Nazi Hi-Power value.

Spike · February 2, 2000, 08:31 PM

A co-worker has a Hi-Power that he's thinking about selling. His wife's uncle brought it back from WWII as a trophy. All numbers match, has Nazi proof marks. It's a post occupation piece with poor workmanship, tool marks, etc. It appears to be in very good condition aside from the fact that it was hastily made in the first place. Also has leather flap holster w/ mag. pouch, two 13 rnd. mags., and DOD paper signed by CO allowing him to return home with it.

Problem is we can't agree on a price and I'm not that knowledgeable of WWII pistols. I have a Blue Book but how do you determine the pistols condition and therefore value since it was so poorly made to begin with?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Spike.

Harley Nolden · February 2, 2000, 09:25 PM

Spike:
I don't mean to be rude or out of charecter, but, you have all the essentials to evaluate your own question. You can see the pistol, we can't and you have the blue book. For one of us to evaluate, without seeing the gun, having only the verbal description would not be fair to the seller or purchaser.

HJN

James K · February 2, 2000, 11:31 PM

Perhaps I am out of line here, but I would consider that gun a very nice collector's item and not a shooter. Many of those occupation HPs were soft because Belgian sabotage took the form of spoiling steel or "forgetting" to harden things properly. I have seen several that had sheared sears or hammer notches or that battered locking lugs and hung up after a few shots.

Jim

jimmy · February 3, 2000, 02:39 PM

What interests me is the DOD documentation. I would want this documentation to stay with the gun. It may or may not increase the value. But it does add an extra touch of history to the gun, which collectors generally appreciate.

Harley Nolden · February 4, 2000, 09:49 AM

Jimmy:
The documentation does increase the value because it provides a portion of the history.

HJN

Hard Ball · February 9, 2000, 07:05 PM

FN Highpowers from that era come in three variations that I have seen.
a) with the adustable ladder rear sight usually calibrated for 500 meters
b) fixed rear sight
c) backstrap may or may not be sloted for a wooden detachable stock.
version c) is rarer. The versions slotted for the stock command a premium IF you have the original stock.
If the leather flap holster you have is the original German issue it adds to the valueof the pistol

Spike · February 10, 2000, 05:50 PM

Thank you all for the replies. Harley: no, your comment was not mean, I'm just browsing for opinions. I realize none of you has seen this pistol, I just don't know how to figure it's condition (60, 70, 80%, etc.) considering that it was cudely made in the first place. Jim K.: no, I don't want it as a shooter. I'm more interested in it as a collectible. jimmy: yes, the documentation goes with it. My co-worker is an ex-cop, none of his family wanted it. They figured since he was a cop he must be into firearms. He's not. Hard Ball: not sure about the holster or whether the pistol is cut to accept a stock (there is no stock). It does have fixed sights.

How about any recommendations for someone in the central Ohio area who's knowledgeable in WWII firearms, someone I could take the whole package to for an appraisal?

Spike

loknload · February 11, 2000, 02:19 AM

Spike, Sounds like an interesting piece, Don't you know a trusting gunsmith you could take it to? That would be my first option.
Good luck on your purchase

------------------
Help Stamp Out Gun Ignorance.

Spike · February 11, 2000, 08:01 PM

Well loknload, gunsmiths in my area are few and far between, particularly ones that see many military pistols. Most only see sporting shotguns and rifles.

Not sure if this would help any more, but the serial no. is in the low 31XXX.

spike

February 2, 2000, 08:31 PM	#1
Spike Junior Member Join Date: December 8, 1999 Posts: 14	A co-worker has a Hi-Power that he's thinking about selling. His wife's uncle brought it back from WWII as a trophy. All numbers match, has Nazi proof marks. It's a post occupation piece with poor workmanship, tool marks, etc. It appears to be in very good condition aside from the fact that it was hastily made in the first place. Also has leather flap holster w/ mag. pouch, two 13 rnd. mags., and DOD paper signed by CO allowing him to return home with it. Problem is we can't agree on a price and I'm not that knowledgeable of WWII pistols. I have a Blue Book but how do you determine the pistols condition and therefore value since it was so poorly made to begin with? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Spike.

February 2, 2000, 09:25 PM	#2
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	Spike: I don't mean to be rude or out of charecter, but, you have all the essentials to evaluate your own question. You can see the pistol, we can't and you have the blue book. For one of us to evaluate, without seeing the gun, having only the verbal description would not be fair to the seller or purchaser. HJN

February 2, 2000, 11:31 PM	#3
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Perhaps I am out of line here, but I would consider that gun a very nice collector's item and not a shooter. Many of those occupation HPs were soft because Belgian sabotage took the form of spoiling steel or "forgetting" to harden things properly. I have seen several that had sheared sears or hammer notches or that battered locking lugs and hung up after a few shots. Jim

February 3, 2000, 02:39 PM	#4
jimmy Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 1999 Location: Texas Posts: 1,796	What interests me is the DOD documentation. I would want this documentation to stay with the gun. It may or may not increase the value. But it does add an extra touch of history to the gun, which collectors generally appreciate.

February 4, 2000, 09:49 AM	#5
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	Jimmy: The documentation does increase the value because it provides a portion of the history. HJN

February 9, 2000, 07:05 PM	#6
Hard Ball Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 1999 Location: California Posts: 3,925	FN Highpowers from that era come in three variations that I have seen. a) with the adustable ladder rear sight usually calibrated for 500 meters b) fixed rear sight c) backstrap may or may not be sloted for a wooden detachable stock. version c) is rarer. The versions slotted for the stock command a premium IF you have the original stock. If the leather flap holster you have is the original German issue it adds to the valueof the pistol

February 10, 2000, 05:50 PM	#7
Spike Junior Member Join Date: December 8, 1999 Posts: 14	Thank you all for the replies. Harley: no, your comment was not mean, I'm just browsing for opinions. I realize none of you has seen this pistol, I just don't know how to figure it's condition (60, 70, 80%, etc.) considering that it was cudely made in the first place. Jim K.: no, I don't want it as a shooter. I'm more interested in it as a collectible. jimmy: yes, the documentation goes with it. My co-worker is an ex-cop, none of his family wanted it. They figured since he was a cop he must be into firearms. He's not. Hard Ball: not sure about the holster or whether the pistol is cut to accept a stock (there is no stock). It does have fixed sights. How about any recommendations for someone in the central Ohio area who's knowledgeable in WWII firearms, someone I could take the whole package to for an appraisal? Spike

February 11, 2000, 02:19 AM	#8
loknload Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 1999 Location: PA. USA Posts: 1,869	Spike, Sounds like an interesting piece, Don't you know a trusting gunsmith you could take it to? That would be my first option. Good luck on your purchase ------------------ Help Stamp Out Gun Ignorance.

February 11, 2000, 08:01 PM	#9
Spike Junior Member Join Date: December 8, 1999 Posts: 14	Well loknload, gunsmiths in my area are few and far between, particularly ones that see many military pistols. Most only see sporting shotguns and rifles. Not sure if this would help any more, but the serial no. is in the low 31XXX. spike