View Full Version : Looking for a P35 gunsmith.
I have a nice 9mm Browning P35 headed my way. I have always wanted a custom Hipower. I am not looking for a $4k showpiece. I am looking for a shooter, similar to the Novak HRT model. I have the shops narrowed to
1. Novak
2. The Action Works
3. Gartwaite
4. Someone else I am sure I forgot.
I am looking for new sights, action job, barrel crown, extended 1911 shaped safety, spur hammer bob, beveled magwell, grey park, and a reliability job. Nothing too crazy.
Any pointers or ideas?
Why aren't you considering Cylinder and Slide. They have a wealth of knowledge on the High Power, and have many options.
No reason. Kinda forgot to put them on the list. Haha
Novak has had a sterling rep for many years as a BHP mechanic. Although the others may be as good, you should have no trouble recovering your costs in the future if you sell a Novak pistol. He advertises that he doesn't cut springs to achieve desired trigger pull. Some smiths refuse to remove the mag disconnect, and if you send them a BHP without one, they're re-install this part and charge the customer. Novak stays booked up. Is he currently accepting new work?
Novak's shop worked on my 2 Para's and I'm very pleased! If I ever picked up a HP, I couldn't imagine sending it anywhere else.
Well, I do have three Novak guns, so I might as well stay in the family. I was just looking for outside ideas.
Dos Cylindros
11-19-13, 20:39
Ted Yost at Heirloom Precision also does fantastic work on the BHP.
Karl Sokol at Chestnut Mountain Sports, he is located in West Rutland VT.
Army Chief
11-19-13, 21:19
Hard question to answer Chief, since you'll tend to run into many of the same problems with getting competent High-Power work done that you will with the 1911: long waits and high costs of customization (if you want best-grade work). No real issues with your standing list, quite honestly. I've always had a desire to acquire a P-35 and explore that side of things, as well, but learned a while ago that I probably just needed to concentrate on the 1911, lest I go completely off-the-rails. Mrs. AC already thinks I'm daft on that account, and she is probably entirely on-point.
APW Cogan (http://apwcogan.com) might be a lead worth exploring (something of a wild guess, admittedly), and of course, Novak's is a no-brainer if they can otherwise meet your pricing and timeline objectives. In your stead, I think I might just look around GunBroker for a while to see who seems to pop up most often on the "conservatively" upgraded BHPs that you see listed there for sale, as that might lead you to a smith or shop whose work you like that might have otherwise escaped your notice. If memory serves, that's where I think I spotted a nice Cogan earlier in the year. Would have owned it had I been signed-in correctly when I went to bid. Probably best that I wasn't. ;)
AC
Hmm, good idea Chief. I forgot about them. Their prices are reasonable.
Now the decision is even harder. I will say wait times are moot, since Im headed to korea in March.
Another for Cylinder & Slide Shop. Been a long time ago, but they did treat my BHP like it was their own.
I like the Hi-power! Please show us the product when the work is complete as I need some ideas for my own BHP.
Of those you listed, I only have first-hand experience with Don Williams (action works). His work exceeded my expectations. To be fair, it was on a Colt, not a HP.
That said, I don't think you will go wrong with any of those you listed or have been listed by others. I'm guessing you'll be waiting a fair bit for any of them, but I'm guessing you already know that.
Make sure you take before and after pictures. I wish I would have done that on my P35 and any others I've built (or had built). I seem to forget to take the "before's".
Good luck!
Since you have 3 Novak 1911 guns I would go with them. Assuming they have done good work for you I would reward them with doing your P35. As an added bonus they are accepting BHP work!
"Due to the current high demand and backlog of custom work, we are temporarily NOT accepting 1911's for custom gunsmithing.
This does not affect BHP's or sight installation."
kaltesherz
11-20-13, 17:14
Don Williams did mine, also as a work gun / shooter and certainly not a safe queen. Reasonable pricing and gives .mil discounts.
http://www.theactionworks.com/
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/kaltesherz/026-5.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/kaltesherz/media/026-5.jpg.html)
Army Chief
11-20-13, 17:22
Don Williams was definitely an inadvertent omission on my part. Any (and all) of the guys associated with the LTW site/effort would rate my highest recommendation.
AC
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u64/kaltesherz/026-5.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/kaltesherz/media/026-5.jpg.html)
The only thing wrong with this pistol is the abject lack of holster wear.
Okie John
kaltesherz
11-20-13, 18:33
The only thing wrong with this pistol is the abject lack of holster wear.
Okie John
Oh that was the day I got it back from Don, now she's got a bit more wear from shooting and my TT IWB. Great pistol, only problem is I can't carry spare mags as the base plates cut into my sides.
That is a very classy Hipower. Very similar to what I have in mind.
Are you satisfied with how the finish is holding up or do you wish you had went with some other finish?
kaltesherz
11-22-13, 12:42
Are you satisfied with how the finish is holding up or do you wish you had went with some other finish?
Love the park finish, holds up well and looks like a combat pistol and not a safe queen.
Just picked her up. Stunning. I almost want to just leave her the way she is, except for some new stocks.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/akscott60/3cb36a9082338e49067efe36e01f60c6_zpsbb179d6e.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/akscott60/7d0ede9d2ddf24bb3c6b2156e2b9643e_zpsf72a20b5.jpg
kaltesherz
11-23-13, 10:30
WOW. That's beautiful... I'd keep those stocks the way they are, it's hard to improve classics...
Army Chief
11-23-13, 14:09
Just picked her up. Stunning. I almost want to just leave her the way she is, except for some new stocks.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/akscott60/3cb36a9082338e49067efe36e01f60c6_zpsbb179d6e.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/akscott60/7d0ede9d2ddf24bb3c6b2156e2b9643e_zpsf72a20b5.jpg
There is often a great deal to be said for just settling-in for a bit and learning to enjoy what you've got before rushing to make any improvements. Not sure why we forget such things so easily, but that does look like one very fine pistol just as it sits right now. You've got to be pretty pleased.
AC
Wow, that thing looks just like my 1988 Hi-power.
Done by Novak's shop in 1997
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v193/EvilKev/Weapons/Guns011a.jpg
SeriousStudent
11-24-13, 12:03
WOW. That's beautiful... I'd keep those stocks the way they are, it's hard to improve classics...
Exactly the word that came to my mind - classic.
That's a really nice looking pistol.
Here is mine:
21616
21617
CFII, looks like your Hi-Power was also made in 88 if I'm not mistaken.
http://www.browning.com/customerservice/dategun/detail.asp?id=35
Yup. I would agree on the 1988 build.
I did yank the mag safety. It was a particularly nasty crunchy one. Now its crisp, albeit a bit heavy. She shoots great.
Im still thinking some cocobolo stocks would do wonders. These grips are in great shape, if a bit fat and blocky.
Yup. I would agree on the 1988 build.
I did yank the mag safety. It was a particularly nasty crunchy one. Now its crisp, albeit a bit heavy. She shoots great.
Im still thinking some cocobolo stocks would do wonders. These grips are in great shape, if a bit fat and blocky.
Mine had the Houge wrap around grips when I got it and I haven't changed them yet. I want the originals and I'm glad you posted pics of yours so I now know what the originals look like.
I've had good luck with the Mec-Gar 13 round magazines. I want to try their 15 round mags soon.
I've had good luck with the Mec-Gar 13 round magazines. I want to try their 15 round mags soon.
"Factory" BHP mags are made by Mec-Gar for Browning. Stick with the 13 rounders. The 15's can be problematic.
CFII:
Nice looking HP.
I used to dabble with the HP about 12 years ago, the experiment lasted almost a year. While the gun was utterly reliable out of the box, there are a lot of things I would change if I want to keep it permanently.
1. The factory grips (like yours) are thicker than most aftermarket grip panels. Look at KevinB's picture. His grip panels are thinner. I prefer those and they can be had from several makers. Thinner grips on the HP makes it a much more comfortable to handle. Resist any temptation to stick grips that add girth to the frame (front, side or rear).
2. The thumb safety on your gun is the original tiny lever. It is not easy to manipulate as the later variants, such as the MkIII HPs. That can be easily swapped out. Look at the Don Williams custom HP that kaltesherz posted. Those ambi levers are easier to activate.
3. Sights - The original HP sights are pretty tiny. They're ok for plinking but for carrying/training/IDPA and any shooting activities that require fast sight picture, forget it. The Don Williams gun with the Novak sights is a good option.
4. Trigger - Long and heavy as they come from the factory. If the gun has the magazine safety, then it's worse. I don't think those older HPs have it, but it still has a long pull. The trigger system on the HP is not good like the 1911s. I've seen and handled triggers from excellent 'smiths as Garthwaite, Novak, Williams and Ted Yost. Ted's is the best in my opinion.
5. Hammer bite - I have fairly small hands. During a fast grab from the holster and especially drawing from concealment, if I didn't get a perfect purchase of the grip on the first try, they hammer would bite me every time. Given plenty of time to pick it up, properly place it in my hand, make necessary adjustment, the gun will be fine. A competent pistolsmith can reduce the hammer bite by either installing a different hammer that's been prepped for "non bite" or you can go the extreme route of having a "beavertail" installed, ala Heirloom/Ted Yost HP. The weld on beavertail is the only 100% sure option to eliminate the HP hammer bite.
Those are the things you should consider if you plan to use the gun as I described in item 3. If you only intend to keep it as a safe queen, plink, occasional nostalgic shoot, then leave it as is.
I put 100 rounds of ball thru her today, Tula and military ball. What a pleasant shooting handgun. I only got slightly kissed by the hammer, nothing to really bother me. Accurate as heck, even with the tiny sights. The fact it points exactly when you want it helps.
I am now putting it into my carry rotation.
That's great to hear.
You've received a ton of good info here regarding needs and people who can help you meet those needs. That said, with the base gun you purchased, I would wholly understand if you left it stock or if you decided down the road to have a little work done. That said, I can't speak highly enough of treating yourself to a pair of Craig Spegel grips. I did that to both my unmodified 1969 HP and the one I worked over a bit. The way he shapes them MAKES that grip really come to life-and it's pretty good already. Give him a call. You won't be disappointed.
(Sorry, but it's ALMOST a picture thread anyway. :) ) Here's a set I had him make from some walnut from a tree that was in front of the house I grew up in. They aren't fancy, but they mean something to me. I had him make some 1911 stocks for myself, my dad, and my (late) brother.
http://i54.tinypic.com/2hn96hx.jpg
Williams would be my first choice. Heine sights, commander style hammer, hard sear, extended safety, remove the magazine safety, navadex (sp?) grips.
I'd you have the newer dovetail sights, they are not bad.
Battlepack
11-30-13, 08:04
Although, I have not used him, I hear good things about Fletcher Custom:
http://www.fletchercustompistols.com/index.htm
He's located in western VA. Pistola looks good as is!
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