A little Browning trivia...

[G-MAN]

Below is a drawing from Browning's original "Hi Power" patent. Several prototypes of this gun were built, but Browning died during its development. As you can see, the pistol that eventually went into production in 1935 as the Browning Hi Power is markedly different from Browning's original design.

Some have said the 1935 Hi Power was really the product of FN's designer, Dieudonne Saive, and is not really a Browning design at all. Others have noted that Saive was working with Browning in the development of the Hi Power and all he did after JMB's death was continue with the changes that Browning himself was already working on. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Here's a trivia question: Why do you suppose the original design is so dissimilar from the 1911 design and the 1935 is much more similar to the 1911?

[steves]

J.B,. died before the plans were complete and some else finished the design. It is interesting when you compare the High Power design to the 1911 them to the plastic guns.

[G-MAN]

J.B,. died before the plans were complete and some else finished the design. It is interesting when you compare the High Power design to the 1911 them to the plastic guns.

I'm not sure I follow you. The original patent was filed in 1923 and bears JMB's signature. Browning died in 1926 and the original patent was issued in 1927.

The reason the 1927 design and the 1911 design are so dissimilar is because Browning had to work around the 1911 patent. Colt owned the rights to the 1911 design and the patent would not expire until 1928. Therefore Browning himself could not incorporate any of the tried and true 1911 designs in the new pistol until the 1911 patent expired. Unfortunately, JMB expired before the 1911 patent did. But I'm convinced that the pistol that became the 1935 Hi Power, which did incorporate a lot of 1911 "technology," was already being worked on by JMB and Saive at FN before JMB died. He was just biding his time until the 1911 patent would expire in 1928. Dieudonne Saive just continued with Browning's work, and once the 1911 patent expired, there was no further impediments to producing the new "improved" version of the Hi Power.

[steves]

Interesting I didnot know the exact J.B specifics . To me the Hi Power seems to be the next step in the evolution mechanically from the 1911. The plastic guns seem at least barrel wise setup similar to the Hi Power.