SOLD FN BROWNING MODEL 1935 GP / HIGH POWER PISTOL, APRIL,1940 BELGIUM ARMY OFFICER ISSUED TYPE 2 VARIANT, THE ICONIC & LEGENDARY ORIGINAL “HI POWER”, VERY SHARP!

In 95% very sharp condition, we have a nice example of the classic April, 1940 Production Pre WWII Belgium Army Officers issued FN Browning Model 1935 GP/High Power Pistol. This is the Type 2 Variant, with the tangent sight graduated for use without the shoulder stock.  The Type 2 was issued by the Belgium Army to Officers who did not need a shoulder stock for use.   This example was manufactured in April of 1940, just barely in time to be issued before the May 1940 German Invasion of Belgium.    The pistol is 100% factory original, and all matching and the bore is excellent. You you may notice the markings on the front right trigger guard, These were Finnish inspection markings, on leftover frames from their 1940 contract.  They are often seen on these late High Powers as the Finns inspected many more parts than were actually made into Pistols for that contract.  

This pistol was likely carried into battle with some Belgium Army Officer in May of 1940 when the Nazis invaded Belgium, and it would almost certainly have been surrendered to the Germans when the Belgian Army capitulated to the Nazis just weeks later.   These pistols were immediately re-issued to the German Forces and Primarily to the weapon starved Waffen SS who certainly put them to more effective use than the Belgian Army ever did!   There are many photos of their use by the Germans during the war, most notably by SS combat forces in the 1941 invasion of Russia, a very useful pistol during the savage fighting.

The Pre War High Power Pistols found today in collections in North American were brought here as war trophies by returning American and Canadian soldiers after they were captured from the Nazis.   The High Power was the most sought after and cherished of the European 9m/m military pistols due to the high capacity 13 round mag and its flawless function.  In actual close quarters combat there simply was no handgun that would have been more desirable or effective, including the M1911a1.   If you have ever shot one of these exceptional pistols you know they run like a Swiss watch.  Absolutely My favorite WWII Pistol and I personally own an extensive collection of them.  I might add that because I am a real softee for these pistols; I buy nice ones whenever I see them.  This is being sold at a very reasonable bargain price for what it is.