These past few years have shown renewed interest in the High Power, one of John Browning's last firearm designs. Now, FN America is getting back into the game with a reimagined, re-engineered FN High Power that retains many of the gun's iconic features while enhancing elements for modern shooters using modern ammunition.
“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.”
Three new models are available at the FN High Power's launch, giving enthusiasts the choice of a black PVD-finished gun, stainless-steel or FN's unique flat dark earth. The guns are built on an all-steel frame, topped by a steel slide containing a 4.7" cold-hammer-forged steel barrel with an enlarged ejection port and a modernized barrel lockup to enhance reliability with modern ammunition. Unloaded, the all-metal gun weighs 40 ozs. While the gun retains classic touches, like the slide profile, slide release and tapered dust cover, many areas of the pistol have been touched to bring the High Power into the 21st century.
Gone are the single-side controls, and in their place is a bilateral slide-stop lever and thumb safety. The FN High Power also features a single-side, reversible magazine-release button. Additionally, the 13-round magazine capacity of the original High Power is a thing of the past. FN America skipped over the 15-round capacity seen in most of today's clones and outfitted its new High Power with a 17-round magazine.
Additionally, the magazine-disconnect safety has also been eliminated, ensuring the FN High Power has a smoother, more crisp trigger pull, and field-stripping the gun is accomplished by simply turning the takedown lever on the right side of the frame.The steel frame features checkering on the front strap and backstrap for added grip, and generously textured polymer grip panels on either side enhance control. A slightly enlarged beavertail and raised hammer eliminate the potential for hammer bite.
FN America includes two pairs of polymer grip panels with each FN High Power, and seven additional G10 or wood grip panels are available for further customization. Each gun is also topped with drift-adjustable steel sights borrowed from the FN 509, so aftermarket sights fitting the pattern are available. Two 17-round magazines are included with each pistol. The suggested retail price on the new FN High Power starts at $1,269 for the all-black and FDE-finished models, while the stainless-steel model retails for $1,369. For more information, visit fnamerica.com.
