A Classic Revisited: The Inglis P-35 N "Hi Power" 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol from SDS Arms

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The greatest firearms designer who ever lived was John Moses Browning, and this fact is beyond dispute. From Browning's fertile mind sprang a great variety of firearms, many of which remain popular well over a century after their introductions: from single-shot rifles, to manually-operated repeating rifles, to semi-automatic rifles, to semi-automatic pistols, to fully-automatic machine guns, to anti-aircraft and anti-tank Military machines, the world has never seen the equal of the humble Utah gun designer's genius.

John Browning's first design remains one of my favorite firearms: the simple, elegant Winchester Model 1885 single-shot rifle. Perhaps Browning's most famous design, the 1911 pistol, remains wildly popular 114 years after its adoption by the U.S. Military, and with good reason. But Browning's final design was, in many ways, his best pistol design: the P-35, or, as it came to be known, the "Grand Puissance" or "High Power".

When the French military decided in 1923 to adopt a new sidearm, Fabrique Nationale (FN) decided to pursue the contract, and they turned to John Browning, with whom they had already enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship. The French had high expectations for their new sidearm: it had to be compact, rugged, dependable, powerful, safe, possessed of a high magazine capacity, and simple enough for the average soldier to service in the field. Further complicating the pistol's development, Browning had sold the rights to his landmark 1911 pistol design to Colt, so Browning needed to design an entirely new pistol from the ground up in order to avoid violating his own earlier patents. Browning filed the U.S. patent for his new pistol in 1923, and it was approved in 1927; this was after Browning's death in 1926, and before he completed the pistol's final design, so FN designer Dieudonné Saive completed the design, making significant enhancements to it. Browning's new design included an all-new locking mechanism, and Saive contributed a revolutionary staggered-feed "double stack" magazine that allowed for greater magazine capacity than earlier designs; these innovations remain the standard in today's modern pistols, almost a century later. Also worthy of note: among Browning's innovations which did not find their way into the final version of the pistol was a striker firing mechanism, which would finally become immensely popular over 50 years after Browning's death.

Unfortunately for the French, France chose not to adopt the final version of the pistol, leaving Belgium as the first to adopt the P-35, better known as the High Power, in 1935. Germany overran Belgium in 1940, taking over FN's Herstal plant, but both design and designer were smuggled out in time, and the pistol resumed Free-World production at the John Inglis Co. in Toronto, Canada. After the War, the High Power resumed production at FN's Herstal plant (among other locations) and was commercially introduced to the U.S. market in 1954 under the Browning Arms Co. name, which was owned by FN's parent company. FN High Power production continued until 2018, when the High Power was finally dropped by FN / Browning, much to the disappointment of those of us who love the Hi Power design. Thankfully, FNH-USA has just re-introduced the High Power, and although I have yet to handle one, they seem to be very nicely made, however at a fairly steep price. Also, original FN High Powers can be found on the used market, but collector value on these has skyrocketed, beginning even before their discontinuation. Other than that, the only way to get a nice High Power in recent years has been to have one custom-made by one of a very few shops offering the model, but these best-quality custom High Power pistols are beyond the financial reach of the vast majority of shooters, typically costing several thousand dollars per pistol. For many years now, a high-quality High Power pistol at an accessible price point has been little more than an unrealized dream, but now SDS Arms has re-introduced the Inglis Manufacturing name, along with the Inglis P-35 pistol, and it is a Dandy pistol at a very affordable price.

SDS Arms' Inglis P-35 pistol line consists of several models, differing mainly in finish. All Inglis P-35 pistols are made in Turkey to a high quality standard, and forged from quality steel; no cast or MIM parts are used. The base model L9A1 is finished in black Cerakote® and features plastic Military-style grips and Military-style sights; the P-35B is also finished in black Cerakote®, with checkered walnut grips and fiber-optic front sight; the P-35 N (which is the model sent to me for review) is finished in a beautiful satin electroless nickel, with checkered G10 grips and fiber-optic front sight; and the top-of-the-line GP-35 model's slide and frame are beautifully color case hardened, with walnut grips and fiber-optic front sight.

The Inglis P-35 N's accent parts (hammer, trigger, magazine release, slide release, thumb safety, extractor, pins, and sights) are finished in black Cerakote®, which creates a very pleasing aesthetic contrast to the satin nickel finish of the frame and slide. The hammer features a ring-type spur, also known as a "Commander spur", which eliminates the tendency of the original P-35's extended hammer spur to pinch the web of the shooter's hand between the hammer spur and the frame's beavertail. The thumb safety is extended and ambidextrous, which is only available as an extra-cost option (if at all) on other High Power brands. The excellent fully-checkered G10 grip panels are similarly black, contrasting nicely with the satin nickel frame and matching the accent parts, and are relieved at the top of each grip panel to make it easier to access the thumb safety.

The barrel is 4.7 inches in length, and finished in hard chrome for durability. John Browning's design for the P-35 utilized an integral barrel ramp for improved feeding, which was a distinct improvement over the earlier 1911 pistol's frame-mounted feed ramp. The 1911's frame-mounted feed ramp required the bullet to travel from the magazine over a transition between the feed ramp and the barrel's chamber; this was not really a problem as long as the common ammunition of that time (Military "Ball" or round-nose full metal jackets) was used, but as more modern hollowpoint bullets became common, this transition became more of a problem, as feeding jams became the norm. The P-35's integral barrel ramp proved to be far better than the older design for this, and Inglis has further refined the design of the barrel's feed ramp geometry to perform even better with modern bullet designs. During my shooting sessions, the Inglis P-35 N was able to feed hollowpoint bullets of various designs and weights without a bobble.

One area where the original P-35 was lacking was the trigger pull. John Browning's new design used a pivoting trigger, rather than the 1911's straight-pull design, and this was not a problem in its own right; however, the French required that the pistol be incapable of firing without a magazine present, and this "magazine disconnect safety" created a drag on the trigger parts, resulting in a heavy, gritty trigger pull. While I am sure the French had their reasons for requiring this, I have always thought the concept a bit silly: why would one want their weapon to be disabled without a magazine inserted? A great many Browning P-35s have been modified over the decades to eliminate this magazine disconnect, yielding a much improved trigger pull at the expense of a bit of gunsmithing. Recognizing this design problem with the original P-35, Inglis has thankfully done away with the magazine disconnect, and as a result, the trigger pull on the P-35 N is wonderful: after just a bit of takeup (approximately 1/16"), the trigger releases cleanly at a consistent 3 pounds of pressure. The P-35 N's excellent trigger greatly contributes to the fine accuracy I observed during my shooting sessions.

The sights commonly found on the original Browning P-35 were the rudimentary Military-style sights of the day: a low-profile rounded-blade fixed front sight along with a low-profile dovetail-mounted rear sight. These worked fine for their intended purpose, but modern shooters demand better, and Inglis has answered. The Inglis P-35 N's front sight is a blackened steel post, dovetail-mounted for windage adjustment, and features a green fiber optic rod; this fiber optic really pops in any lighting condition short of total darkness, and automatically glows brighter when more light is present. The rear sight is similarly blackened steel and dovetail-mounted, with a U-shaped notch to match the front sight's fiber optic insert, and is finely horizontally-serrated on its aft surface to eliminate sun glare. The sights on the Inglis P-35 N are both precise and quick to acquire. I can't imagine why anyone would want to replace the standard sights, but if desired, any sights using a standard Browning® dovetail can be used.

Saive's "double-stack" magazine design for the original FN/Browning P-35 was nothing short of revolutionary, and magazine designs based on the P-35 are commonly seen today. The original P-35's magazine allowed for greater firepower while maintaining a manageable size, with a then-unheard-of thirteen round payload. Modern spring technology has allowed the P-35's magazine capacity to be increased to fifteen rounds without enlarging the magazine, and the Inglis P-35 N includes two such magazines. These magazines are made in Italy to a high standard of quality, featuring a polished blued-steel body and floor plate, and a polymer follower. These are very nice magazines, and they also function perfectly in my original FN/Browning pistols. Also, if desired, original thirteen-round FN/Browning High Power magazines function perfectly in the Inglis P-35 N.

Shooting the Inglis P-35 N was nothing short of a joy. The High Power has always been a favorite of mine, largely due to its unmatched ergonomics: the slim-tapered slide, the heft of the pistol, and the perfectly hand-filling shape of the grip, when coupled with the mild recoil of the 9mm cartridge, combine for a shooting experience like no other, both nostalgic and modern at the same time. Accuracy was satisfying, with a variety of 9mm loads, both standard-pressure and +P, grouping nicely to point of aim at five yards when fired at paper targets. Targets of opportunity bounced nicely, with the P-35 N yielding minute-of-soda-can accuracy at longer ranges. The Inglis P-35 N ran all types of hollowpoint ammo with 100% reliability, making it a fine choice for either a fun afternoon on the range or as a tool upon which you can stake your life, or the lives of your loved ones.

Specifications: Inglis P-35 N 9mm Semi-Auto Pistol

When it comes to carrying the Inglis P-35 N, there are a wide variety of holsters available, and any holster made to fit the High Power is perfect for the P-35 N. Also, holsters made to fit the 1911 pistol can be pressed into service, and I used a couple of my favorite 1911 holsters to carry the P-35 N, both from Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged Holsters.

Simply Rugged's DEFCON 4 holster is an excellent and versatile carry solution, holding the pistol high and tight to the user's body for concealment. A high ride pancake design, the DEFCON 4 features a double-laminated front and back, and a "Flab Tab" extension on the back to prevent the user's side flesh from being gouged by the pistol. The DEFCON 4 can be had with either two or three 1-3/4" belt slots, allowing for a variety of carry modes, from neutral cant to FBI cant to cross draw; the three-slot option also allows the DEFCON 4 to be chest-carried using Simply Rugged's excellent Chesty Puller Suspension System. The DEFCON 4 also includes removable Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) straps, maximizing the holster's versatility; the DEFCON 4's reinforced front and back helps the mouth of the holster to stay open when carried IWB. Simply Rugged's DEFCON 4 holster is made from the finest leather, and is available in Tan, Black, or Oxblood, along with a variety of decorative stamping / carving options as well as a variety of exotic leathers, at a very reasonable base price of $140.00.

Simply Rugged's CID Slide is a solid entry-level pancake holster, featuring a minimalist design that leaves the barrel unprotected. The CID Slide was designed by Rob Leahy for a friend who is a Criminal Investigator Detective (CID), as a holster offering maximum comfort with minimum bulk, and it excels as a deep-concealment rig. The CID Slide is also available in Tan, Black, or Oxblood, with many decorative options and exotic leathers as extra-cost options, at a base price of only $50.00.

I have always been a Big-Bore guy, so I naturally love my 1911s, but even though it's "only a 9mm", the Browning High Power has always held a special place in my heart. There is something about John Browning's final pistol design that stirs the soul as no striker-fired, polymer-framed mere tool can. The original FN/Browning High Power pistol's ergonomics are second to none, and the balance is absolutely perfect; if the High Power could be made as a 45 without losing the feel of the grip or that superb slim-tapered slide profile, it would be, to my mind, the perfect pistol. Still, I have to admit that the 9mm is a wonderful cartridge, and in modern hollowpoint loads, it gives up little if anything to its larger counterpart. John Browning's final triumph was a magnificent pistol in 1935, and it remains a magnificent pistol today. The Inglis P-35 N is a worthy modern version of the original High Power design, and even improves upon the original in several aspects, at a price that is far less than other High Powers on today's market. The Inglis P-35 N 9mm pistol retails for only $633.99, and is backed by a 1-year Limited Warranty and a Lifetime Service Plan.  

Check out the entire Inglis line at https://sdsarms.com/inglis/inglis-firearms/, as well as the other brands offered by SDS Arms (Tisas USA, Tokarev USA, MAC, and Spandau Arms) at https://sdsarms.com/  

Buffalo Bore Ammunition: https://www.buffalobore.com/

Simply Rugged Holsters: https://www.simplyrugged.com/.

Hornady® Ammunition: https://www.hornady.com/

Order Ammo Online at Lucky Gunner: https://www.luckygunner.com/handgun/9mm-ammo

Grizzly Cartridge Co.: https://grizzlycartridge.com/

Boge Quinn

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