Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Hamilton Bowen

I live 6-7 miles from him and never ventured over there. I took my Ruger 45 colt cylinder over there today to get honed to 0.4525. He met me at the door and invited me in. Heck of a nice guy and came across as very humble. We talked about Ruger pistols, his sights (he talked me out of a sight package....), aging eyes, and few other things. I was there 20-30 minutes. Never once did I feel like he was anything but a good guy. I'll do business with him again. I've always wanted him to tune my 45 colt. I think he's going to get that chance. I don't mind paying for excellence, especially when a humble person is attached to it.

From what I've read about his work, if he does it, it will be sweet.

I'm curious though. What sight package did he talk you out of and why?

Bowen, does very good work, never heard any criticism even from other builders. I had the first 475 he ever built.

Mr Bowen is a fine man. Quite a southern gentleman as well. My 44 Magnum is built by him and Dave Clements from mostly Ruger parts. Hamilton was here in Cody for the Linebaugh seminar. I was shooting 45 Colt and didn't have a 44. Hamilton took a vaquero 45 and walked away. Months later I get a 4 ⅝ with Smith and Wesson rear sight and bisley grip frame. It shoots well of course and it's a treasured sixgun.

Agreed on all comments regarding Mr. Bowen - I've spoken with him on the phone a couple of times in the process of ordering his Rough Country sites for Ruger revolvers. They take a while to get as they do them in small batches, but are worth the wait.

He opened the too-tight (.395) throats on my .38-40 cylinder to .402 ... turnaround was fast, work was impeccable. I hope to have a future project for him to work on for me.

Tom

I had a nice exchange of emails with him concerning the ill-fated online magazine he was mixed up in. Nice guy and amazing craftsman.

I've never heard one bad thing about his work or business practices, there is much to be said for that.

Haven't had the opportunity to have him build or work on a gun for me, but I have no doubt I'd be pleased with the work.

I took my Ruger Bisley to him about 15 years ago and went back to pick it up.
Had him install his target rear sight, patridge front sight, deluxe action tune, freewheel pawl, and base pin.
I was very careful to not take up too much of his time while I was there. I would have loved to have hung out all day. I don't think he would have minded. Incredibly good work by an incredibly nice guy.
I'd love to have him work up a Vaquero the way I've always wanted one done someday.


My Bisley's frikkin' awesome, btw.............

We never got to specific packages. I told him the issue I was having (fuzzy sight picture) and we discussed aging eyes, focusing on 3 planes simultaneously, etc. He stated none of his sight packages would fix the aging eyes issue. He did say his sights would be a bit more defined than standard OEM sights. He had a pair of special glasses made to shoot to shoot and said he doesnt/cant wear them hunting. Interesting dude.

I've corresponded with him over the years and found him to be an old-school Southern gentleman.

If you like revolvers, then definitely get his book. He has a sly sense of humor that doesn't come across most of the time, but there's a good reason to laugh out loud on nearly every page.


Okie John

He is a good guy. I have a few of his customs. Only have one that I ordered directly from him and waited. I got a letter one day from him that was typed on an old manual typewriter with some letters higher and some lower than others. One letter must have been missing, but was written in by hand with a pen. Lol. He signed it. I think it’s a cool thing to keep with the revolver. He put me up a few spots in line because somebody cancelled their order. That one is a 5-shot 45 Colt Vaquero lightweight and it is smooth as silk.

Is his specialty single action or double action? I couldn't get any sense of this from the posts.

Bowen is a specialist--indeed, a technical and aesthetic innovator--with regard to both action types.

Hamilton has recently limited his work to Ruger revolvers. He had too much trouble with S&W double action guns in removing the barrels just like he had removing the barrels on Ruger Hunter models. The Colt section of his work is no longer done nor is the Freedom Arms if I recall our last conversation. Like mentioned above, he is one of the nicest gentlemen you will ever work with and his southern nature hides a unique sense of humor and wit. He even recently finished getting his law degree! He has done two of my nicest custom revolvers.

i think i have seen a pic of top one before

You might have seen the #5 gun. Once Hamilton completed it it was sent to John Taffin along with the first new model Ruger #5 Hamilton built for a customer so John could review and shoot them then do an article on them for American Handgunner. It is neat in that John sent me his target from the first shoot and I have it framed and hanging above my reloading bench. These two guns will go to my two son's some day.

Hi daddy!

You always have nice things!
Ronnie

Dave284 if I decide to adopt, you are first on the list! Thank you Ronnie!