying to get it away from me at the time).
That's one spectacular action on it. You have one absolute gem of a pistol in it.
I picked up my .40 BHP at a gunshow that had Novak work on the trigger and sites (with all of the original paperwork and receipts for Wayne's shop). Under $500 out the door, and yes, I know I should be ashamed but....
I loves me my Hi Powers. I have been know to opine that there has been no significant improvement in semi-auto handgun design since 1935. ;-)
My primary Hi Power is an old T-serial piece I bought in 90 per cent+ condition from the original owner, who threw in some nice Null stocks. Happily, I don't suffer slide bite with the standard tang, so I just installed a single-side C&S safety and put it in service. I carried it on duty some, but kept going back to a .45 CLW. When Beloved Bride got tired of shooting plate matches with a Browning .22, she glommed onto the BHP, and now I have to "borrow" it back on special occasions.
Ashley Emerson is an outstanding hunting guide and probably the finest long range pistol shot I've watched. Haven't seen him in a while. He's not getting any prettier, but the years haven't been too kind to me, either. Some of my fondest memories are being in hunt camp with him, Rich, and Elder Son Matt. JPG
Al T, I was thinking the same thing. JPG, I miss times in hunt camp chatting with Ashley and Rich and solving the problems of the world. Would like to mess around with a Novak-treated P35. Let's get one and wear it out!
I've got a cylinder and Slide worked High Power and a 1961 Buenos Aires Police contract gun that lives in the car. Both have lost their mag safetys over the years and shoot pretty well. Always loved High Powers. Owned an extended slide model at one time, plus a practical model and five Israeli surplus pistols.
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Loves Me my High Power too. It's such a fun gun to shoot, natural pointer with just the right amount of heft. I never get tired shooting this pistol.
ReplyDeleteNeat beaver tail. I don't recall ever seeing one on a High Power.
Sweet!
McVee,
ReplyDelete"Neat beaver tail. I don't recall ever seeing one on a High Power.
Sweet!"
Welding one up and grinding it to fit is not something that just any gun plumber can do. Wayne Novak is probably the top of the heap when it comes to doing this and making it look factory.
So when do the Patents expire on the HP? Because if Smith or Springfield or Nighthawk could build that beavertail frame on a good forging.....
ReplyDeleteCan't comment. Too busy drooling.
ReplyDeleteNP3 finish is pretty fabulous. I had an old Sig done and it's awesome. Bonus is that they can do aluminum receivers in it. Never have run it "dry" but I believe those who say you can, it's some slick shit.
ReplyDeleteI bought an original 1973 vintage High Power a couple of years ago. I want to make it into something very, very much like that Novak custom, but I feel like someone with a perfect, showroom-original Camaro SS that wants to turn it into a hot-rod.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost like blasphemy.
I keep thinking I should trade it for a Mk III and build that.
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI've seen a sweet "Commander-length" custom High Power done on a Waffenamt-marked wartime gun.
(I never tell people that it had been badly re-blued before we had it customized. Like the bubba'ed pre-Series 70 Colt I bought to build out as a carry gun, you can't unring a bell...)
Wow, that shaky-cam action made the interview as exciting as the Bourne movies! I only wish it had better sound. However, it is funny to watch people who actually care about muzzle discipline displaying a gun in front of a camera and friends.
ReplyDeleteThere are good pictures of the gun in the new S.W.A.T. magazine.
I thought about putting $2,000 of custom work into my Hi-Power, but then realized I could get a Sig X-Five Tactical for $1300 with all that already there, besides the NP3.
Robert, I believe I've seen your C&S HP, unless it was Peter's (don't recall, as there were about 40 pistols on the counter at Phlegmmy's and Kelly was trying to get it away from me at the time).
ReplyDeleteThat's one spectacular action on it. You have one absolute gem of a pistol in it.
Best,
Rabbit.
Wish I were the lucky owner of that piece. Wait a minute....I am!!! ;-)
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm....Drool
ReplyDeleteI picked up my .40 BHP at a gunshow that had Novak work on the trigger and sites (with all of the original paperwork and receipts for Wayne's shop). Under $500 out the door, and yes, I know I should be ashamed but....
I loves me my Hi Powers. I have been know to opine that there has been no significant improvement in semi-auto handgun design since 1935. ;-)
Tam,
ReplyDeleteI don't mind modding a gun someone else has already "customized." It's just that mine is damned-near NRA NEW.
I'd really rather trade it to someone who appreciates a gun like that, and then build what I want on a less collectible piece.
Speaking of custom hi-powers, Tam, Whatcha think of this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cylinder-slide.com/index.php?app=ccp0&ns=prodshow&ref=3033
My primary Hi Power is an old T-serial piece I bought in 90 per cent+ condition from the original owner, who threw in some nice Null stocks. Happily, I don't suffer slide bite with the standard tang, so I just installed a single-side C&S safety and put it in service. I carried it on duty some, but kept going back to a .45 CLW. When Beloved Bride got tired of shooting plate matches with a Browning .22, she glommed onto the BHP, and now I have to "borrow" it back on special occasions.
ReplyDeleteAshley Emerson is an outstanding hunting guide and probably the finest long range pistol shot I've watched. Haven't seen him in a while. He's not getting any prettier, but the years haven't been too kind to me, either. Some of my fondest memories are being in hunt camp with him, Rich, and Elder Son Matt.
JPG
Gosh Rich, get tired of the Limbaugh hand howitzer making your hands swell up? Cheers!
ReplyDeleteAl T.
Al T, I was thinking the same thing. JPG, I miss times in hunt camp chatting with Ashley and Rich and solving the problems of the world. Would like to mess around with a Novak-treated P35. Let's get one and wear it out!
ReplyDeleteMy first 9mm purchase, and first personally-owned carry gun was a High Power... and in a damnfool moment I sold it back in the 90's.
ReplyDeleteSomeday I need to replace it with something like this...