- Side
- Islamic State
2014 War Against the Islamic State: Conflict Armament Research documented a Browning Hi-Power pistol used by Islamic State forces and captured from them during field investigations in Iraq and Syria.
Role detailsInfantry Weapons
Browning Hi-Power pistol
Also known as
- Hi-Power
- High Power
- GP
- Grande Puissance
- BAP
- BHP
- P-35
- HP-35
- Pistol No. 2 Mk1
- Pistol No. 2 Mk1*
- L9A1
- 9mm Pistole 640b
The Browning Hi-Power is a 9x19 mm single-action semi-automatic pistol designed by John Browning and completed by Dieudonne Saive at FN. Adopted by Belgium in 1935 as the P35, it became a standard service pistol for British airborne users and NATO forces and was the first successful 9 mm single-action automatic pistol with a double-stack magazine.
Role in Conflicts
Profile / Specs
Profile
- Origin
- Belgium
- Built by
- FN Herstal
- Type
- 9x19 mm single-action semi-automatic pistol
- Service note
- 1935-present
- Designer
- John Browning and Dieudonne Saive
- Designed
- 1923-1935
- Unit cost
- Not publicly documented
- Produced
- 1935-present
- Number built
- Not publicly documented
Specifications
- Caliber
- 9x19mm Parabellum
- Operation
- Single-action, short recoil-operated, locked-breech
- Weight
- 1 kg unloaded
- Length
- 197 mm
- Magazine
- 13-round detachable box magazine
- Muzzle velocity
- 335 m/s
- Effective range
- 50 m
Variants
- Mark I
- Mark II
- Mark III
- Hi-Power Practical
Compatible Ammunition
Browning's owner manual identifies both 9mm and .40 S&W Hi Power chamberings and says each must be used only with its matching cartridge.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Pistol cartridge | Browning's owner manual says .40 S&W Hi Power pistols must be used only with .40 S&W cartridges. |
 | Pistol cartridge | Browning's Hi-Power manual says 9mm Hi Power pistols must be used only with 9mm Luger (Parabellum) cartridges. |
Compatible Ammunition
Browning's owner manual says .40 S&W Hi Power pistols must be used only with .40 S&W cartridges.
| Ammunition | Type | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pistol cartridge | Browning's owner manual says .40 S&W Hi Power pistols must be used only with .40 S&W cartridges. |
Timeline
Browning Hi-Power pistol Key Events
Design work begins
Paradata says John Browning started the Hi-Power design in 1923 and Dieudonne Saive later completed it after Browning's death.
Sources: Browning Hi Power 9mm Pistol/L9A1
Belgian adoption and P35 name
Browning's history article says FN formally adopted the pistol in 1935 and named it the Browning P35 Hi Power.
Sources: Browning Hi Power Classic Autoloader
Canadian wartime production begins
Paradata says the British sent plans to John Inglis & Company in Toronto and production began in late 1944.
Sources: Browning Hi Power 9mm Pistol/L9A1
British Army replacement starts
Paradata says the British Army began replacing the Browning with the Glock 17 Gen.4 from 2013.
Sources: Browning Hi Power 9mm Pistol/L9A1
FN ends production
Paradata records FN ending Hi-Power production in 2017 while licensed manufacture continued in India.
Sources: Browning Hi Power 9mm Pistol/L9A1
Service Designations
The Hi-Power accumulated several service names as it moved through Belgian, British, and German inventories.
| Designation | Reader note |
|---|---|
| HP / High Power | Common short form used in museum history. |
| GP | French initials for Grande Puissance. |
| BAP / BHP | Abbreviations for Browning Automatic Pistol and Browning High Power. |
| P-35 / HP-35 | Names tied to the pistol's 1935 adoption. |
| Pistol No. 2 Mk1 / Mk1* / L9A1 | British military designation used in service. |
| 9mm Pistole 640b | German wartime designation. |
Media
Browning Hi-Power pistol Videos
Browning Hi-Power pistol Images
Related Weapon Systems
Sources
Browning Hi Power Classic AutoloaderPublisher: Browning | Note: Supports the early-1920s design history, 1935 Belgian adoption, double-stack magazine innovation, and NATO/British Commonwealth service context. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Browning Hi Power PistolPublisher: Browning | Note: Supports the Hi-Power model name, U.S. market introduction, and production history. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Browning Hi-Power .40 S&W 10-Round Steel Magazine | Nickel | Mec-Gar MagazinePublisher: Galati International | Note: Supports the Browning Hi-Power .40 S&W 10-round magazine listing and the direct compatibility link to the cartridge page. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Hi Power Pistol Owner's Manual - BrowningPublisher: Browning | Note: Supports the owner's manual ammunition guidance stating that 9mm Hi Power pistols must be used only with 9mm Luger (Parabellum) cartridges and that 40 S&W Hi Power pistols must be used only with 40 S&W cartridges. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Browning Hi Power 9mm Pistol/L9A1Publisher: Paradata / Airborne Assault Museum | Note: Supports British Airborne service, alternate service names, the 1923 design start, wartime Canadian production, the 2013 British replacement, the 2017 FN production end, and key specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Flickr - ~Steve Z~ - 1971 Browning Hi Power 3.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the image provenance and open-license context for the primary Browning Hi-Power image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Canadian Forces Browning Hi-Power.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the image provenance and open-license context for the second Browning Hi-Power gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Islamic State Weapons in Iraq and SyriaPublisher: Conflict Armament Research | Note: 2014 War Against the Islamic State: used by Islamic State forces and captured in Iraq and Syria. | Accessed: 2026-06-21