What the FEG is it?

[Ringolevio]

Pond, James Pond:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ringolevio
Y'mean like, "I drive a Yugo because I never have a pressing need to drive anywhere, and anyway I can always call for a taxi or a tow-truck"?

That's not the analogy I would use. It's more a case of I don't wear a lifevest in bed in case I drown!!

I don't feel and never have felt under threat walking around my town/country so don't presently feel the need to wear a gun.
And I wouldn't consider myself unself-reliant: after all, I'm still alive!

Touché! Although a lot of folks here in the Missouri River floodplain are sleeping with lifevests handy these days!

But I'm glad that you feel safe and secure in your environment;
may you always feel (and be) thus.

And may you live long and prosper!

Cheers, Ringolevio

[Pond, James Pond]

@Ringlevio:

Thank you good sir, thank you.
Likewise to you and your dearest: live long, live happily.

--|--

On another tack, I now have a spanner in the works:

This time yesterday, the FEG was pretty much a done deal, provided it wasn't sold between now and my licence exam.

However I was e-window shopping last night and found that for €95 more than either of the HP-35 derivatives, I could get a brand spanking new CZ P-07 Duty or a new CZ 110 for a mere €55 more!

I can't say the second hand guns feel cheap to buy, let alone new ones, but it is still sort of tempting. Then again that mmoney saved could spell between 200 and 300 rounds of 9mm!

The FEG, for example, looked and felt solid, dependable, but the Duty is new tech, new materials: surely not a POS!
Do I look at the FEG now as tired and worn, or tried and tested....

I also wonder which would deal with cold and rain more, if I did carry one outside: it get veeery cold here in winter and rains a fair bit, too.

Cr*p:
Just when you think you know what you want.....

[gyvel]

The original FEGs with a vent rib not only had a slightly different style of rib, but the frame "beavertail" was slightly longer. I purchased a very early FEG U.S. import in the 80s, and the box it came in had an illustratiion of the vent rib model. Also, your safety is a copy of the FN style and is completely correct for an early FEG.

The double action FEGs that other refer to, while slightly similar in appearance to the FEG FN clones (mostly in the slide) are actually very different internally and there are NO interchangeable parts with the possible exception of the grips screws.

[Pond, James Pond]

Thanks for the post.

So, are you saying that the one pictured is therefore an early FEG, in the order of 25-30 years old?

If so, it makes me a bit weary of its unknown history. I know I'm looking at this like I would a 25 year old motorbikeand it's not the same but...

Makes me think it is a bit expensive for such an old gun, given I could have for "new" for a bit more.

Seems I'm arguing myself in circles despite not being able to legally own a pistol yet!

[gyvel]

So, are you saying that the one pictured is therefore an early FEG, in the order of 25-30 years old?

I don't think your gun is that old. As I stated, the ribbed gun illustrated on the box was of a different configuration than yours and I suspect that the gun you have shown has had the rib installed by a gunsmith. Also, the original FEG vent rib models have some differences in the frame, most notably in the contours at the rear.

The FEGs are very serviceable guns, but you might be happier with the CZ, even though it costs a bit more.

EDIT: I just lightened up your photo to get a better look at the sight rib, and it does appear to be a FEG factory item, but the frame configuration of your gun still indicates later manufacture, probably the mid to late 90s.

[Pond, James Pond]

Great!

Thanks again. Good to know it is not likely to be that old. I should really handle the two CZs a few times also.

However, that bit of history on the FEG could prove to be a handy bargaining chip as the salesman confessed to having no idea of the age...

[Stringfellow]

I have a FEG that I am extremely impressed with. I didn't realize what I was missing until I got to hold and shoot it, and now I am hooked on HPs altogether. With some trigger work, this is likely my most accurate pistol and it has an amazing trigger.

FEGs have gained in popularity lately, much do to the work of some individuals finally sorting out some of the complexity to FEG's HP models. Their true single action HP clones are held in pretty high esteem. Their double action models actually have more in common with 2nd Gen S&W autos--they are not bad pistols, but people are typically disappointed with them when they realize that they are not true HP designs.

See the following sites for more info:
http://forums.1911forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=15
http://www.handgunsandammunition.com...splay.php?f=32
http://forum.m1911.org/forumdisplay.php?f=86
and
http://feghp.blogspot.com/2010/02/de...-hi-power.html

Good luck!

[JayPee]

I recently had the opportunity to return to Vintage Military Match shooting at our Club, but didn't have a pistol that met the Vintage Match requirements. That event requires pistols adopted by any military force prior to January 1, 1948, which in turn means one with cursory old military sights like those on the G.I. 1911's.

I recalled that our Match Manual allows the M1911 clones and Hi Power clones to be used in Vintage Military Pistol competition as long they are faithful to the original designs and have the older small military sights on them. So, since one of my favorite pistols of all time is the FEG PJK 9HP marketed by KBI Inc. for many years, I went looking for an older one with the small military sights. I was hoping to find a new one someone had bought twenty years ago and stuck away in his safe without firing it. And darn if I didn't find a gentleman farmer who had done exactly that.

Here's how it looked still in the box.



To make a long story short, I bought a 1992-issue PJK 9HP that was still in the factory oil…and the factory plastic bag… and then the factory box, with all the warranty cards, instruction manual and warning placards in perfect condition as well. It not only had the needed older military sights, it also had a very nice trigger – even with the magazine disconnector still in it.

Here's how it looked when I got it out of the factory plastic bag.



Like all of my other PJK's, (this is #4) this one had a beautiful blue/black blue job on it and it was very smooth when racked. The slide to frame fit was nice and tight as well. It was also clean as a pin inside, as were all of the new FEG-produced pistols I've encountered, and this includes their magazines as well. The slide stop had to be tapped in and out lightly the first few times with a small screwdriver handle, and the small safety lever was characteristically hard to operate. But then the gun had been sitting unused in its original oil for around 19 years without having been fired even once, so no surprises here. The recoil spring measured the same length as a new Browning Hi Power spring, and the extractor spring tension was nice and heavy. The grips were unusually attractive because they had dark vertical streaks running up the light colored wooden grip panels, which I really like.

Here's how it looked all cleaned up. In my opinion, pistols just don't get much more handsome than this.




The next step was a range test, so I oiled it up heavily with 0W40 Mobil 1, grabbed three different loads and headed for the range. Because it had been sitting for so long I decided to fire only a few rounds and then take it home for a thorough field strip and examination before firing it more. Here are the three five shot groups my new/old pistol and old/old eyes produced.



These three groups were fired using 68 year old eyesight and motor skills, the magazine disconnector still installed, and the latest in high tech bench rests - a plastic pistol case stacked on top of another plastic pistol case with a rag between them to keep the top one from sliding around. POA was 6 o'clock to the 2" orange discs. I forgot to include the "B" prefix in the serial number.

From this brief test, past experience says I can pretty well count on several things.

1. The pistol is quite accurate and it will only get better with use.

2. It is not going to be very finicky about which loads it will shoot accurately, and POI won't shift much between 115 and 124 grain loads.

3. I'm pulling the tiny front sight just a skosh left at the instant of firing, pulling the groups to the left.

4. Boy am I going to have to practice to shoot those tiny sights well at 25 yards offhand!!

So that's my happiest score of the year. I have a particular liking for the FEG pistols and they practically have to throw me in rehab every time a really nice one comes up for sale to keep me from buying it. In case you gents haven't heard this yet, now that these guns are out of production, they have been "discovered" and the prices are going up steadily. They're becoming more and more "discovered" every day, so if you'd like to have one, especially a nice one, I'd suggest you move on it sooner than later. Best wishes.

(Later note: After writing this initial report I returned to the range later in the week and fired 75 more rounds in it. The slide stop and safety smoothed up right away and I was able to shoot two 30 shot, 25 yard bullseye courses with it and scored in the low 270's, 3X to 5X. Obviously the trigger is also improving. There are no metal filings anywhere in the gun and it functions perfectly even with loads using the rather squared off Hornady XTP bullet. I tried three more five shot, 15 yard, bench rest groups with different loads and it shot them as well if not better than the groups above.)

I could write a book about the FEG Hi Power pistols, but I already have. It's at http://feghp.blogspot.com/2010/02/de...-hi-power.html

Best wishes.

JayPee

[AustinTX]

Great report, JayPee! That was worth its own thread. I would love to find a mint P9 like that one to add to my collection. I wish I had been looking before these guns got "discovered."

[CWKahrFan]

I'll add a couple pics of my recent 9MM FEG acquisition. It's a Model GKK-92C.
Capacity is 14+1. It's VERY reliable, VERY accurate, and a VERY easy shooter.
Weight is 34.7 oz. empty... 41.7 oz. loaded. I consider it an excellent bargain (especially for the $295 I paid... previous first owner needed $ for other projects and had only run a couple of mags through it... lucky for me).

[AustinTX]

Nice!

I need to take some photos of the FEG ACK in .45 (imported as the GKK-45) that I just picked up. Haven't been able to take it to the range yet, unfortunately.

[CWKahrFan]

Yeah, I'd like to see those pics...
Here's a link to an interesting thread regarding FEG and KBI (importer)... especially post approx.#22 written by the president of KBI, Michael Kassnar (aka Chihuahua TN)...

http://thefiringline.com/forums/arch...?t-439413.html

And this one below too... K.B.I. apparently is completely folded now... Whatever parts they had seem to be kind of in limbo... but that could possibly change in the future, I suppose... I'm not at all "up" on this... just linking what little I've seen...

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2...t-of-business/

This link is also kind of interesting as it talks about the S&W Model 59 derivatives... (My GKK-92C LOOKS quite similar to the S&W 659 shown there):

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg/usa...-others-e.html

[AustinTX]

Hey CWKahrFan, here is an excessive number of those photos I said I'd post a couple of months ago.

The bluing on the FEGs is surprisingly nice for the cost. Machining is a bit rough on the inside, but that's to be expected in this sort of gun. The trigger on my ACK (GKK-45) is pretty gritty; I wonder if it will smooth up with use. I still haven't even shot it yet. The rear sight is drifted way over to the right, so I need to get a sight-pusher to take to the range.

[AustinTX]

[CWKahrFan]

Wow... Those are GREAT pics of the .45... Thanks for the effort!
Since that previous post, I found a decent deal on an FP9 Vent-Rib on Gunbroker. I've already linked a pic in another thread but might as well add it here too. I like it even better than my GKK 92C... more ergonomic for my hand and it's internal mechanics are a "true" BHP clone (unlike the 92C). (There's also another view of it in last month's Photo Contest.) FEGs rock!...

[GUNSNGOLD]

PJK-9HP

[AustinTX]

Wow... Those are GREAT pics of the .45... Thanks for the effort!
Since that previous post, I found a decent deal on an FP9 Vent-Rib on Gunbroker. I've already linked a pic in another thread but might as well add it here too. I like it even better than my GKK 92C... more ergonomic for my hand and it's internal mechanics are a "true" BHP clone (unlike the 92C). (There's also another view of it in last month's Photo Contest.) FEGs rock!...

Thanks, CW! And very nice FP9! Looks like it's in perfect condition. I'm looking for the right FEG Hi-Power clone myself. I should have gotten one before they were "discovered."

Nice PJK-9HP, Gunsngold!