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Post by 2 Dogs on Nov 11, 2016 14:22:30 GMT -5
When I first became intrigued by the Sixgun, my idea like my friend Rob Barnes, was to have a fine example of custom work by each of the great Sixgunsmiths out there. Here is not very good photograph of about how far I made it along that trail before my own quest took a turn. From the top, Bowen, Harton, Linebaugh,Clements, Freedom Arms, Stroh and my very first custom by Horvath. Each was a very fine example of sixgun excellence but more importantly, each had a part in shaping my journey.  I am going to make this a bit of a photo essay, not only because photobucket is a real pain to deal with, but because I can keep it in order better that way. |
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Post by 2 Dogs on Nov 11, 2016 14:33:45 GMT -5
Of all the sixgun builders that I knew, there was one who stood out that was totally unafraid of any challenge put before him. In fact, he seemed to relish the difficulty and the significance of the final product. Alan Harton and I have become very close friends over the years and I chose him to build my No5. I have since written a chapter for Taffin's revised "Book of the 44" as well as a chopped and channeled version I intend to submit for magazine publication.  For awhile, my sixgun journey became all about the No5....  |
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Post by 2 Dogs on Nov 11, 2016 14:52:14 GMT -5
The more I studied the evolution of the custom sixgun, the more curious I became about how the past masters did what they did. I asked myself, what would it be like to walk those same trails? Could I mirror the deeds of Keith, Croft, Sedgley, O'Meara and Houchins? My association with friends like John Taffin and Mike Hutyra only drove me to study harder to ferret out the various details of each historical piece. This brings me to the point of this discussion. As you all know, Elmer Keith had three very fine custom 44 specials. There was his Long Range Colt with the King short action job:  His 3 leaf rear long range Colt:  And of course The Last Word, the No5.  |
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Post by 2 Dogs on Nov 11, 2016 15:00:41 GMT -5
I have decided to build a very special sixgun. One that would combine the features of the above sixguns in one unit. Hence the name, The One. I invite those of you who are interested to participate in discussing the details. Some of my close friends have known about this project for a while. My good friend Curt is adamant that The One include a King Short Action job. Mike Hutyra has pointed out the route to recreate the King Short Action job. And a couple of the guys on the forum that I will get to in a bit have provided some badly needed parts. For now, here is a "mock up" by Mike Barranti of an outline of the new sixgun.  |
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Post by 2 Dogs on Nov 11, 2016 15:22:57 GMT -5
Before we go any farther, I will address where we, and I say we, because there will be a number of hands involved, are on this project. This particular Ruger 3 screw flattop 357 has been in Alan Hartons shop for over 10 years. This project has not so much been about getting a slot in Alans shop, but about getting the necessary parts together. Here is the base gun with the No5 grip frame being fitted. The welding on the mainframe ears has been accomplished and fitting the grip frame to the main frame has begun. The top strap also had a hole in it that had to be welded.  Fitting the grip frame to the main frame for a seamless fit.   |
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Post by 2 Dogs on Nov 11, 2016 15:24:40 GMT -5
And inletting and getting the stocks ready to be roughed out...  more to follow. |
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ericp
.327 Meteor
Posts: 522
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Post by ericp on Nov 11, 2016 15:25:29 GMT -5
Will your base gun be a Colt? Edit: You beat me to it.
A bit off topic perhaps, but what are the mechanics of the King short action?
Eric
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Post by kings6 on Nov 11, 2016 15:55:36 GMT -5
OH man, oh man! This is going to be a good one. Especially since it is coming form one of the three greatest sixgun influences in my sixgun world. Those three are Hamilton Bowen due to his book I bought years ago where I was introduced to the world of custom revolvers, then John Taffin with his writings on custom revolvers such as the PPP and finally from Fermin himself. It is one thing to see guns in books like Bowens or JT's but another to see ones that normal (as close as Fermin can get to normal!) people can have. This out to be a dandy, especially since he is doing part of the actual work himself. Can not wait!
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Post by Encore64 on Nov 11, 2016 16:45:16 GMT -5
Fermin, as I mentioned on the phone, the revolvers are stunning. What a fine collection of steel.
I look forward to seeing the finished product.
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Post by jimtx on Nov 11, 2016 16:45:45 GMT -5
Very interesting and complementing build. IMO Elmer would be intrigued. Are you adding metal and extending the top strap back then dovetailing the RSB? Is it just me or the picture angle, but out of all your #5's above it appears the TLA kept it's grip frame shape closest to an original Colt Bisley? |
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Post by mike454 on Nov 11, 2016 16:53:05 GMT -5
Wow, this will be a great project to watch come together! Will your base gun be a Colt? Edit: You beat me to it. A bit off topic perhaps, but what are the mechanics of the King short action? Eric Not sure how King did it, but my understanding is that it's a tricky bit of work including lengthening the hand, welding up and recutting the hammer notches, relocating the cam, and adding an integral hammer stop. I'm sure there is more than one way to skin this particular cat. Will be interesting to see how Fermin attacks it. |
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Post by mike454 on Nov 11, 2016 16:56:07 GMT -5
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Post by 2 Dogs on Nov 11, 2016 17:07:00 GMT -5
Here is a pic of the first weld on the top strap to repair the screw hole. The reason this work costs so much is that even the finest welders have to sometimes do some remedial welding.  |
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Post by 2 Dogs on Nov 11, 2016 17:19:41 GMT -5
Wow, this will be a great project to watch come together! Will your base gun be a Colt? Edit: You beat me to it. A bit off topic perhaps, but what are the mechanics of the King short action? Eric Eric, Thanks. The precise mechanics of the King Short Action ARE a significant part of the mystique. You might note that there is VERY little in print by Keith about the KSA. As a matter of fact, one has to wonder if the KSA was all that, why didn't Keith do one on The Last Word or No5?? I have more on this, and will share it in a bit, but I need to have my reference material ready when I do. As to building The One on a Ruger, Keith clearly went with better technology every chance he got. All through his work, Sixguns, he praises the durability of the coil spring action and the strength and durability it brought to the action. He was quite taken with the Ruger Single Six when during a expo it was set up with a machine that cocked and fired it for several days straight. I have done some restoration work on the Colt SAA and can tell you for a fact it is a much "softer" sixgun than a Ruger. Another mystery is the exact chronology of the three Keith customs. Which came first? We can guess the No5 was the last and that Keith carried it probably almost exclusively until the Smith 1950 44 special arrived. Which again he probably carried exclusively until his Smith and Wesson 44 magnum showed up. In the book, Home Gunsmithing the Colt Single Action Revolvers by Loren W. Smith, there is a description and diagrams of the KSA. |
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Post by 2 Dogs on Nov 11, 2016 17:21:00 GMT -5
OH man, oh man! This is going to be a good one. Especially since it is coming form one of the three greatest sixgun influences in my sixgun world. Those three are Hamilton Bowen due to his book I bought years ago where I was introduced to the world of custom revolvers, then John Taffin with his writings on custom revolvers such as the PPP and finally from Fermin himself. It is one thing to see guns in books like Bowens or JT's but another to see ones that normal (as close as Fermin can get to normal!) people can have. This out to be a dandy, especially since he is doing part of the actual work himself. Can not wait! Gosh Rob, I would'a fit better in the zoo wouldn't you think? Like between the Silverback and the Cape Buff.... |
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