High Power Pistol

“Oh, Mr. Marston, one more thing. This is for you.”

“You're too kind.”

“See, I have nothing but your best interests at heart.”

–Edgar Ross

The High Power Pistol is a weapon featured in Red Dead Redemption.

Description[]

The High Power Pistol is one of three semi-automatic pistols in the game, along with the Mauser Pistol and Semi-automatic Pistol. It is statistically one of the best all around handguns in the game, being the most powerful, with a high rate of fire, quick reload, and eight round capacity. It is also one of the last weapons to be unlocked in the single player campaign.

This weapon was very uncommon during the game's era. It is a "gift" to John Marston from Edgar Ross, so it fits in with the theme of the encroachment of modernity in the West, and Ross' support of modern technology.

Acquisition[]

Single Player[]

In Single Player, the weapon is given to John Marston by Edgar Ross in the opening cutscene of the story mission "Bear One Another's Burdens".

Undead Nightmare[]

One of the Random Encounters in the wilderness during Undead Nightmare involves a doctor who is conducting experiments on undead corpses in an attempt to find a cure for the disease. After assisting the doctor in four to six separate encounters, he will provide the player with a High Power Pistol.

Multiplayer[]

The High Power Pistol is unlocked into the player's regular inventory upon reaching rank 35.
- The "High Powered Killer" weapon challenges are unlocked at the same level. Completion of these challenges turns the weapon golden for the player.
It can also be obtained by killing another player who has the weapon equipped.
In Free Roam, the pistol can be found in Tesoro Azul and it is also carried by the local law enforcement in Blackwater.

Trivia[]

The High Power Pistol is based on the real world FN Model 1903 Pistol.

Despite Agent Ross having one and giving another to John Marston, the M1903 was never in fact adopted by the US Government. It was however issued to the armies or police of several other countries including Sweden, Russia, and Turkey. However, a very similar weapon, the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless was used by the US Armed Forces.
The name "High Power" seems to reference a later Browning/FN pistol, the 1935 Hi-Power (Grand Puissance).
Official Red Dead Redemption artwork shows Edgar Ross holding a Colt M1911 instead of the High Power Pistol. The M1911 was yet another John Browning design, his most famous, but featured a prominent external hammer.
All High Power Pistols in Red Dead Redemption appear to be custom modified with ivory or pearl grips.
When the High Power Pistol becomes golden, it appears to have engravings on the slide that look similar to the engravings on the 100th anniversary model of the 1903.
When reloading the High Power Pistol; the gun's slide always locks back, empty or not, despite Marston not even locking it back, but using the slide stop when finishing the reload animation. The M1903 it's based on didn't do this in reality.
In the mission "An Appointed Time", Arsenio Baldizon is seen holding a High Power Pistol and executing a rebel during the opening cut-scene.
Like all pistols; Marston will attempt to fan its hammer during a duel, despite it being hammerless. On top of that, the slide action would most likely injure Marston’s hand or at the very least, throw off his aim.
The High Power Pistol is similar to the Vintage Pistol, a weapon in another Rockstar title, Grand Theft Auto V.