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Posted: 10/24/2019 10:05:31 PM EDT
Back about five months ago I sent a used pistol to Karl Sokol of Chestnut Mountain Sports. I asked him to complete his $750 Hi Power package with a few additions. The 1st special request was to blue the gun rather than paint it. Another option I wanted was to have an extended safety fabricated as opposed to buying something like the C&S extended safety. Lastly, I had him install a gold bead front paired with a black rear.
The pistol came back to me today and I wanted to share these pics. Overall, I am pleased with the gun. The work is nice and clean. No frills but rather sensible and practical mods that should yield a pistol suitable for general carry, IDPA, plinking, etc. The trigger is crisp and smooth and measures just a bit over six pounds. Not shocking since we're still running factory FN trigger springs. One thing I noticed with the gun, not related to Mr. Sokol's work, is the slide markings on the right. The slide shows "Made in Belgium" and nothing else. Other MKII guns I've seen have been marked with "Assembled in Portugal." But this is the first MKII style pistol I've seen that was not the matte finish plastic grip version. This particular pistol, prior to sending off, was polished blue with the small sights. It has the MKII firing pin safety but does not have the flat rib on top nor the hole under the muzzle in the recoil spring housing. Anyway, here are the pics: 
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Posted: 10/25/2019 9:23:28 PM EDT
[#1]
I like it.
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Posted: 10/25/2019 9:26:25 PM EDT
[#2]
An elegant weapon.
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Posted: 10/25/2019 9:55:18 PM EDT
[#3]
That is a true classic fighting handgun. Just awesome
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Posted: 10/28/2019 2:23:19 PM EDT
[#4]
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Posted: 10/29/2019 11:23:26 AM EDT
[#5]
Fantastic!!! Can we get a pic of the gold bead front sight? I'd love that on mine.....
But you're right the Made in Belgium all by itself is pretty neat. I have the assembled in portugal on my MKIII too. The factory blueing is pretty freaking good though on mine. Actually, it just hit me, yours is matte blued. LOL. Not sure why I didn't think of that. I actually like matte blued better. Seems like a better finish for a serious gun. 
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Posted: 10/29/2019 1:12:01 PM EDT
[#6]
With leather from Privateer Leather out of Utah.
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Posted: 10/29/2019 1:12:54 PM EDT
[#7]
Not as visible as a fiber optic but it gets the job done. |
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Posted: 10/29/2019 1:31:12 PM EDT
[#8]
Nice! I still have a couple I want to have worked on.
Did I miss the wait time? How long from shipping off to getting it back? NM, I did miss it, you said "about 5 months ago". 
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Posted: 10/29/2019 1:52:09 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
wait time... "about 5 months ago". |
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Posted: 10/30/2019 1:22:58 PM EDT
[#10]
Nice gold bead. Is that lint or chatter marks?
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Posted: 10/30/2019 2:44:43 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Nice gold bead. Is that lint or chatter marks? |
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Posted: 10/31/2019 11:52:20 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: That's actually a tiny bit of holster leather. I'm guessing that means you are carrying it? I've been carrying my HiPower all summer. I think we're in the minority. At least on Arfcom. LOL. |
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Posted: 10/31/2019 2:44:43 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I'm guessing that means you are carrying it? 
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Posted: 12/23/2019 6:08:37 AM EDT
[#14]
So I have pistol #2 on its way to Mr. Sokol.
This gun is a 1987 vintage I bought fairly cheap from Mach 1. Being a surplus, it has seen some abuse. The trigger guard was bent in and was rubbing against the trigger. The frame had a few other bumps and bruises and someone appears to have done a "carry bevel" to the slide's front edges using a ball peen hammer. Otherwise, the gun actually seems decent. The bore is bright and shiny and frame to slide fit is good. The sear pin still fits fairly well too. So a gun that appears to have been kicked around, abused and neglected but maybe not shot into oblivion. I sent the frame to Pullman Arms in MA and had the trigger guard fixed. They also cleaned up a couple of the more egregious dents. Other issues include a broken safety lever on the right side. The gun also fails the click test. I am asking that Mr. Sokol does his $750 package but with Heinie sights rather than Novak. I'll also have the gun blued rather than painted. Navidrex grips will again be used. Here's the gun now as ready to ship. While I had it apart I removed the mag safety. I also used a Devel style bobbed hammer and a slide stop lever that's been flush cut on the right edge of the pin. These parts came from a FEG Hi Power I bought some months back. I'll post pics of the tuned gun as soon as I can. And I swear one of these days I'll shoot the 1st Sokol gun on paper at 25 and post results.... 
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Posted: 12/23/2019 2:51:48 PM EDT
[#15]
Looking forward to the results.
I have an FM Detective with a similar hammer reprofile. |
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Posted: 12/24/2019 1:43:12 PM EDT
[#16]
Fantastic!! Let us know how it turns out. I have to admit, I don't quite get the bobbed hammer....... I'll have to wrap my head around that one. For a Double action gun I get it but a single action??? Hmmmmm....... I get that it would be less snaggy though.
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Posted: 12/24/2019 2:49:19 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Fantastic!! Let us know how it turns out. I have to admit, I don't quite get the bobbed hammer....... I'll have to wrap my head around that one. For a Double action gun I get it but a single action??? Hmmmmm....... I get that it would be less snaggy though. |
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Posted: 12/25/2019 12:10:41 PM EDT
[#18]
Another bobbed hammer gun. Note the flush cut slide stop axle too.
 Heavily Customized Browning Hi-Power MK1 |
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Posted: 1/1/2020 1:51:17 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I don't carry hammer down. The only thing cocking the hammer does for me is make the slide easier to rack. |
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Posted: 2/15/2020 1:30:56 PM EDT
[#20]
Sporting my Sokol Hi-Power and Privateer Leather gear today. The gun carries well. I wonder why I don't carry it regularly.
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Posted: 2/26/2020 12:33:45 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Sporting my Sokol Hi-Power and Privateer Leather gear today. The gun carries well. I wonder why I don't carry it regularly. |
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Posted: 6/8/2020 5:43:35 PM EDT
[#22]
Just a bit over five months since I sent the 2nd pistol to Mr. Sokol. His first build took right at five months so hopefully we're getting close.
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Posted: 12/9/2020 5:46:39 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Fantastic!! Let us know how it turns out. I will hopefully be able to post new pics around Christmas. I got the email today that the gun is finished and will be on the way back as soon as payment is made. |
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Posted: 12/9/2020 6:00:35 PM EDT
[#24]
OST. Good to hear he is still taking jobs.
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Posted: 12/9/2020 10:19:18 PM EDT
[#25]
Here's a little before and after using a pic Karl just emailed me.
BEFORE AFTER 
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Posted: 12/10/2020 7:37:09 PM EDT
[#26]
One of the right side.
Note the shortened slide stop axle. It had actually been flushed up with the side of the frame previously but I asked Karl to dimple it. Now it should be more easily pushed out using a cartridge, pen, etc. 
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Posted: 12/12/2020 3:13:23 PM EDT
[#27]
Here's a breakdown on the work done to the second pistol:
$750 BHP pkg with requested upgrades: gold bead front sight rear installation/machining extra dehorn/clean-up work dimple slide stop pin clean-up broken safety shaft fit grips to frame firm up thumb safety fit thumb safety to new sear test fire ammo/range time Karl included price for each of these requested services. I deleted them to leave him the flexibility of increasing labor and parts costs as necessary. But additional costs were negligible and certainly fair considering the overall condition of the base gun. Info on the $750 package is here: https://chestnutmountainsports.net/cmspackages.htm |
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Posted: 12/20/2020 11:37:22 PM EDT
[#28]
I'm glad to see somebody is getting work done by Karl. He's had one of my S&W revolvers for five damn years. Spoke to him last January and he was going to get ''right on it.''
Your HPs are sweet. |
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Posted: 12/21/2020 7:54:10 AM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted: He's had one of my S&W revolvers for five damn years.  What is he supposed to be doing to it? |
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Posted: 12/21/2020 9:33:05 AM EDT
[#30]
S&W model 18 that was shooting left - Karl said a recrown of the barrel ought to fix it. It was also a victim of a pinto conversion where the cylinder and some small parts were nickled.
He advised the first three months the nickel didn't want to strip chemically; so I said to do his ''mountain tuff'' finish which is just blast and spray or renickel the whole thing. It isn't a collector piece, just a shooter. Make it shoot straight and one color. I've spoke to him a half dozen times over the years, and he is the devil to catch on the phone. At this point I'd rather he just send it back. He has performed custom work on other S&Ws for me with a reasonable turnaround time and superb quality. March will be six years I have waited. It's ridiculous... Apologies for shit posting in your thread. Your HPs turned out really nice! |
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Posted: 12/21/2020 9:56:51 AM EDT
[#31]
Nice H-Ps! One of my favorite pistols.
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Posted: 12/21/2020 10:02:35 AM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I've spoke to him a half dozen times over the years, and he is the devil to catch on the phone. At this point I'd rather he just send it back. Yes. He is quite impossible to reach via telephone. I tried a couple times before sending him the first pistol. He's much better via email but even that can take awhile. Speaking of gunsmith projects and long turnaround; I have a 5.45 barrel conversion with Marvin Pitts. I sent him the parts back in 2013. We exchanged an email or two a year but now I haven't heard anything in probably close to two years and my emails go unanswered. I assume he lost the parts while moving to the new shop. That or he mistakenly shipped them to someone else. I've written the whole thing off at this point. |
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Posted: 12/21/2020 10:56:29 AM EDT
[#33]
I was looking for this thread in my subscribed’s as I was going to send mine to Karl. Need to rethink that. I have no desire to get caught up in multi year weight where the smith hides from you. I’ve been there before.
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Posted: 12/21/2020 12:43:10 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I was looking for this thread in my subscribed’s as I was going to send mine to Karl. Need to rethink that. I have no desire to get caught up in multi year weight where the smith hides from you. I’ve been there before. First gun took about five months. The second, which I'm hoping to have back before the end of the year, took just under twelve months. I don't know but assume Karl is a one man shop. Maybe his wife helps with the books. These wait times are probably on par with similar businesses depending on the requested work. I have no way to comment on the five year wait posted above other than to say, "Damn. That sucks." |
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Posted: 12/26/2020 10:59:41 AM EDT
[#35]
Karl emailed to let me know my check has been received. Hopefully he'll follow up with a tracking number in a few days.
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Posted: 12/26/2020 11:23:13 AM EDT
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted: An elegant weapon. Very elegant |
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Posted: 1/6/2021 6:21:06 PM EDT
[#37]
Tracking number received. Stand by for news.
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Posted: 1/6/2021 6:49:41 PM EDT
[#38]
OST.
Good thread. Thanks OP. |
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Posted: 1/9/2021 3:44:37 AM EDT
[#39]
 |
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Posted: 1/9/2021 4:06:58 AM EDT
[#40]
Very nice.
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Posted: 1/9/2021 9:04:26 PM EDT
[#41]
Sisters?
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Posted: 1/17/2021 9:39:25 PM EDT
[#42]
I have a rather clapped out Mauser marked FEG HP on the way. This is giving me a lot of expensive ideas.
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Posted: 1/17/2021 10:31:35 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I have a rather clapped out Mauser marked FEG HP on the way. This is giving me a lot of expensive ideas. Cool. Where'd you find it? |
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Posted: 1/17/2021 10:33:36 PM EDT
[#44]
 
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Posted: 1/17/2021 10:53:58 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Cool. Where'd you find it? SARCO, Inc. |
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Posted: 1/18/2021 12:12:50 AM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted: SARCO, Inc. Well, if your sample looks like (or actually is) the one shown on the Sarco website it'll be a prime candidate for Mr Sokol's work. |
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Posted: 1/18/2021 12:17:58 AM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Well, if your sample looks like (or actually is) the one shown on the Sarco website it'll be a prime candidate for Mr Sokol's work. Yeah. We shall see. I have to say the gentleman who has had a gun with him for 5 years has me a bit concerned. The guy's work is impressive, though. Any other gunsmiths you've dealt with on hipowers? I know Novak and C&S both seem well regarded (unsure of cost on Novak though). |
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Posted: 1/18/2021 12:25:12 AM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Yeah. We shall see. I have to say the gentleman who has had a gun with him for 5 years has me a bit concerned. The guy's work is impressive, though. Any other gunsmiths you've dealt with on hipowers? I know Novak and C&S both seem well regarded (unsure of cost on Novak though). Don Williams aka the Action Works is another worth considering. Yost is extremely well regarded although he isn't likely going to work on a clone. |
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Posted: 1/18/2021 12:31:42 AM EDT
[#49]
Right. Thanks!
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Posted: 1/18/2021 11:27:40 AM EDT
[#50]
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