Don Williams Action Works Custom FN Browning Hi Power Mark II 9mm Pistol
SOLD FOR: $4222
LSB#: 230720JK007
Make: Browning; Made by FN in Belgium and Assembled in Portugal
Model: Don Williams Custom Hi Power Mark II
Serial Number: 245PV05846
Year of Manufacture: 1985 (https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/hi-power-pistol.html). Customized in 2009
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Action Type: Single Action Semi-Auto with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the slide is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN, UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q.”. The right side of the slide is marked “MADE IN BELGIUM / BY FABRIQUE NATIONALE HERSTAL”. The barrel is marked “CAL. 9m/mL.” and “245PV05846”. The front strap is marked “245PV05846”. The right bow of the trigger guard is marked with a Belgian proof mark. The right side of the barrel lug is marked with a Belgian proof mark. The bottom of the firing pin housing is marked with a proof.
Barrel Length: 4 5/8”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Trijicon blade with a tritium lamp dovetailed to the slide. The rear sight is a Heinie square notch with a serrated rear face that is dovetailed to the slide. The lamp produces a dim glow in low light environments.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The custom VZ grips are molded G10 synthetic panels with serrations. The grips show some minor handling wear. There are no chips or cracks and the serrations are sharp. Overall, the grips rate in about Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Satin Blue IonBond DLC
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. There are just a few faint streaks of fouling in the grooves. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This pistol retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are few barely visible streaks on the top of the slide. The action has minor operational wear. The screw heads are sharp and the pins are clean. The markings are clear. Overall, this pistol is in about Fine-Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is crisp. The magazine disconnect has been deactivated. There is slight play between the slide and frame. The pistol has an ambidextrous safety. We have not fired this pistol. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This pistol comes with one 10-round magazine and an invoice description of the custom work done from The Action Works.
Our Assessment: Introduced in 1982, the Mk II was offered in but one caliber, 9mm. It sported ambidextrous, extended thumb safeties and the classic Hi Power’s checkered Walnut stocks were replaced with black, checkered nylon stocks with thumb rests. The magazine safety came along unchanged. The gun had a spur hammer and some were offered with lanyard rings. Frames were forged and at least in early runs of the gun, there was no internal firing pin lock. There is a small hole in the front of the slide, under the barrel and about where the center of the end of the recoil spring would be. Presumably this is to allow water to drain from a previously submerged pistol, something not uncommon to military handguns. The non-removable bushing extends out slightly more than on Mk III pistols. Classic Hi Powers made from the mid-70’s until the Mk II was introduced did as well.
This example is particularly special having been customized by Don Williams at The Action Works in 2009. They offer three different customization packages for Hi-Powers: Basic Street package, Tactical Package, and The Whole 9 Yards. According to their website, this example appears to have had the Tactical Package performed and notable improvements include the C&S Commander hammer, IonBond finish, grip strap stippling, and crowned barrel, among many other. This is a beautiful pistol with about 98% of its original finish in about Fine-Excellent condition. The bore is bright and the trigger is light and crisp. It comes with a 10-round magazine to get you started. Please see our photos and good luck!
-Greenfield
