The Browning Hi-Power (officially the Pistolet Automatique Browning FN Modèle à Grande Puissance, or P-35) was designed by John Moses Browning and completed after his death by FN's Dieudonné Saive. The pistol operates on a short recoil, locked breech system utilizing a cam actuated locking mechanism in which a shaped cam beneath the barrel draws the breech end downward out of engagement with the slide during recoil. The Hi-Power was the first successful high capacity military sidearm, using a 13-round double stack, single feed magazine in 9mm Parabellum. Following the German occupation of Belgium in May 1940, the Fabrique Nationale factory in Herstal was placed under German military administration and Hi-Power production continued for Wehrmacht issue under the designation Pistole 640(b). German produced FN Hi-Powers were subject to Waffenamt inspection and acceptance procedures, with inspectors applying acceptance stamps to major components. The WaA140 stamp is the Waffenamt code assigned to the FN Herstal facility during this period. Production during the occupation years saw progressive simplification of manufacturing processes as the war continued, with later wartime pistols exhibiting rougher machining and the elimination of certain features such as the tangent rear sight and slotted backstrap that characterized pre-war and early occupation models. The fixed sight, no slot backstrap configuration is characteristic of mid to late occupation production, when the adjustable tangent sight and shoulder stock provision were deleted to accelerate manufacturing output.

This example is estimated to have been manufactured in 1943 based on its serial number and "a" suffix, BXEZ942a. The serial number is matching on the frame, slide, and barrel. A black enamel finish is present with expected age related wear and is believed to be original. Accompanied by one period black enamel magazine and original, broken, slide stop.

Markings

The pistol bears multiple WaA140 Waffenamt acceptance stamps: on the left side of the barrel, on the front of the slide, on the left side of the frame above the trigger guard, and on the left side of the slide above the slide stop. Additional German military eagle proof marks are present on the barrel hood, the left side of the frame above the trigger guard, and the left side of the slide above the slide stop.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre (FN), Herstal, Belgium
• Model: Browning Hi-Power (P-35)
• Serial Number: BXEZ942a (matching frame, slide, barrel)
• Date of Manufacture: c. 1943
• Caliber: 9mm Parabellum
• Action: Short recoil, locked breech, single action semi automatic
• Barrel Length: 4.65 inches
• Frame: Steel, black enamel finish
• Slide: Steel, black enamel finish
• Sights: Fixed front blade, fixed rear notch
• Safety: Frame mounted thumb safety
• Waffenamt: WaA140
• Grips: Checkered walnut
• Magazine: One 13-round magazine, black enamel