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The
BAP is the semi-automatic pistol that the Army Reserve uses. It is used
mainly by officers and by some NCO's. On occasion (though very rarely)
privates fire it.
Initially, the "High
Power" pistol was designed by John M. Browning in 1925 and was
patented in the USA in 1927, soon after the death of the Browning. The
design was aquired by Belgian state-owned company FN Herstal, and improved
by FN designer Dieudonne Saive. The resulting pistol was shelved until
1935, when Belgian army was ready to adopt new sidearm. The HP was offered
for trials and won, and was adopted as a Model 1935 pistol. Soon after
that it was also adopted by Belgian police and by many foreign countries,
including Britich Commonwealth ones (UK, Canada, Australia etc.). The
High Power is the only sidearm that served for both sides in WW2 - Germany
used many HPs manufactured in occupied Belgium, while Allies used HPs
manufactured mostly in Canada by company Inglis. The HP continues its
service well into XXI century with belgian Army and Police, British
army and many other military and Law Enforcement agencies, being second
longest living service pistols after the another famous Brownings' design,
the Colt 1911.
 Technically,
the High Power pistol, also known as Browning HP 35, GP 35 or Model
1935, is a recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses linkless barrel
to slide locking (see picture above), invented by Browning. The trigger
is single action, with external hammer. Original HPs featured frame
mounted safety at the left side of the frame, that locks both sear and
slide. Modern versions, since Mark II, also featured ambidextrous safety
levers, that are also more comfortable to operate. Original HPs were
available with two sight wersions - with standart fixed sights, and
with rear tangent sights ajustable for distance from 50 to 500 meters.
Some pre- and WW2-time guns also featured backstraps with cuts to accomodate
removable shoulder stocks/holsters. Grip panels were made from wood,
and pistols were availabli with or without lanyard rings. The HP was
the first military pistol to have high capacity, staggered column magazine
for 13 rounds plus one loaded in the chamber.
Newer Military/LE
versions, such as Mk.II and recent Mk.III (also marketed under the name
of HP-SA with added firing pin safety), featured more modern fixed combat
sights and polymer grip panels. Commercial models may feature different
sight options and finiches. Lates addition to the High Power family
is a variation chambered in .40S&W cartridge. It has redesigned
and strenghtened slide to accomodate more powerful cartridge, and magazine
capacity of 10 rounds.
In 1980's or so
FN also developed version of the HP with double action trigger, that
was named HP-DA. It is still marketed by FN, but didn't catch the market
as well as its predescessor did.
Copies and clones
of the HP are still manufactured around the worls, such as Hungarian
FEG 9, Bulgarian Arcus etc.
- Source: http://world.guns.ru/
- For more information
visit the FN Website at www.fnherstal.com
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