Help with my Browning HP's ID

[be2man]

I'd appreciate some information from those with some knowledge about the Browning Hi Power. I bought this one awhile ago on the EE. I really like it so far, trigger is good and it's very accurate.
Tried to figure out the date of manufacture from Brownings web site. It has the 245MT prefix on the serial number which would appear to be the 245=9mm hipower from 1975-1998, but then the MT would seem to be 2006?, but according to the Browning website after 1998 the 9mm Hi-powers should have a serial number starting with 510?

I was looking at the youtube video of BHP trigger job talking about shortening the spring under the sear lever to decrease the trigger pull and reset travel and on looking at mine it appears the sear lever is a different shape and design than whats in the online manual showing the sear lever type II for the current version of the mark 3 HP. I assume this is an older configuration of the sear lever? Also there doesn't appear to be a spring in mine at all as there is no spring pressure pushing up on the part of the sear level that would contact the trigger lever. The gun functions fine this way but I'm wondering if the spring not being installed could cause any problems down the road?
The previous owner had installed the bobbed hammer. The gun doesn't look like it's had many rounds through it. There is a spring in the bag that the original hammer came in that looks like it would be the sear lever spring.

The appearance of the sear lever

spot where it looks like the spring should be under the sear lever

bottom of the slide

Thanks for any help

 

[Lee Enfield]

Your gun is not a mk3 and the slide never had a spring under your sear.

Where is the serial number on your frame? Under the ejector port or down the front strap of the frame?

Is your slide serial numbered?

 

[be2man]

Your gun is not a mk3 and the slide never had a spring under your sear.

Where is the serial number on your frame? Under the ejector port or down the front strap of the frame?

Is your slide serial numbered?

Thanks, yes I agree after looking around at info online that it's not a mark 3.
There's a serial # on the barrel visible though the ejection port, the same serial # onthe slide directly below that. The serial # on the frame is above the right grip panel ahead of the ambi safely lever on the right side as well. I will also add it has the epoxy finish and drift adjustable front and rear sights.

 

[be2man]

Have done some more looking into it and it is a Mark III. The story is that because this is an FN gun with no Browning markings the serial # Prefixes are different than what's on Brownings website. 245 is the 9mm prefix and it was made in '06. Because it's not a Browning import it doesn't have the firing pin block on the sear arm that the American import versions do.