One of the things John Browning, the Leonardo da Vinci of guns, was most famous for was the Colt/Browning 1911, that big, heavy, slab-sided piece that is arguably one of the most successful martial sidearms ever made. But before Browning passed away in 1926, he had started a design that many saw as an improvement on the 1911; the new design was finished by FN Herstal engineer Dieudonné Saive and became the 9mm Parabellum Browning Hi-Power pistol. The Hi-Power was the first semi-auto pistol in mass production to have a 13-round, double-stack magazine and was adopted by militaries all over the world; many are still in use today. Great Britain and all the Commonwealth nations used the Hi-Power for many years — including Canada.
Advertisement
But now Canada is transitioning to the Sig-Sauer P320 for their primary service sidearm, and since Canadian civilians can not legally own the Hi-Power under that country’s onerous gun laws, they are scheduled to be scrapped, and that’s an utter waste.
David Pugiliese, the reporter on Canadian Forces and military issues, has been following the saga of replacing and destroying the Browning Hi-Power pistols, which have been used by the Canadian military since WWII. Most of the pistols were part of a production run done at the end of the war. The Canadian military has been working on the project for many years. From David Pugiliese, Ottowa Citizen October 13, 2022 :
At this time the Canadian Forces has 11,896 Browning handguns in its inventory, National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier told this newspaper. Of those, 1,323 are non-functioning.
As the Browning 9mm pistol is currently in use, the details of a disposal plan still have to be worked out, Le Bouthillier explained. “However at this time it is anticipated that given the age and wear of the pistol fleet as well as the fact that the Browning is a restricted firearm and the magazine is a prohibited device, disposal will be through destruction by smelting,” he added.
Smelting — in other words, these historic and irreplaceable pieces will be melted down.
Advertisement
The Hi-Power is a prohibited item in Canada, thanks to that nation’s Firearms Act of 1995.
Handguns with barrels of less than 105 mm (4 1/8 inches) were banned, as were magazines that held more than 10 rounds. No handgun was used in the mass murder. The barrel length was specifically crafted in the law to ban most handguns. Browning Hi-Powers have a barrel of 4.7 inches or 119 mm.
Let’s set aside wondering about Canada’s gun laws for a moment and consider the fate of these historic sidearms.
See Related:Al Capone’s Personal .45 Colt Up for Auction
LEGAL SHOWDOWN: 26 States File Lawsuits Targeting ATF Anti-Gunner Rule
There is a precedent by which these fine old pieces might be saved. Before and after the Korean War, the South Koreans received a large number of M1 rifles and M1 carbines as military aid from the United States. When South Korea decided to upgrade its military arsenal, the United States allowed them to sell the surplus rifles and carbines to American citizens under the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP.) Guns sold under the CMP can only be sold through an application process to members of approved gun clubs, but once sold to a private party, they are regulated the same way as any other firearm, meaning, in the case of the M1 rifles and M1 carbines — and also most, if not all, of the Canadian Hi-Power pistols — would be eligible under the Curio & Relics system for direct sale to collectors.
Advertisement
I would ask if there is not some way a deal like this could be reached for these Canadian Hi-Powers. Under the Biden administration, though? That’s about as likely as Joe Biden showing up tomorrow and making a public address that is actually well-thought-out and articulate.
Sadly, it looks like thousands of these historic, high-quality sidearms are going to just be melted down. And that is a damn shame.