By: Friedrich Seiltgen

The FN High Power served as the standard sidearm of over 50 NATO armies for over 80 years.  In early 2018, after producing the High Power for over 82 years, FN decided to retire it.  Soon, the clone wars began.  Several manufacturers started putting out their versions of the High Power, including Springfield Armory with their SA-35.  Now in 2022, presumably after seeing the demand explode in the high-power market, FN decided to bring back the High Power and restarted production at America’s FN facility in Columbia, South Carolina.  FN stayed true to John Moses Browning’s original design, with several modern updates.

“The High Power is such an iconic design and synonymous with FN, really.  We recognized the gravity of reintroducing this newly redesigned pistol with such a storied history,” said Mark Cherpes, president and CEO for FN America, LLC.  “Rather than introduce a clone of the original, we had to deliver much more than other brands, knowing the FN High Power would be held to a higher standard.  FN pays homage to the prolific design while modernizing the ergonomics, functionality, and operation.  We respect what this pistol has meant to generations of FN collectors and feel the new FN High Power dovetails perfectly with the rest of the FN pistol line, carrying a future-forward design to the next generation of shooting enthusiasts.”

THE FRAME

For starters, FN made the modern High Power fully ambidextrous with a knurled and textured thumb safety, slide release, and reversible magazine release.  The ergonomics are updated with an enlarged beavertail and raised hammer to lessen the chance of hammer bite.  Removing old style pins and bushings, and adding a takedown lever, makes field stripping fast.  The frame comes in old school black, stainless steel, or flat dark earth.  The weapon ships with 2 sets of polymer grips; and if you want to customize, there are seven other G10 or wood grips to choose from.  By the way, the High Power now has a 17-round magazine capacity; and the magazine disconnect is gone, leaving a smooth, crisp trigger pull.

THE SLIDE & BARREL

An enlarged ejection port to handle all types of ammunition, steel 3 dot sights with the FN 509 dovetail pattern, and a distinctive keyhole muzzle profile are all rounded out with A PVD finish for corrosion protection.  The barrel is 4.7” long, cold hammer forged, and target crowned for accuracy.  The chamber and ramp are polished for reliable feeding.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Single Action Semi-Automatic Handgun

Caliber: 9 x 19mm

Magazine capacity: 17

Barrel Length: 4.7 Inches

Overall Length: 8 Inches

Weight: 40 Ounces

The new High Power ships with two 17 round magazines (provided you live in a free state), two sets of polymer grips, and can be had for a mere $1,269 or $1,369 for the stainless steel version.  For more information, visit www.fnamerica.com.

That’s all for now folks!   Please keep sending in your questions, tips, and article Ideas.  And as always – “Let’s Be Careful Out There”

Friedrich Seiltgen is a retired Master Police Officer with 20 years of service with the Orlando Police Department.   He conducts training in Lone Wolf Terrorism, Firearms, and Active Shooter Response.  His writing has appeared in RECOIL, The Counter Terrorist Magazine, American Thinker, Homeland Security Today, and The Journal of Counterterrorism & Homeland Security International.  Contact him at [email protected]