Oh no!

[ELB]

Production of the Browning Hi Power has ended.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/milita ... tion-ends/

The HP was an improvement over the pistols that came after it.

[Noggin]

Last fall I inherited one from my father in law who died in September. I guess I should now hang on to it.

Way back in the 1970s as a young Lt I carried one in Northern Ireland for 2 tours. however unlike the guy in that old picture standing next to his Vaukhall Viva "Q Car" I kept mine in a Hunter shoulder holster under my coat not in my waist band and my "Q car" was a Ford Escort MK1.
Back in the 70s short hair marked you out as being military so we were encouraged to grow ours longer than regulation.

[chamberc]

Production of the Browning Hi Power has ended.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/milita ... tion-ends/

The HP was an improvement over the pistols that came after it. ;-)

Sad, I have one in 9 and 40 and so greatly prefer them over a 1911.

[Noggin]

My sidearm in Iraq - but I still prefer the CZ75

Noggin, this might be a long shot but did you happen to know a WO2 Derek Bull (Para reg) there? He was doing the same work - got an MBE for it. He was one of my bosses in Iraq - sterling guy, very low-key but knew his stuff.

Sorry I don't think I ever met him, although I am guessing if you knew him in Iraq you are talking about 21st century adventure and not "Desert Storm". If he was a WO2 in the early 2000s then he would be a bit after my time I was in N Ireland in 76 & 77, I took my Major's pension and left the service in Feb 94.

[ghostrider]

I heard rumours that this might be coming.

[TreyHouston]

My sidearm in Iraq - but I still prefer the CZ75

Noggin, this might be a long shot but did you happen to know a WO2 Derek Bull (Para reg) there? He was doing the same work - got an MBE for it. He was one of my bosses in Iraq - sterling guy, very low-key but knew his stuff.

Sorry I don't think I ever met him, although I am guessing if you knew him in Iraq you are talking about 21st century adventure and not "Desert Storm". If he was a WO2 in the early 2000s then he would be a bit after my time I was in N Ireland in 76 & 77, I took my Major's pension and left the service in Feb 94.

Thank you both for your service and protecting us.

[Rhino1]

Bought one in 1972 before shipping out the SEA. The Air Force used S&W .38 Combat Masterpiece Revolvers for aircrew and Security Police in those days. I had an instructor in F-4 training who was shot down on his first tour. I recall him commenting that a revolvers was a POS to reload when you’re being chased through rice paddies. Decided I wanted higher capacity. Seems that the choices in those days was either a 1911 or a Browning Hi-Power.
An interesting side story was getting it over there. I left Houston for Travis AFB. I called the airlines and asked what to do. They just said to put it in my baggge (B4 bag for military folks). Got to the Phillipines for a few days for Jungle Survival School. When I checked in for the flight to Thailand, they said the same thing about putting in my baggage. When I got to Ubon, I asked our Life Support Guys where to store It. They said you couldn’t have a personal firearm in Thailand and violation could be severe, up to the death penalty. I just kept it in my locker and put it in my holster when we went to fly. No one ever commented on it after that.