Make: Fabrique Nationale

Model: High Power, Model 1935 Chinese Military Contract

Serial Number: 20286

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 all the way down the arm, indicating that the pistol was originally issued without a shoulder-stock (typical of late Chinese contract pistols).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered walnut with smooth borders. The left panel has been relieved at the bottom-rear corner for a lanyard ring installed outside the factory. The grips have moderate handling wear and discoloration. There is a notable compression in the right panel's checkering near the bottom-rear corner. There are some scattered light nicks, scuffs and small scratches. The checkering is generally well defined. Overall, the grips are in Good-Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Most remaining finish is Original, there is cold blue touch-up on the chin of the slide where an import mark was removed. Numbers match on slide, frame and barrel. The German markings are not genuine.

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with sharp rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates about 7/10.

Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 60% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The grip areas show handling wear, mostly gone to a light patina. There is scattered minor surface oxidation and some minor erosion. The chin of the slide has an area of cold blue touch-up where an import mark was removed. The German markings were struck through the finish. There are some scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are disfigured with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in 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.

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 intriguing as it is from a December 1938 contract for the Chinese Nationalists. As with many military contracts, they were assigned a separate serial block for their orders with the December contract starting at 20000. Earlier Chinese contract pistols were supplied with shoulder stocks, while later pistols such as this one were shipped without stocks. Most of these pistols saw hard use in China during their civil war and Japanese occupation, and many encountered today have replacement parts from the later-produced Inglis Mk. I pistols. This example, though it has spurious German marks, a lanyard ring installed outside the factory, and has had an import mark removed from the slide, still retains original blue finish. 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!