Sights out to 500m, reduced from 1000m. I'm surprised the military heads of the time didn't insist on a optional AA sight attachment ;]

No wonder the Germans decided to continue production, the number of markings on this gun is certainly on par with German standards of the time.

I love how optimistic the military brass of that era was “ We need the capability to provide 9mm volley fire out to 1000 meters. That will help us win the war!”

While It’ll never happen, imagine how terrifying it’d be to suddenly come under a whole unit’s worth of 9mm volley fire at 500m 😂

Proudly served Belgium for over 65+ years. Now Belgium mainly uses the FN FiveSeven as the new military sidearm.

How optimistic do you have to be to mark a pistol sight to 500m

*Mosin Nagant:* There's a target about 500m out that way, not sure if I can hit him. *Belgian GP-35:* Pssh, amateur. I've got this.

My grandfather served in WW2 and was stationed in Germany and Belguim at the end. He disassembled and mailed one back. Always fascinated by it and loved watching him clean in. I’m now in possession of it but because there’s no serial numbers I just keep it in a case and do cleaning maintenance on it

This was so ahead of it's time compared to other handguns of that era

How to sell pistols in the 40s: Step 1: be near Germany Step 2: use 9mm para Step 3: ?????????? Step 4: profit

16 people hate John Browning for making something that wasn't in .45 ACP

5:37 Magazine Déjà Vu?

I want to see how far a skilled marksman can actually hit with a stocked hi power and tangent sight. Maybe something for InRangeTV

Only channel I immiedatally watch notifications from

Known as the Browning HP35 or just plain 9 mil in the British Army. It was, along with an SMG, my personal weapon for some time. I really liked using it. I was originally provided with a dreadful Canadian Inglis version, which rattled like an old truck. Fortunately, it was replaced with a brand new FN Browning and I was a happy soldier.

As a tremendous fan of the Browning Hi Power design, I really liked this episode!

Undoubtedly one of the best sidearm ever created back then: It has a 13 round magazine, something that literally no other service pistols had.

Great service sidearm that served me well for years.

Browning Hi Power is in my top 5 guns of all time

As a Belgian, I can never say no to watching one of your vids involving my heritage and on something I have an interest in, great video Ian 👌 if you ever want to do one on the FN self reloading rifle, let me know, I have one in my possession

Oh my God, I'm so early Ian hasn't developed his obsession with french arms yet.

Very nice collection of early models. Love the High Power! Very ergonomic and so comfortable to shoot. And they do have a tendency to be very accurate!

Thanks Ian. Another great video on a cool gun.

Back in the early 1990s, in eastern NC where my department was located, there were several police departments and officers of other departments that used the hi-power.

I remember the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie ( Federal law enforcement ) used these in the '90. Can't say they really were the GP-36 and not a modern kind of HighPower, but they were referred to as GP-36. I was around 10-14 back then. Could barely lift and aim the gun ^^. Now they Use Glock17 and S&W M&P.

So the magazines had a blued floor plate and a phosphated body AND a phosphated body and a blued floor plate eh? Cunning...

I really enjoyed this video; especially since I am an avid collector and shooter of Hi-Powers. Keep doing the good work!

Great timing, my airsoft Hi-Power just arrived in the mail today. Man I love Browning guns.

Nobody: The Germans: Your pistols will make a fine addition to my collection

Yes !!!!!!!! Ian is showing a Browning Hi-Power. I absolutely love my Dads Browning Hi-Power Practical. Thanks for the knowledge about this awesome firearm Gun Jesus.

Great video! I love these guns!

Been waiting for this video for a while

Just want to say. Your patreon plug is the best, at the end of the contents and explaining why it is important. I sadly cannot be a patreon, wish I could. I did all what else you ask, subscribe and tell friends about the channel. I want to thank all patreon supporters from the bottom of my heart for supporting you financially and allowing us other viewers to have free access to Ian's wonderful contents. Thank you Patreons!

AWESOME !!!! MY ALL TIME FAVORITE PISTOL. The pistol that set the standard for almost all military pistol to this day. Issued(military and law enforcement) in more countries then the FAL(so 120+ countries).

It is a super good gun. I got it in the army in 1991. It was replaced by the Glock in 1995. (Dutch army.)

Thank you , Ian .

2:05 "Nice addition to my collection, general Kenobi."

This is the second or third hi power video you have up on you tube. I love this pistol thought even mark 3s are outdated. You are showing the impact of this pistol in military history quite well. It seemed to have more impact than the 1911 on a European world scale.

1000 meters sights on a 9mm? Isn't that a little too...ummm...optimistic?

My neighbor as I was growing up, he had fought in WWII and Korea, he had several GP-35 Hipowers. One with the Waffenamts and the holster similar to what you showed. He also had an Inglis with shoulder stock, which he said his brother who had served in China had brought home. He also had a commercial version he bought while he was in Korea and several much later commercial versions, one of which he carried as a police detective until he retired. His only real complaint about his Hi powers was finding affordable reliable magazines.

Love to see Ian give a demo of a few of the pistols with shoulder stocks. Like to see how well they perform. Cheers.

I remember shooting one of those, never got a chance with a 1911 to compare it. For 9mm though I always loved the P38.

Always so excited to learn about fire arms and I’ve been holding how for some high power episodes ever sense the experimental lightened Canadian high point or I believe that is was Canadian regardless happy to see the video

Enjoyed, Just rewatched this about the Classic HP. Been shooting/owning them since the 80s At one tome I had a 22lr conversion kit made by Pachmayr. Still a good pistol in 2021.

I wonder If "germans simplified production" also mean they "got rid" of some factory personel.

The fireplace of cool weapons!

Re your bling: I was in Vancouver BC this past weekend for a tech expo, and while eating with my son in the food court a gentleman much older than I (I'm 65) was there by his self asked my how long I'd had the tee shirt it was wearing. It was the French 75 tee, and I answered that I'd had it for several months. He told me it reminded him of him and his wife drinking those 50 years ago, told me what went in to making them, and we just chatted for a moment. So I think you brought him a forgotten memory, and it was a really, really neat experience.

Those look so cool with tangent rear sights :)

I bought a Hi-Power in 1972. Had some custom work - S&W adjustable rear sights, new ramp style front sight, hand checkered front grip, trigger job, magazine disconnect them satin plated in Rhodesian chrome.

I just got gifted a model of this weapon by my grandfather, with golden engravings of his initials gifted to him from the factory, so ik u had a video of this weapon, thank u

Finally ! A gun I own on this channel !

A Hi-power is on the top of my want list, sad that they went out of production a few years back.

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

Ian, you should add a playlist of all of John Browning's stuff. He was a pivotal designer. As well as a list (and maybe even a few videos on) of the best designed guns of their day. Not the most elaborate, or the simplest, or the most powerful - the best designed weapons of their era. eg IMHO The Lee Enfield/Mauser rifle (very similar). The Colt .45. Maybe the Uzi? And a couple of Browning's achievements. Amongst others. A final idea, weapons that could have been built sooner, if the knowledge was there (basically time traveler shenanigans) like the AK-47, which could've been built for WW1. And the STEN could've probably been built even earlier.

I moved from the 1911 to the BHP, twenty years ago, and never looked back. You MUST remove the mag disconnect to get a decent trigger pull (and perhaps go further if you are fussy about triggers), and after that you have a truly great carry piece. The new 15 round Mec-Gar mags are absolutely reliable, so you're right there with any of the current nines. Right now I'm carrying a customized aluminum framed Hi-Power made in 1984. A bunch of these came in a few years ago and the origins are very mysterious. Ian, when will you dig into these mystery alloy framed Hi-Powers?

One of the most beautiful pistols ever made.

My first police duty pistol was a BHP Mk2. I still have it and even through all the other guns I carried, I usually kept qualified with it as an alternative .. at least until my old dept went all SIG. I still shoot mine and still carry it sometimes, although it has some pretty sharp edges on it. Still, mine has an amazing trigger and while I dunno about 500 yard shooting, at 25 yards it can stack hits into a very small group. It's also, for me, a very comfortable pistol to hold.

"The magazines for the Belgian Army pistols have a few distinctive features as well." You can say that again...

good job

Father brought back our browning hi power when he was in the philipipnes in 1945. he landed at latye with the U.S. rail batailion. he wore it on his hip during the war. " side note they all heard the first atomic bombs go off in the philipines and 3 days after the 2nd bomb, the company was mustered togather and told what it was they had heard" father never told us how he got it or what happened in the war. he was the company cpl and i figured he picked the best looking side arm in the pile. father died in 1996. it was in 2000 when i was told what the gun was. we have only shot maybe 20 rounds thru it in 1980. its number is under 4000, and came with a black holster "looks like p 38 stamped in side of flap. there is one black clip and a green with black bottom clip like was showed. never realised there was a slot for a stock. a gun nut showed me the british armory stamp and the stamp of the first fusiulars... i figure it came out of the fall of singapore from posablity one of general Persable's staff officer. i was told it was for an artillery officers side arm. love your show. never saw another gun like it before i watched your show. and the stock, wow, now i know what i am looking for to complete it. good work. great show. thanks

Ian never screws up , cut him some slack on the editing blooper

Can't believe I hadn't seen this video yet! Love the Hi-Powers. I have a Mk.3 from the 80's, and a 1944-made with Waffenampts (really late-made, simplified rear sight, no mag safety, less than beautiful finish). They're just the best to me, the most accurate pistol in my hands.

The timeless beauty of Papa Browning's disigns!

Deja Vu during the magazine explanation. I am now well informed, thank you Gun Jesus.

One thing is for sure, that is one mean-looking pistol. Definetly does not just go pew pew either.

Brings back memories, every time I see a Hi-Power I was a dab hand with my little lady.

I used to have one of these, my great Grandfather was a customs officer in Belgium

Beautiful pistols! Makes me proud to be Belgian!

LOVE the Grand Puissance!

My father had one (I am Belgian). The first gun I shot with when I was 12. Nice old gun but I remember shooting with the stock was impressive due to the proximity of the slide.

Carried a near mint T series in Bosnia & Kosovo in '95. "Excessed" by USG in '99 for the 92SBF. Thank you, Uncle S.

IMO those are the best pistols of the WWII.

Things I know about the Browning HiPower: 1. It had a reputation for very high reliability and toughness. 2. It was used by police officers present at the Iranian embassy siege in London in 1980. 3. It was used in the film "Silence of the Lambs" to shoot Hannibals decoy on top of the elevator.

Just like those we had in Malaya & Borneo. The Royal Marines used to play with them at 900m, I don't know what success they had, but they certainly had some fun.

One of my favourite world war 2 pistol, of course except VIS :)

Very very good

The fireplace collection strikes again!

I carried it as my sidearm for years until switching to the Glock 19. The GP 35 is superb.

Fun fact, the Hi Power was adopted by the British Military designated the L9A1 and was recognised as the standard sidearm up until its replacement by the Glock 17 in 2007. Even though the L9A1 was still the standard pistol in the British military in the early and mid 2000's, it saw barely any use in Iraq and Afghanistan as the British Government obtained Sig Sauer P226's as an 'Urgent Operational Requirement' which was temporary until the L9A1's replacement was found, subsequently being the Glock 17

That fire place again!

Ian I live in the UK, firearms are an absolute no no unless you're military, police (very small amount ) or a criminal - I absolutely love your channel, just thought I'd let you know, keep up the good work! Nick - south London.

I have this version with the rifle tangent sights on top. Mine is called the "El Capitan" model adopted by the Argentine army & a few other Latin American country's. Love it, it has such a retro look & is beautifully Blued ! Mine has the 1,000 meter sight. Not a broom handle type though.

My dad carried one in Vietnam in 1971 when he flew A6s off the Kitty Hawk. He also carried a Thompson. Back then pilots could carry what they wanted. One guy in his squadron even carried a 5in Colt SAA.

That holster at the end looks like it would be super inconvenient to use.

Found one of these with the oval ejection port for sale. Starting bid: $8,500.

Always loved the Hi-Power

Now that's nice!

Those Hi-Powers are beautiful babes.

Beautiful guns. I kick myself for not getting a Hi-Power when they were still reasonably priced. I may get one, yet.

Are there any distinctive features on the magazines to the Belgian army pistols?

One of my favorite pistols

To Quote Easy Andy from the movie Taxi Driver 1976 "That's A Beautiful Little Gun"! The Belgians did a terrific job with this!🤔🔫🇧🇪

Keep it up

Helped a friend translate a book about 2 guys who were sentenced to death for a murder in the Congo, just the phrase Grande Puissance, as if it was a particularly dangerous weapon, as a phrase used by the judge. But this was it!

Yeah a real beaut, there's a reason Australia still keeps it as the Army's sidearm

That sight looks like an ak47 rearsight

I wonder if the magazines have some distinctive features as well ;-)

'Forgotten Weapons' + 'GP-35' = FAST click!!

I learned about the magazines four times because I decided to rewind once.

I bought one of these Belgian military models for $85 at a gun shop in Fresno, CA, 55 years ago and it was stolen from my car about five years later, unfortunately.