ltwguns.com

I know that this is a forum for custom handguns, but posted this to help folks who might be trying to buy a base gun for custom work. If not appropriate, moderators just delete.

Hello. Below are pictures and a description of a fake FN-marked Hi Power. I have read that these guns were made by FEG and secretly sold to Iraq during one of the embargos as FN pistols and that some got out onto the open market. I am not a historian and have no documentation for that so I'll only say that while the gun does have some of the characteristics of a fixed sight FN Hi Power from the '70's, it does not have all and I am convinced that it was not made by FN. The gun is very poorly fitted and the inside is covered in tool marks. The outside of the gun at one time must have looked pretty nice.

This gun groups very poorly.


It closely resembles a fixed sight FN Hi Power from the '70's. The serial number begins with a "B", which is well away from the five-numeral serial number following. This is located on the front grip strap and on the slide below the ejection port. The numerals are on the barrel, but not the "B". I removed the last three digits from view as this is not my pistol.


The front bushing is "extended" like the classic Hi Powers' from about '75 and the front sight is staked on.


The grips, spur hammer, and small single-side grip safety closely resemble the FN's.


Note that the rear sight notch is U-shaped rather than the rectangular notch common to fixed sighted Hi Powers of this time frame.


These markings are on the left side of the slide. I cannot find any proof marks anywhere on the pistol.

Hopefully, these pictures will be use in helping folks from getting "stung" if they consider buying one of these fake FN guns...regardless of who the actual counterfeiter was.

Best.

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Please drop by http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com

I am not a FN guy myself.... BUT if this info is true (as I said I know NOTHING about FNs so please do not think I am doubting you) but if this is info the LTW crew and Mods confirm I think its great you posted it as lots of people can get scammed by these things... I have been screwed with a firearms deal via the web in the early days myself and I am still dealing with headaches in AZ and them prosecuting this guy....

Really not much a 9 mm guy unless its the Glocks I own (I dont even shoot em anymore as I cant operate the trigger well but yet I wont sell them cause I think its cool I own every model of Glock in 9 mm haha yeah I know LOSER!!! HAHA but hey I do own the 36 and shoot it decent if I had to). I have the Rohrbaugh 9 mm as I do not think you can find a more powerful quality pocket pistol (please inform me if there is something better? a revolver is NOT a pocket pistol for me as I tend to wear jeans often) or my HKs (they are from when before I realized the truth of the 1911 and how safe it is to carry, I was scared to carry a 1911 yet I carried a Glock HAHA now thats funny isnt it but I know cops who will swear up and down how much safer a Glock is to carry than a 1911 HAHAHA FOOLS!)

Glad I woke up and found the world of custom 1911's and all the guys at LTW! (Yeah, even you Ned... BEST DAMN NON SHOOTING GUN CLASS I even took in my life was Ned's 1911 Armorers course... Yeah I know, i still owe you a burger and a beer... Lots of drama past few mths, Ill fill you in sometime soon.)

Besides, if I start getting into the FN's that is just something thats going to cost me more money as I will be sending them to the LTW guys as well as 1911's haha....

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Kentucky Colonel, Tennessee Squire & Combat Leprechaun
"You won't rise to the occasion - you'll default to your level of training." Barrett Tillman

Leroy Thompson made mention of these guns a decade or so ago (maybe longer) in Petersens's Hanguns magazine. As I recall he did not offer details of how they were marked. I agree with you that pistol is just not "right". Who knows how many have been brought back from Iraq in the last 4 years...