I posted in General a week or so back about my gunshow experience and find. I now have the grips stained an appropriate color, the broken grip screw replaced and the gun is photo ready:
(http://fellingfamily.net/images/feg_fp9_r.jpg)
(http://fellingfamily.net/images/feg_fp9_l.jpg)
(http://fellingfamily.net/images/feg_fp9_a.jpg)
(http://fellingfamily.net/images/feg_fp9_s.jpg)
As I mentioned in the other thread, this gun is a faithful copy of the Browning/FN GP-35 Mk II. All parts are compatible, and the only changes are to the slide. The slide has a ventilated rib and lacks the lightening cuts above the ball cuts at the muzzle. The width at the muzzle is the same as a standard hi-power due to a taper above the ball cuts.
I have removed the magazine disconnect safety and polished up the trigger components. The hammer still bites my hand a bit, so I will be taking it to the milling machine and re-contouring it to a no-bite contour. At the same time as that change I will replace the mainspring with a 28lb version, which should bring the trigger pull down from the current 6-7 lbs to about 4 lbs. The trigger is nice and crisp, and feels much lighter than it is.
The grips were blonde color when I got the gun. They are walnut, but not a dark colored walnut. I stripped and stained them a dark walnut color with two different coats of stain over 48 hours, followed by 4 coats of amber shellac.
During the detail strip and cleaning, I discovered the loop on the trigger shoe that manages to trigger lever was missing about 90° of it's circumference. It is non-impacting as the part still functions as expected.In fact, only the bottom half is needed as the part is retained from above by the trigger spring. I have no plans at this time to replace the part.
Since the blueing is basically 100% I have no plans to refinish this gun. As soon as I can get it to the range and validate function and get a holster, it will join the carry rotation.
Very happy with the purchase.
I have not had it to the range yet, but
Vey nice old pistol! Should serve you well! :D
FEG's are just beginning to be appreciated. Not long ago I bought a FEG PJK-9HP and it shoots as good or better than any HP I own or have shot.
Enjoy your FP9! I've looked at them in gun shows down here but they're either ratty and have an ambitious price or are in good shape with prices approaching hi powers.
Sorry to necro this post, but I just bought one of these, and I was wondering if you found a good holster for yours.
Nice job, looks really good!
Nice pistol. From the pictures it does look like it like to bite.
Quote from: Rollo on April 09 2021 07:46:25 AM MDT
Sorry to necro this post, but I just bought one of these, and I was wondering if you found a good holster for yours.
I roll my own. I needed a holster a year, maybe 18 months back and no one made what I wanted, so I stopped by Tandy leather and spent about $100 on some leather, a sewing kit and some scissors. I watched three or four youtube videos and read a couple of DIY articles and have never looked back. I probably have made 15 or so holsters at this point. And I am still working through that first piece of leather.
Quote from: DDRiller on April 09 2021 04:34:24 PM MDT
Nice pistol. From the pictures it does look like it like to bite.
It does bite. Since i bought this one I have also picked up a Mauser SA80 and an FN P35. All three are faithful BHP guns. The Mauser uses FEG parts but was assembled by Mauser of Germany. The FN is a surplus gun.
All three are "bitey". I came up with my own solution. On the FN, which has no collector value, I pulled the hammer and put it on the mill and chewed just a bit away from below the ring spur. No more bitey.
Sounds fun. What kind of leather did you get?
7-8 oz vegetable tanned cowhide. stitch them up then dunk them on 160 degree water for about 60 seconds before wet fitting and boning for 5-10 minutes. Then let it dry with the gun out. So far they always come it form fitting and tight.