(Like the Lithuanian Hi-Powers, the Estonian Hi-Powers were also used by the Germans)
This post consists of four Hi-Powers and in the next post will be three holsters.
There have been a number of changes in the Hi-Power over the years. For the purpose of this posting only three are being considered. The first is the markings on the tangent sight. Originally the markings only covered about 2/3 of the sight blade. Later, the markings covered the entire sight blade. This change in markings required that the sight rails be modified. All four of the pistols in this article have the marking covering the entire sight blade. This is the late or second version of the sight blade and, by some, called "T2". These are the original sight blades as is indicated by the sight rails on the slide. (An example of the early sight blade - "T1" - and the original sight rails is posted for comparison purposes.) (The conclusion will be expressed later.)
Early Tangent sight (T1):
Download Attachment:
PRE-3a.jpg
34.21 KB
Early sight rails for "T1' tangent sight:
Download Attachment: PRE-1a.jpg
45.07 KB
The E.V. pistols and the K.L. pistols are in the same serial number range. 3038 pistols were marked "E.V." for "Esti Vabarik" (Republic of Estonia) and 2300 pistols were marked "K.L." for Kaitseliit (Estonian Civil Guard).
This contract for Estonia was in 1937. The Russians acquired all of Estonia's weapons upon the occupation in 1940. The Germans then occupied Estonia (as part of the invasion of Russia) until 1944 when the Russians drove the Germans out and re-occupied Estonia. Most of the Estonian High Powers were probably brought back from World War II, having been acquired as souvenirs from the Germans by the American troops.
ESTONIAN CONTRACT (Police)
Serial No. 1274
Late 500 meter tangent sight & Stock slot
Early round cam slot
Commercial proofs
K.L. on rear of grip strap
K.L. = "Kaitseliit" for Civil Guard - Home Guard - (Police)
Right side - Serial No. 1274
Download Attachment: KL-1a.jpg
37.06 KB
Left side -Serial No. 1274
Download Attachment: KL-2a.jpg
41.34 KB
Tangent sight and sight rails -Serial No. 1274
Serial No. 1274 The Hi-Power has the late (T2) tangent sight. Note: the sight rails (as compared to the early (T1) tangent sight rails) evidence a more gradual rise. This was all that was needed to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters. With the early sight where the distance graduations were on a part of the sight blade, the sight rails had a steeper incline so as to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters.
Download Attachment: KL-4a.jpg
55.96 KB
Download Attachment: KL-6a.jpg
55.15 KB
Serial No. 1274 Note the "KL" on the rear of the grip.
Download Attachment: KL-5a.jpg
37.88 KB
Serial No. 1274 This High Power has the early round cam slot in the barrel lug found on early pre-war High Powers.
Download Attachment: KL-8a.jpg
31.81 KB
View of serial no.
Download Attachment: KL-9a.jpg
37.93 KB
==========================================
ESTONIA CONTRACT (Military)
Serial No. 1709
Late 500 meter tangent sight & Stock slot
Early round cam slot
Commercial proofs
E.V. on rear of grip strap
E.V.= "Eesti Vabarik" for Republic of Estonia
Right side - Serial No. 1709
Download Attachment: EV-4a.jpg
42 KB
Left side - Serial No. 1709
Download Attachment: EV-1a.jpg
45.92 KB
Tangent sight and sight rails -Serial No. 1709
Serial No. 1709 The Hi-Power has the late (T2) tangent sight. Note: the sight rails (as compared to the early (T1) tangent sight rails) evidence a more gradual rise. This was all that was needed to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters. With the early sight where the distance graduations were on a part of the sight blade, the sight rails had a steeper incline so as to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters.
Download Attachment: EV-8a.jpg
55.92 KB
Download Attachment: EV-17a.jpg
63.13 KB
Serial No. 1709 Note the "EV" on the rear of the grip.
Download Attachment: E-11a.jpg
36.01 KB
Serial No. 1709 This High Power has the early round cam slot in the barrel lug found on early pre-war High Powers.
Download Attachment: EV-15a.jpg
29.15 KB
View of serial no.
Download Attachment: E-6a.jpg
43.53 KB
================================
SERIAL NO. 5
Late 500 meter tangent sight & Stock slot
Commercial Proofs only
Right side - Serial No. 5
Download Attachment: E-1a.jpg
53.73 KB
Left side - Serial No. 5
Download Attachment: E-5a.jpg
38.93 KB
Tangent sight and sight rails -Serial No. 5
Serial No. 5 The Hi-Power has the late (T2) tangent sight. Note: the sight rails (as compared to the early (T1) tangent sight rails) evidence a more gradual rise. This was all that was needed to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters. With the early sight where the distance graduations were on a part of the sight blade, the sight rails had a steeper incline so as to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters.
Download Attachment: E-9a.jpg
35.18 KB
Download Attachment: E-6a.jpg
43.53 KB
Serial No. 5 Note - no markings on the rear of the grip.
Download Attachment: E-11a.jpg
36.01 KB
Serial No. 5 This High Power has the early round cam slot in the barrel lug found on early pre-war High Powers.
Download Attachment: E-13a.jpg
49.42 KB
View of serial no.
Download Attachment: E-3a.jpg
51.85 KB
=====================
SERIAL NO. 1
500 meter tangent sight and Stock slot
Commercial Proofs only
Right side - Serial No. 1
Download Attachment: E^2a.jpg
41.88 KB
Left side - Serial No. 1
Download Attachment: E^1a.jpg
45.28 KB
Tangent sight and sight rails -Serial No. 1
Serial No. 1 The Hi-Power has the late (T2) tangent sight. Note: the sight rails (as compared to the early (T1) tangent sight rails) evidence a more gradual rise. This was all that was needed to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters. With the early sight where the distance graduations were on a part of the sight blade, the sight rails had a steeper incline so as to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters.
Download Attachment: E^6a.jpg
106.14 KB
Download Attachment: E^12a.jpg
56.18 KB
Serial No. 1 Note - no markings on the rear of the grip.
Download Attachment: E^8a.jpg
38.81 KB
Serial No. 1 This High Power has the early round cam slot in the barrel lug found on early pre-war High Powers.
Download Attachment: E^11a.jpg
25.21 KB
View of serial no.
Download Attachment: E^4a.jpg
70.26 KB
==============================
As initially stated, there have been a number of changes in the Hi-Power over the years. At this point in time only three are being considered. The first is the markings on the tangent sight. Originally the markings only covered about 2/3 of the sight blade. Later, the markings covered the entire sight blade. This change in markings required that the sight rails be modified. All four of the pistols in this article have the marking covering the entire sight blade. This is the late or second version of the sight blade and, by some, called "T2". This are the original sight blades as is indicated by the sight rails. (An example of the early sight blade - "T1" - and the original sight rails are posted for comparison purposes.)
The question is where do Serial No 1 and Serial No. 5 belong. The other pre-war contracts either had special markings, had the early rounded cam and the early sight (T1), or had the late cam and the late sight (T2). The Estonian contract is the only foreign contract known to regularly have a mixture of the early cam and the late sight "T1" (Undoubtedly there are some Hi-Powers in the Belgian contract which have this mixture of these features. But these will be in a very higher serial number range.)
(Changes in design, etc were officially made at a specific point in time. However, on the production line, the changes were phased in. Generally the new design for a part would not be used until all of the old parts were gone. As is evidenced by the Estonian contracts, the tangent sight was changed before the new barrel design was used.)
So what are the two Hi-Powers with serial no. 1 and serial no. 5.
Estonia had two contracts with FN. 5338 pistols were ordered and delivered in 1937 with either EV or KL markings. Anthony Vanderlinden, in his book, states that 120 pistols were ordered and delivered in 1936 without any markings.
It is evident that these two have the same features as the "EV" and "KL" versions.
It is my opinion that Serial No. 1 and Serial No. 5 were from the 1936 contract.
This post consists of four Hi-Powers and in the next post will be three holsters.
There have been a number of changes in the Hi-Power over the years. For the purpose of this posting only three are being considered. The first is the markings on the tangent sight. Originally the markings only covered about 2/3 of the sight blade. Later, the markings covered the entire sight blade. This change in markings required that the sight rails be modified. All four of the pistols in this article have the marking covering the entire sight blade. This is the late or second version of the sight blade and, by some, called "T2". These are the original sight blades as is indicated by the sight rails on the slide. (An example of the early sight blade - "T1" - and the original sight rails is posted for comparison purposes.) (The conclusion will be expressed later.)
Early Tangent sight (T1):
Download Attachment:
PRE-3a.jpg34.21 KB
Early sight rails for "T1' tangent sight:
Download Attachment:
PRE-1a.jpg45.07 KB
The E.V. pistols and the K.L. pistols are in the same serial number range. 3038 pistols were marked "E.V." for "Esti Vabarik" (Republic of Estonia) and 2300 pistols were marked "K.L." for Kaitseliit (Estonian Civil Guard).
This contract for Estonia was in 1937. The Russians acquired all of Estonia's weapons upon the occupation in 1940. The Germans then occupied Estonia (as part of the invasion of Russia) until 1944 when the Russians drove the Germans out and re-occupied Estonia. Most of the Estonian High Powers were probably brought back from World War II, having been acquired as souvenirs from the Germans by the American troops.
ESTONIAN CONTRACT (Police)
Serial No. 1274
Late 500 meter tangent sight & Stock slot
Early round cam slot
Commercial proofs
K.L. on rear of grip strap
K.L. = "Kaitseliit" for Civil Guard - Home Guard - (Police)
Right side - Serial No. 1274
Download Attachment:
KL-1a.jpg37.06 KB
Left side -Serial No. 1274
Download Attachment:
KL-2a.jpg41.34 KB
Tangent sight and sight rails -Serial No. 1274
Serial No. 1274 The Hi-Power has the late (T2) tangent sight. Note: the sight rails (as compared to the early (T1) tangent sight rails) evidence a more gradual rise. This was all that was needed to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters. With the early sight where the distance graduations were on a part of the sight blade, the sight rails had a steeper incline so as to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters.
Download Attachment:
KL-4a.jpg55.96 KB
Download Attachment:
KL-6a.jpg55.15 KB
Serial No. 1274 Note the "KL" on the rear of the grip.
Download Attachment:
KL-5a.jpg37.88 KB
Serial No. 1274 This High Power has the early round cam slot in the barrel lug found on early pre-war High Powers.
Download Attachment:
KL-8a.jpg31.81 KB
View of serial no.
Download Attachment:
KL-9a.jpg37.93 KB
==========================================
ESTONIA CONTRACT (Military)
Serial No. 1709
Late 500 meter tangent sight & Stock slot
Early round cam slot
Commercial proofs
E.V. on rear of grip strap
E.V.= "Eesti Vabarik" for Republic of Estonia
Right side - Serial No. 1709
Download Attachment:
EV-4a.jpg42 KB
Left side - Serial No. 1709
Download Attachment:
EV-1a.jpg45.92 KB
Tangent sight and sight rails -Serial No. 1709
Serial No. 1709 The Hi-Power has the late (T2) tangent sight. Note: the sight rails (as compared to the early (T1) tangent sight rails) evidence a more gradual rise. This was all that was needed to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters. With the early sight where the distance graduations were on a part of the sight blade, the sight rails had a steeper incline so as to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters.
Download Attachment:
EV-8a.jpg55.92 KB
Download Attachment:
EV-17a.jpg63.13 KB
Serial No. 1709 Note the "EV" on the rear of the grip.
Download Attachment:
E-11a.jpg36.01 KB
Serial No. 1709 This High Power has the early round cam slot in the barrel lug found on early pre-war High Powers.
Download Attachment:
EV-15a.jpg29.15 KB
View of serial no.
Download Attachment:
E-6a.jpg43.53 KB
================================
SERIAL NO. 5
Late 500 meter tangent sight & Stock slot
Commercial Proofs only
Right side - Serial No. 5
Download Attachment:
E-1a.jpg53.73 KB
Left side - Serial No. 5
Download Attachment:
E-5a.jpg38.93 KB
Tangent sight and sight rails -Serial No. 5
Serial No. 5 The Hi-Power has the late (T2) tangent sight. Note: the sight rails (as compared to the early (T1) tangent sight rails) evidence a more gradual rise. This was all that was needed to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters. With the early sight where the distance graduations were on a part of the sight blade, the sight rails had a steeper incline so as to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters.
Download Attachment:
E-9a.jpg35.18 KB
Download Attachment:
E-6a.jpg43.53 KB
Serial No. 5 Note - no markings on the rear of the grip.
Download Attachment:
E-11a.jpg36.01 KB
Serial No. 5 This High Power has the early round cam slot in the barrel lug found on early pre-war High Powers.
Download Attachment:
E-13a.jpg49.42 KB
View of serial no.
Download Attachment:
E-3a.jpg51.85 KB
=====================
SERIAL NO. 1
500 meter tangent sight and Stock slot
Commercial Proofs only
Right side - Serial No. 1
Download Attachment:
E^2a.jpg41.88 KB
Left side - Serial No. 1
Download Attachment:
E^1a.jpg45.28 KB
Tangent sight and sight rails -Serial No. 1
Serial No. 1 The Hi-Power has the late (T2) tangent sight. Note: the sight rails (as compared to the early (T1) tangent sight rails) evidence a more gradual rise. This was all that was needed to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters. With the early sight where the distance graduations were on a part of the sight blade, the sight rails had a steeper incline so as to raise the sight to a sufficient height for 500 meters.
Download Attachment:
E^6a.jpg106.14 KB
Download Attachment:
E^12a.jpg56.18 KB
Serial No. 1 Note - no markings on the rear of the grip.
Download Attachment:
E^8a.jpg38.81 KB
Serial No. 1 This High Power has the early round cam slot in the barrel lug found on early pre-war High Powers.
Download Attachment:
E^11a.jpg25.21 KB
View of serial no.
Download Attachment:
E^4a.jpg70.26 KB
==============================
As initially stated, there have been a number of changes in the Hi-Power over the years. At this point in time only three are being considered. The first is the markings on the tangent sight. Originally the markings only covered about 2/3 of the sight blade. Later, the markings covered the entire sight blade. This change in markings required that the sight rails be modified. All four of the pistols in this article have the marking covering the entire sight blade. This is the late or second version of the sight blade and, by some, called "T2". This are the original sight blades as is indicated by the sight rails. (An example of the early sight blade - "T1" - and the original sight rails are posted for comparison purposes.)
The question is where do Serial No 1 and Serial No. 5 belong. The other pre-war contracts either had special markings, had the early rounded cam and the early sight (T1), or had the late cam and the late sight (T2). The Estonian contract is the only foreign contract known to regularly have a mixture of the early cam and the late sight "T1" (Undoubtedly there are some Hi-Powers in the Belgian contract which have this mixture of these features. But these will be in a very higher serial number range.)
(Changes in design, etc were officially made at a specific point in time. However, on the production line, the changes were phased in. Generally the new design for a part would not be used until all of the old parts were gone. As is evidenced by the Estonian contracts, the tangent sight was changed before the new barrel design was used.)
So what are the two Hi-Powers with serial no. 1 and serial no. 5.
Estonia had two contracts with FN. 5338 pistols were ordered and delivered in 1937 with either EV or KL markings. Anthony Vanderlinden, in his book, states that 120 pistols were ordered and delivered in 1936 without any markings.
It is evident that these two have the same features as the "EV" and "KL" versions.
It is my opinion that Serial No. 1 and Serial No. 5 were from the 1936 contract.
