IGX

Here's the pistol- a 70's FEG clone of the High Power from Hungary. Before they changed to a hybrid action, these were very accurate copies of the pre-MKII, totally interchangeable with OEM parts. This was almost certainly a surplus Israeli police pistol judging by the shipments that came in at the same time.
It's in good shape internally, although it has a ton of finish and grip wear. Slide/frame fit is good. I'll be fixing it up back into decent service pistol shape. Step one is to take it apart and re-blue it. I am rust-blueing it myself- This is safer and easier than hot blueing. Rust blueing's downsides are slowness and a mandatory matte to satin finish. You can't do the shiny Colt blue. I'm OK with satin, I think it's a less slippery surface, and it will mask the scars of use on the gun.

Rust bluing is a chore. Have fun carting that shit off.

As you probably already know, metal prep and degreasing the most important steps. Almost every failed or shitty home rebluing project that I have witnessed, or been part of, was due to some sort of mistake in the metal prep.

Hot bluing is the shit, but you have to be really into rebluing firearms to justify the risks involved.

Yeah, I have a Chem background, so I looked at hot blueing, but decided I'd have to have like a dozen guns to blue to make it worth it. By contrast, rust blueing cost me just $15 in supplies I didn't already own. Hard to beat that even if it does take several evenings. I'm well in and it's not that bad, actually. I'm doing the "slightly hot" method.
Here's the slide boiling in distilled water on pass 4. Probably go for 6.

OK, I'm calling 6 passes satisfactory for me. Not factory new, but I'd probably have had to sandblast it to get much more uniform. There will now be a pause as I wait for backordered parts. Dang it.

Hmmmmm...That looks completely decent to my eye.

I'll probably get some checkered grips eventually, but for now I decided to use the original grips and turn them into smooth grips. Linseed oil finish with gunstock wax makes for a grippy enough surface, I think. The grips seemed to be oak , once I sanded them smooth enough to see.

This is just stained a little.

of course, after I finished them I remembered I was going to add an extended ambi safety... Oops! Had to take more of the top edge for clearance.

Here's the bits about to go back together!

Done what I can with what's in stock: lowered hammer spring to original Browning spec of 26lb, increased recoil spring power, polished internal surfaces, removed the hated mag safety, and installed an ambi safety. Thinned and refinished grips turned out well- actually I like them much better than the ones with the thumb rest.

I left the hammer/sear interface alone and let them wear in with some dry fire. After the new oxide wore off the hammer the trigger ended up pretty light and decently smooth. I was almost worried it was going to end up lighter than I wanted for a carry gun. Trigger pull and reset are nicely short- nothing I did there, just good design. Ergonomically, the gun is very comfortable to hold and use. I still need to install a new rear sight, but that can wait till whenever it arrives.

Here is the FEG with another High Power type, the Arcus 94 Compact.
The whole thing turned out quite well. Now, if I could just find some range time...

Nicely done.

I'm biased...but HP makes the Argus look ungainly.

Blaidd Drwg wrote:Nicely done.

I'm biased...but HP makes the Argus look ungainly.

True, the Arcus looks like a High Power as issued to Imperial Stormtroopers, the original design is an elegant weapon, for a more civilized age.

I need to get a Hi Power and a CZ75

This is beautiful work.

Good work!

Thanks guys. I have to say, the more I work on and handle it, the better I like the High Power design.
It just feels so comfortable and natural in the hand. There are some ways in which it really does improve on the 1911. (Heresy!)

Schlegel wrote:Thanks guys. I have to say, the more I work on and handle it, the better I like the High Power design.
It just feels so comfortable and natural in the hand. There are some ways in which it really does improve on the 1911. (Heresy!)

Not heresy, it does point better than the 1911 IMO.

It is my 2nd fave 9mm pistol and it is a close and less expensive 2nd to the H&K P7 M8.

I was very close to getting a Hi-Power in 40 S&W when I got my 1911A1, and the 1911 one out because I don't get to shoot all the time. If I got out twice a month or more to shoot than I'd have got the Hi-Power. I just like the extra punch, knockdown and availability of the .45ACP (well when I got it in 02).

Very nice choice and great work. Wish I could say "Fuck it!" and go get a nice P-35 Hi-Power right now.

I have a pair of HP Practicals I will keep for ever. Terry Tussey did the tune up on them. Flawless. I like the 9mm.