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.

Not really a custom but a stock Ruger RH in .45 colt with trigger, sights, throats, tuning by Hamilton Bowen in a Dave Johnston shoulder rig.

300-grain Prec Cast hard casts at ~1200 fps at 25 yds. offhand.



edited to say I apologize for this pic; I didn't see whatever that is in the lower right hand corner when uploading it.

I like that holster. Does ut ride true shoulder style or can it be adjusted to come around more to the chest a bit left of center?

To see carry position it's probably easier to direct you to google Dave Johnston's Diamond D Leather and there is a link to his holsters along with good pic's.

Not really a custom, more of a bored weekend frankengun.

Had a Colt frame stashed under the bench from a Ka-Boom due to a kitchen table "gunsmith" and had a No Name top end I had bought a couple of years ago when I had to frankengun one for Tracks. Wilson & ed Brown internals, Wolff Springs, Colt & G.I. controls, Pachmayer flat rubber coated mainspring housing, G.I. Hammer (shortened and under cut for my fat hand web), G.I. A-1 grip safety, hand stippled frontstrap, fiber optic low profile rear sight and "afro-engineered" front peened into the over size front dovetail (that really looks like crap in person). Oh Yeah, Colt factory double diamond grips.

BTW, the "idiot scratch" came pre installed on the frame!

that is what we all say

Thank you sir. I just sent him an email inquiring for my two Linebaugh's.

My pleasure.

Springfield Champion (Commander clone) done up by Wilson Combat. Mostly Wilson parts, checkered trigger guard, front strap, mainspring housing, and the back of the slide on the sides of the hammer (haven't figured why they checkered that yet). Wilson match barrel, Wilson Speed Chute. Top of the slide is serrated. MMC night sights. This is pretty much a CQB, but it was made before they made CQBs. I've only shot it about 500 times so far, but not a single malfunction. Best thing is that I got it for $750 (and it included the $2200 build sheet from Wilson!)

My custom 357 bult by Bill Davis in middle.Ruger security six with 4" Colt Phython barrel.Doule action job thats smooth as silk.

This is a little bit 'different'...

Just thought I would throw it into the mix. I actually wanted to pick up a little Colt for the wife and found this one that was just a few bucks more than a "minty in the box" one!! I couldn't resist! She loves it! I have to agree... it's grown on me too.

I decided to not let her carry it but it does get taken out and shot occasionally. The engraving an gold inlaying is some of the best I have seen. The previous owner didn't know who did it but didn't think it was factory - thought it was too nice.

Here's one of mine, a Jack Huntington built .500 Linebaugh Super Redhawk......



Will post others later.

Here's another Huntington custom I have, based on a prototype D-Max frame. The caliber is .50 Alaskan, and it has a Bisley grip frame and custom micarta grips. The barrel is 8-inches long. It will spit 525 grain bullets at 1,575 fps plus. It will give you a headache if you don't hang on tight enough......