Browning High Power grips
- Thread starter tokarev38
- Start date
Kleanbore 1
Junior Member
Not hijacking this thread but what would a 1818xx have on it. Looking for a set of correct grips for it.
Regular walnut grips without orange painted backs.
The paint on the backs of the grips was to prevent moisture. According to Anthony Vanderlinden in his excellent (you need them) FN pistol book, the painted backs of the grips, a German occupied production austerity measure, started about the middle to back end of WaA103 production. However, I've seen WaA613 pistols in the 50,000 range that did not have them and the grips otherwise looked 100% original. Understand that like any production there would be baskets of grips already done but not assembled into pistols and those being made under German occupation. The FN workers under German control likely did not sort through grips, they just brought in a basket or dumped a basket on top of another.
GP.35 grips generally went through these production changes:
Pre-war Belgian FN - orange paint backed walnut
German occupation - early orange paint backed (leftover pre-war stocks); to unpainted backs (somewhere in late WaA103); to brown phenolic resin (mid to late b block)
Postwar- immediate postwar, orange paint backed to red paint backed; T series 60s and on, shellac / clear sealant; then MkIIs and MkIIIs resin and plastic of various types with walnut clear sealant.
All of this is just me talking out of my a$$ from what I recall in the Vandelinden book and my observations. His book would yield more definite and detailed information.
They did, quickly, as in almost immediately. It was a FN manufacturing requirement for the pistol. The general rule is that if the grips don't have a heavy polyurethane / varnish finish then they should be red paint backed on postwar production. I have a T-series 1968 NIB as well and while it has polyurethane finish on the walnut grips it may even be red paint backed.
In direct response Jack, It could very well be correct. If the grips look correct and original to it, hugged down, same wear, etc., I wouldn't go changing them out. That pistol could have been leaving the factory when a basket of new made grips were dumped on top of that grip basket. Though it is "generally thought" that a WaA613 pistol would have orange backed grips.
mike radford
Senior Member
cpw will know, as president of the HP collector's association and having the biggest and rarest collection known, about 200 including number one and those with a swing link like a 1911 and those with small ejection ports, rare cotracts, etc.. He and mr V. did not see eye to eye on many things, including Radoms, his knowledge is written down somewhere I hope, . We must not loose that knowledge. I have told him so but he stays very busy. We set up toghe often at SOS and NGD and for many years. I would use him over mr V anytime. He is at the top of the field IMO and I have seen much of his collection. He need not write a book, those that know him and his collection of both Radoms and Brownings know who the source is. If you see his collection, which he displays both type pistols at times, you will also know very quickly.
I asked him this exact question 16 or more years ago and he had no definite answer. I have looked at many and it seems that the paint was come and go for quite a while. They all needed it IMO. I had a mid production gun, and early A block IIRC and it did not have the paint. All around the edges of where the paint should be, it had light pitting. They needed it and it was stupid to not use it. The workers at FN probably could care less unless they had a Nazi pistol at their head and someone knew what should be.
I asked him this exact question 16 or more years ago and he had no definite answer. I have looked at many and it seems that the paint was come and go for quite a while. They all needed it IMO. I had a mid production gun, and early A block IIRC and it did not have the paint. All around the edges of where the paint should be, it had light pitting. They needed it and it was stupid to not use it. The workers at FN probably could care less unless they had a Nazi pistol at their head and someone knew what should be.
mike radford
Senior Member
,
No, I have never seen it.
I am sure AV is an outstanding source but Charlie is a friend and I have seen some stuff he has that is one off and I will go with him every time.
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