Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Let's see the Customs!

Customs of all kinds please, let's have an ecumenical kind of thread

I don't have a custom of my own, but I've been accumulating "base guns" for years--Smith 38/44HD to send to Hamilton Bowen to become a 45 Colt; Colt Series 70 1911 to go to Ted Yost, Ruger Blackhawk to go to John and Dustin Linebaugh; Colt Agent to go to Bill Laughridge at Cylinder & Slide, but for too many years I've bought new guns instead of putting the money toward customizing those that I have. Thinking of changing things up, and making what I have truly my own instead of acquiring "more." So, in that spirit, let's see the customs! As always, details please!

You need a BHP-clone as a base for yet another custom....

Got one. Not a clone, but about 80% of what I'd want in a custom High Power already--only changed I'd make are new grips, trigger job, new sights (fixed combat style) and perhaps a stylistic touch depending on the 'smith doing the job.

Trigger job? Dump the mag disconnect. That'll get you about 90% there.

Sights are EASY, esp. with the dovetails already there.

Spegel grips.

Get the top of the slide and the front edge of the barrel scallop/step stippled.

Commander/combat bobbed, no bite, hammer.

Oh, and if you do anything else; ditch the pimp trigger.

The pimp trigger does have to go-- my sisters laughed out loud when they saw the gun in my pistol rack!

The Spegel grips are nice, but with the hard chrome finish I'm thinking of VZgrips Micarta, which are basically indestructible as well as quite thin. As for sights, Heinie makes their "Straight Eight" night sights for the HP and I have a set on one of my 1911s, a good intuitive sight that I like more than the standard two-dot rear set-up.

Ditch the trigger, and have the new one stoned EVER so slightly to get rid of any burrs. Ditch the mag disconnect, and you're set.

Those VZ micartas are nice; but they will eat a hole in you, or your shirt, like a cheese grater. Myself, I'd prefer a set of smooth grips, and with the hard chrome, I'd go ebony.

The Straight Eight is a very good sight choice; do it.

Bobbed commander/combat no-bite hammer...

Add the stippling, for the "just so personal" touch, and you're done.

Done in 2001...5.5" barrel .41 Magnum built on a stainless Super Blackhawk frame...



Colt stainless Combat Commander with BoMar sights...



1956 Colt Commander .38 Super with BoMar sights, BarSto barrel, hard chrome frame...





Current carry gun...1952 Colt Commander in .38 Super. MMC Tactical Adjustable Night Sights, BarSto barrel full hard chrome by Accurate Plating and solid Micarta grips...





S&W Model 58 .41 Magnum....Full action job with bobbed and checked hammer, smooth trigger, Magna-Na-Port Quad Ports, speed cylinder release but now wears a nicer set of wood Hogue grips...

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/SMITH-WESSON/SWM581970001.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/SMITH-WESSON/SWM581970002.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/SMITH-WESSON/SWM581970003.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/SMITH-WESSON/SWM581970005.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/RJM52/SMITH-WESSON/SWM581970010.jpg[/img]


Bob

dustin linebaugh built 475 linebaugh




jack huntington built 500 linebaugh

I really ought to re-shoot this with a better camera and lighting, but here's my David Clements .41 Special on an original flattop frame. Full action work, line-bored, Clements front sight, all Ruger stampings removed.

That's right - just go ahead and shake those 38 Supers at us....

S&W 25-5 by Hamilton Bowen. Pinned and recessed (Model 29 cylinder), matte finish, his sights, case color H & T by Turnbull, other stuff I forget right now.



Auto-Ordnance 1911 rebuilt from ground up by me off the frame I blew the top end up on years ago.



S&W 25-7 by unknown. Cut to 3.25" and modified for moonclips so can shoot 45 ACP in addition to 45 Colt. Not pretty but gets its point across.

I like that one. A LOT!

Bought this D.R. Middlebrooks custom Delta Elite barely used for $850 about eight years ago, NP3 and Roguard finish. It's always about, would not hesitate engaging targets at 100 yards. The Bomars and front sight are perfectly fit, Brown trigger group.

Did a lot of hiking in the mountains of N. CA last week with this on my hip.

A Stroh 5" 45 Colt conversion on a beater M29 I had.



A Bowen 500 Linebaugh.



A Harton 41 Special Single Six.



A pair of 44 Specials. Harton on the left, Bowen on the right.



A Harton 38 WCF.



A Harton 45 Colt.



A Harton tweaked BFR 475 Linebaugh.

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1055658/M25-2andBFR022.JPG[/img]

A Larry Crow 5 shot 45 Colt.

[img]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1055658/45Bisley2.jpg[/img]

Odviously, you guys are really into it. I've usually tweaked mine with adjustable sights, if they didn't come that way, action jobs for the best trigger breaks and different grips for better hand filling/recoil management, but that's as far as I've gone.
I've had a couple of barrels hard chromed. That reduces any leading to zero, and, in the case of my Series 70, 1911, improved it's feeding of lead, wadcutter handloads.
Sounds like there a some here that are far more in to it than I. Good bunch to hang out with...... assuming your pocket book can stand it. E

That's quite a line-up!! I especially like the grips on #2, #4(left) and that last one; they REALLY make 'em stand out. The one on the left in the 4th pic might just be the best lookin' handgun I've ever laid my eyes on!!

These are some great posts. Thanks y'all. Please keep 'em coming.

Thanks. It had some issues when I got it; would not fire ACPs in DA. The previous owner liked his trigger waaay light, and had shortened the strain screw enough to take almost all the curve out of the mainspring. Thankfully an easy fix. It's more accurate with ACPs compared to LCs, which makes little sense, but I don't worry about it.

"The one on the left in the 4th pic might just be the best lookin' handgun I've ever laid my eyes on!! "

Alan did an incredible job welding up and machining the top strap into the Old Model Single Six style. With the front sight blade pinned in place the gun has fully adjustable sights. Of course, Turnbull did his usual magic with the case colors.

Ruger 50th anniversary .44mag Blackhawk Flattop. Changed the hammer, trigger, and lock work from Blackhawk to Super Blackhawk. Also changed the Grip Frame with lock to a Ruger "Dragoon" MR-3D no lock frame. Grips by CLC, grip frame reblue by Rugerguy out of OH. Did all the work except the reblue and grips.