DB, ref the 'Belgian-made Browning Hi-Power'...
This was the Mle.35 GP 'Pistolet a Grande Puissance' ( 'High-Power' ) made from 1935 by the FN factory at Herstal, near Liege, Belgium. 69,000 of these had been made in total before the German invasion of Belgium. Some existing stocks were immediately pressed into service by the Germans.
Production then resumed with the pistol becoming the Pistole 640(b) in German nomenclature. Some 319,000 were made between 1940/44. Belgian versions were slotted for a shoulder stock and had tangent sights, German production models lost, first, the slot and finally the tangent rear sights with standard of finish declining noticeably by 1944.
First deliveries were, in fact, exclusive to the Wehrmacht, with 153,464 being delivered by the end of 1942. Latterly, the guns were favoured by the Waffen-SS and the most famous picture of a HP-equipped German soldier is 'that' photo of the blonde Panzer Grenadier taken near Poteau in the Bulge campaign.
Hi-Power drawings had been sent to Britain from Belgium ; Britain did not have the capacity to produce the weapon so the plans were passed to the Inglis factory in Canada who commenced production as the 'Inglis-Browning Hi-Power'. Relatively limited quantities were issued ( I don't have figures ) and went mainly to Commando and Airborne troops ( General Urquhart cetainly carried one at Arnhem, for instance ).
Today, Waffenamt-marked examples are highly sought-after and good ones command some quite high prices. Forum member Matt ( mp38 ) - who we haven't heard from for a while
- has a very nice example in his collection and I'm ashamed to say that I'm very envious.....
And here's a little piccie ( use the 'enlarge' icon ) : -
http://www.panchogun.com/FVWebPhotos...03-5x100px.jpg
[ 21. July 2003, 11:22 AM: Message edited by: Martin Bull ]