2346

EXTREMELY EARLY SERIAL NUMBER "444" FABRIQUE

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
EXTREMELY EARLY SERIAL NUMBER  444  FABRIQUE
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2026 Aug 06 @ 10:00 (UTC-04:00 : AST/EDT)
NATIONALE HIGH POWER SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. Cal. 9mm Luger. S# 444. Bbl. 4 5/8". High Power semi-automatic pistol mfg. by Fabrique Nationale. The left side of the slide is marked "FABRIQUE NATIONALE D'ARMES DE GUERRE/ HERSTAL BELGIQUE/ BROWNING'S PATENT DEPOSE". Left side of the frame, slide, and right side of the bbl. exhibit Belgian commercial proof marks. Metal components exhibit a reapplied blue finish overall, save for on the bbl., which has been re-polished in-the-white. Sides of hammer have been cleaned and polished in-the-white. Slotted frame is fitted with 2-piece checkered wood grips. Thumbprint slide features a dovetailed blade front sight and Type 1 tangent V-notch rear sight graduated 50-500. All serialized parts are matching and include the frame, slide, and bbl. MAGS: 1 phosphate finished 13-rd. with blued split tail floorplate. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a page of notes from Charles Wagner denoting this variation that notably states "There has been contention that the Oval ejector port High Powers were not a special and/or not in a special serial number range. Yet there is evidence that there were two separate serial numbers ranges or groups, one for the High Powers with the standard ejection port and one for the High Powers that had the 'Oval' ejection port. For proof of this, please see note that two High Powers are in the display, one with the "Oval" ejection port and one with the standard ejection port, both of which have the same serial number". Also accompanying this example is an invoice from William O. Drollinger (William O. Drollinger is described as a noted American High Power Collector in Blake Stevens' book, "The Browning High Power Automatic Pistol") dated June 26th of 2000, listing both the oval and standard ejection port pistols with S# "444". CONDITION: metal components retain the majority of their reapplied blue finish, showing light to mild edge wear, with scattered spots and patches of light to mild pitting. Grip straps show some thinning, with the rear strap exhibiting a small spot of wear that is fading to gray patina. Bright bore, exhibiting consistent light pitting, while retaining well defined rifling throughout. Proper manual mechanics. Grips show light general wear, with some smoothing and nicks to the diamonds. A seldom presented opportunity for the advanced High Power collector to acquire both a standard and oval port High with the S# "444", proving the separate S# ranges of the oval and standard ejection port High Powers. PROVENANCE: The Estate Collection of Charles Wagner. (25-450/MLW). CURIO. $4,000-5,000.