Make: Fabrique Nationale

Model: High Power, Model 1935 Belgian Military Contract

Serial Number: 18996

Year of Manufacture: 1938

Caliber: 9mm Parabellum (9mm Luger)

Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto fed by Detachable Magazine

Barrel Length: 4 5/8"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a tapered, serrated blade dovetailed to the front of the slide. The rear sight is a "V"-notch tangent sight graduated from 50-500 meters. The graduation markings go about 60% of the way down the arm, indicating that the pistol was originally issued with a shoulder-stock.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with smooth borders. The grips have moderate handling wear and discoloration. There is a chip-loss at the top-rear corner of the right panel. There are some scattered nicks, dings and scratches. The checkering is generally well defined. Overall, the grips are in Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original. Numbers match on slide, frame and barrel.

Bore Condition: The bore is gray, the rifling is sharp where not interrupted by erosion. There is light-moderate erosion and light pitting scattered through the bore, mostly in the grooves. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is scattered minor surface oxidation with infrequent minor erosion. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear including a line of wear along the bottom-left edge of the slide over the slide stop. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This handgun comes with a single 13-round magazine. The finish on the magazine is not correct for this period of production, it is either a replacement or has been refinished.

Our Assessment: Originally developed as "Le Grand Rendement" (the High Efficiency), with some input from John Browning and most design evolution from Dieudonne Saive, Browning's assistant at FN, the "Grande Puissance" would be put into production in 1935, now known as the High Power. Referring not to the power of the cartridge, but rather to its capacity of 13 rounds in the magazine, this new model would carry nearly double the ammunition of its contemporary military sidearms. High Powers went on to see service with a number of nations, widespread commercial sales, and have a number of variations that make them attractive to collectors.

This example is a fairly early one, made in the 1938 for the third Belgian military contract. It has correct markings and features for these early pistols. As one of the pre-war High Powers with matching slide, frame and barrel, collectors will surely take interest and it will make a wonderful addition for those who are interested in the early variations of the Grande Puissance. Please see our photos and good luck!