Dubbed the M35 or Hi Power, the final version of the pistol was not finished until 1935, but it was a design so sound that it has remained virtually unchanged to this day.

The Browning Hi Power handgun was designed by Browning in the late 1920s in response to a competition for the new French Army pistol, which was dubbed the Grande Puissance (“high power”) 35.

The Browning Hi Power handgun was designed by Browning in the late 1920s in response to a competition for the new French Army pistol, which was dubbed the Grande Puissance (“high power”) 35.

Thus, both sides made use of the P35 pistol during the war. Note the name “Hi Power” (as opposed to High Power) is reserved for the commercial guns sold by Browning in North America.

Ever since, the Hi-Power has also been known as the P-35 or "Model of 1935." In 1962, the design was modified to include an external extractor--an increase in reliability.